Succulents bring in big money

Editor’s note: Liu Junfeng quit his job at a rice company and began to sell succulents with two friends. He and his friends breed and grow succulents in greenhouses in a suburb. In this issue we will relate their entrepreneurial story. Four years ago, Liu Junfeng graduated from Northeast Agricultural University in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province and began to work in a rice company. His life was eventless and he earned a moderate salary, and he felt frustrated at the thought that he probably would live like this for his entire life.

In recent years, there are growing numbers of succulent-lovers in Harbin, and their preferences are getting more and more diverse. However, the succulents on the market today are mostly transported from the south of China and are very expensive. “We love succulents and know how to grow them. Why not turn our hobby into a career to meet the market demand? My friends readily agreed with me, so I quit my job,” Liu Junfeng recalled.

Quite by chance, Liu Junfeng heard that a farm on the outskirts of Harbin had some greenhouses that were lying idle. “A lot of people in Harbin would come to plant something in the greenhouses, each of which can be rented for 4,000 yuan a year. If more people came to the farm, they would know our greenhouses and succulents,” Liu Junfeng said.

The farm provides clean air, convenient transportation and low rent. More importantly for Liu Junfeng and his friends, the area receives helpful updates regarding weather forecasts.

Their succulents come in many varieties and the prices range from a few yuan to more than 100 yuan per plant. If the friends only grew ordinary varieties, they would certainly fail. “I’m now responsible for cultivating new, rare and high-value varieties. To keep track of market demand, we organize salons for lovers of succulents and communicate with our customers through our WeChat public accounts,” Liu Junfeng said.

Liu Junfeng has found that bright-colloured and lovely succulents are particularly popular, so he has devoted his efforts to breeding such varieties. Now, the most expensive plants sell for more than 500 yuan per plant. And yet even these are still in short supply.

The cultivation of a new rare succulent variety involves a complex and cumbersome process, but it is easy to breed once cultivated. Therefore, when Liu Junfeng completes the cultivation of a new variety, he increases production before selling it on the market. Otherwise, the variety will be easily copied and the friends will lose both their brand and market share.

Last year, Liu Junfeng and his partners earned more than 100,000 yuan each, much more than the salaries they earned in the past. “To maintain good momentum, we must seize upon market trends. Only in this way will our business thrive and prosper,” Liu Junfeng said.

(People’s Daily)

Succulents bring in big money

Editors note: Liu Junfeng quit his job at a rice company and began to sell succulents with two friends. He and his friends breed and grow succulents in greenhouses in a suburb. In this issue we will relate their entrepreneurial story.Four years ago, Liu Junfeng graduated from Northeast Agricultural University in Harbin, northeast Chinas Heilongjiang Province and began to work in a rice company. His life was eventless and he earned a moderate salary, and he felt frustrated at the thought that he probably would live like this for his entire life. In recent years, there are growing numbers of succulent-lovers in Harbin, and their preferences are getting more and more diverse. However, the succulents on the market today are mostly transported from the south of China and are very expensive. We love succulents and know how to grow them. Why not turn our hobby into a career to meet the market demand? My friends readily agreed with me, so I quit my job, Liu Junfeng recalled. Quite by chance, Liu Junfeng heard that a farm on the outskirts of Harbin had some greenhouses that were lying idle. A lot of people in Harbin would come to plant something in the greenhouses, each of which can be rented for 4,000 yuan a year. If more people came to the farm, they would know our greenhouses and succulents, Liu Junfeng said. The farm provides clean air, convenient transportation and low rent. More importantly for Liu Junfeng and his friends, the area receives helpful updates regarding weather forecasts. Their succulents come in many varieties and the prices range from a few yuan to more than 100 yuan per plant. If the friends only grew ordinary varieties, they would certainly fail. Im now responsible for cultivating new, rare and high-value varieties. To keep track of market demand, we organize salons for lovers of succulents and communicate with our customers through our WeChat public accounts, Liu Junfeng said. Liu Junfeng has found that bright-colloured and lovely succulents are particularly popular, so he has devoted his efforts to breeding such varieties. Now, the most expensive plants sell for more than 500 yuan per plant. And yet even these are still in short supply. The cultivation of a new rare succulent variety involves a complex and cumbersome process, but it is easy to breed once cultivated. Therefore, when Liu Junfeng completes the cultivation of a new variety, he increases production before selling it on the market. Otherwise, the variety will be easily copied and the friends will lose both their brand and market share. Last year, Liu Junfeng and his partners earned more than 100,000 yuan each, much more than the salaries they earned in the past. To maintain good momentum, we must seize upon market trends. Only in this way will our business thrive and prosper, Liu Junfeng said. (Peoples Daily)