Li Shufu, A Zhejiang Businessman From Grass Roots: Billionaire Starting From A Photo Studio

Li Shufu, 40, was born in a farmer's family. In 1980, he graduated from high school. He failed to enter university because of 3 points. He opened a small photo studio in his hometown of Taizhou.

One year later, he started a new business with 2000 yuan - fridge.

After many hardships, Li Shufu achieved little success with an annual turnover of 50 million yuan.

In 1986, Li Shufu founded the Geely Group.

In 1989, Li Shufu's refrigerator factory had an output value of more than 100 million yuan.

Because of the adjustment of national policies, Li Shufu had to give up the production of refrigerators.

In 1991, he began producing decorative boards.

At that time, the real estate fever in Hainan caught his attention, but this investment made Li Shufu lose 50 million.

Li Shufu also turned his attention to the motorcycle industry and developed the first pedal motorcycle in the country.

In 1998, the Geely Group's motorcycle output reached 350 thousand, which not only occupied the domestic market, but also exported 22 countries and regions.

Li Shufu made a more startling decision: building cars.

He invested more than 500 million yuan to develop family minivans and light cars, which cost more than 40 thousand yuan per vehicle, causing an earthquake in the domestic car industry.

The embarrassment is that Geely has not entered the catalogue of the national car production. The two sides of the Geely Automobile have been selling the minibus gap.

Li Shufu began to contact and appeal everywhere.

After struggling hard, the Geely Automobile won sympathy and support, and finally obtained the license for car production. Geely Group has become the only private enterprise that has obtained the qualification of car production so far.

In 2001, the total sales of Geely cars reached 30 thousand, and the profit and loss were flat.

In January 28th 2003, after 18 months of design, development and production, the first domestic sports car, the Geely beauty leopard, went offline in Taizhou, breaking the history of China's no domestic sports car.

Li Shufu also created a miracle of China's automobile industry.

After 17 years of arduous efforts, the Geely Group has developed into a state-level large shareholding enterprise group involved in automobiles, higher education, motorcycles, decorative materials and tourism. The number of employees has increased from more than a dozen people to more than 8000 at present, and the sales income in 2002 has reached 3 billion 58 million yuan.

The reporter commented that he did not bow his head. He did not admit defeat. He did a good job.

No matter what origin, it is a real hero to create wealth for the society.

With this perseverance in mind, a large number of Zhejiang businessmen like Li Shufu have completed the evolution from "grass roots" to "tree roots", supporting Zhejiang's private economy.

The current situation has created such a "maniac" of Li Shufu, and Li Shufu's entrepreneurial philosophy is what we lack.