Young brothers take family business global

Zhang Qing (Left) and Zhang Qingfeng (Right) examine semi-finished felt products in their factory in Nangong, Northeast China's Hebei province, June 13, 2016. [Photo/IC]

Zhang Qing, 31, and his brother Zhang Qingfeng, 28, took over a felt factory opened by their father two years ago. Now, the company has gone global thanks to the brothers' ingenuity.

When they started to run the factory, they felt that the old way of operation had restrained the business development. After many discussions, they decided that Zhang Qing, the elder brother, will be responsible for new product development and cooperation with US-based Whirlpool Corporation, while the younger will take charge of marketing.

In the past two years, they have introduced world-class advanced equipment and communicated with the foreign peers actively. The factory has also started to rely more on deep processing rather than primary processing.

Now the product line has expanded to more than 30 varieties ranging from industrial felts to household goods including felt table mats, couplets, vases, wallpaper, hats and bags, which are sold to more than 30 countries, including the United States, Canada and Russia.

The plant has created jobs for nearly a hundred households in nearby villages.