Li Hua (center) launched Zhenhaipifa.com in 2014. The website gives users an online tour of nearly 500 wholesale markets in 38 cities across China. (Photo provided to China Daily)
To better support wholesale markets via e-commerce, Li has added content on factories and logistics enterprises to Zhenhaipifa.com.
"Brick-and-mortar wholesale markets won't die though because buyers still regard a seller with a physical store more trustworthy (than online shops). Moreover, physical stores provide samples of commodities. But the markets must embrace the Internet, and adapt their business models to people's new consumptive habits," Li said.
"In future, the brick-and-mortar markets may become just showrooms and after-sales service centers, while promotion and deals will be made online."
Li is not the only enterprising businessperson riding the wave of new ventures in the province.
When China resumed its national college entrance examination in 1977, many graduates sought an outlet for their ambitions in the private enterprises of Guangdong. Not for them the "iron rice bowl" of State-owned enterprises.
Some of them such as Zhang Xiaoling chose to start their own businesses after accumulating years of work experience.
After graduating from the college with mechatronics as her major, she was assigned as a teacher to a school under a State-owned factory in Hunan province. In 1992, she, then 32 years old, quit the teaching job and headed south to Guangdong.
She became an engineer in a packing machinery manufacturer based in Shunde. Using her knowledge and work experience, she improved the machines at the factory.
In 1997, Zhang and her husband set up a company to manufacture printing-and-packing machines in a shabby workshop in Zhongshan, Guangdong province.
"Funding was the biggest headache when we set up the company. We put in all our savings and the rest was on credit from our clients, who trusted our expertise and ability to innovate," Zhang said.
Only four months after establishing the company, Zhang's team produced China's first self-designed high-speed multiple-shaft extruder.
Zhang's startup has since grown into Sotech Smarter Equipment Co Ltd, a listed company that is expected to post more than 500 million yuan in gross revenue for 2015, according to the preliminary full-year earnings report.
"As a hi-tech company, Sotech is always climbing uphill with innovation as the root of energy," she said, adding that the company spends between 5 percent and 7 percent of its annual profits on research and development.
The now 56-year-old vice-chairwoman of Sotech is still working on the frontline of innovation, leading the R&D team to produce "China's first self-designed" printing-and-packing machines.
Zhang has sacrificed a lot of family time for work. Her daughter, now a college student, was sent to a boarding school since kindergarten years.
"In the machinery industry, female entrepreneurs are still belittled. While women may not be as farsighted or risk-taking as men, female leaders tend to be more sensitive to employees' needs and more prudent in drawing blueprints than male leaders," Zhang said.
"Guangdong may not offer tempting incentives like cheap land prices and low taxes as other areas in China are tending to do to attract investors and entrepreneurs. But the Guangdong government greatly supports entrepreneurs with a highly efficient system of project appraisals and approvals. Young people should seize the moment," said Zhang.
Agreed Li. "Guangdong has a strong environment for doing business. Most business people here are down-to-earth and keep a low profile, which I admire a lot."
