Adding value to life in quarantine

Li Wenjie, who analyzes the home appliances market for Chinese e-commerce platform JD, said the outbreak will change consumer preferences and shopping habits. Chinese manufacturers have to allocate more resources to better exploit the emerging opportunities to increase sales and market share.

Unsurprisingly, Galanz is speeding in that direction, having hired more than 3,200 university graduates. About 1,000 of them will be positioned in foreign countries and regions to help the company expand its presence in the global home appliances market.

Currently, over 70 percent of Galanz's revenue comes from overseas markets. The company has established branches in the US, the United Kingdom, Japan, Chile, Russia and other countries.

The 1,000 new employees posted overseas will help Galanz to better rely on localized operations, research and development. They will also help exploit the advantages of the company's complete industry supply chain, in order to offer tailor-made products to each market.

"The explosive demand amid the epidemic can not guarantee long-term growth. But it will reshape the way people work, live and it will spur consumers' demand for home appliances that facilitates healthy lifestyles, thus maintaining a sound growth momentum for the global home appliance industry," Zhuang said.

Galanz started exporting microwave ovens to developed markets in 1990s, with the US, France, and Germany being the "bridgeheads".

Asked about Galanz's success abroad, Leung said: "Integrity is a business card for Galanz to explore the world."

According to him, amid stiff competition, intense uncertainty is inevitable. But the market only believes in strength, not tears-it respects only the principles of division of labor and cooperation.

This lesson he and the company learned from an overseas deal in 2003. Back then, Galanz had to deliver 3,000 microwave ovens to France. But, due to its suppliers' mistakes, the goods faced a possible five-day delay in reaching the customer.

In order to ensure on-time delivery, Galanz decided to ship the cargo to Europe by air regardless of the higher costs. At that time, the cost of shipping one microwave oven by air was equivalent to five times its sales price.

Looking back, Leung said Galanz recognized it must deliver on its promises. "We must act with the highest standards, constantly surpass ourselves and exceed customer expectations."