Practical, effective and practical

outline：Gasa Town, located on the outskirts of Jinghong City, is currently the second-highest-performing distributor among all township-level distributors for Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Spring Drinking Water Co., Ltd. Qin Qifeng, the Gasa distributor for Wild Elephant Spring, operates her business in this small town, focusing on the sale of bottled and barrelled Wild Elephant Spring water—and she has now become...

Gasa Town, located on the outskirts of Jinghong City, is currently the second-highest-performing distributor among all township-level distributors for Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Spring Drinking Water Co., Ltd. Qin Qifeng, the Gasa distributor for Wild Elephant Spring, has established her business in this small town, dedicating herself to the wholesale and retail sale of bottled water under the Wild Elephant Spring brand. She has now become a leading figure in the local bottled-water distribution industry, commanding 90% of the market share in Gasa Town. How did this seemingly delicate woman manage to grow her business to such a scale, and what strategies enabled her to capture such a large market share? We will now break down these questions one by one.

 

 

First, attitude determines one’s standing. “When people interact, first impressions matter; among businesspeople, integrity is paramount; and when we engage with customers, exceptional service is key.” Qin Qifeng’s words reveal not only her approach to business but also her personal ethos—starting with the simplest of interactions, such as answering the phone: “Hello, may I ask where you’re calling from?” “Please hold for a moment,” or “We look forward to your call.” These phrases are straightforward yet heartfelt. She explains that this has always been her unwavering attitude—no matter who is on the other end of the line or how much water they wish to purchase, she never alters her tone or demeanor. Reflecting on this, Qin Qifeng shares with deep conviction that whether out of professional habit or inherent to her line of work, this attitude is non-negotiable. After all, while customers are not her “god,” they are her most valuable resource; she would rather earn a bit less than risk losing a single client. Listening to her, I was profoundly moved: attitude truly makes all the difference—and it is precisely this mindset that has set her on the path to success.

 

 

Second, a group doesn’t necessarily have to be united, but if it is united, then it is definitely a team. As the saying goes, “One hero needs three helpers; one fence needs three stakes.” Qin Qifeng’s delivery outlet employs a total of four delivery staff, one of whom happens to be her spouse. The couple are amiable and approachable, and they have hired three additional water-delivery drivers. On occasions when business is particularly brisk and they simply can’t keep up, her husband even pitches in personally. When it comes to hiring delivery personnel, she is extremely rigorous—but her pay rates are far above industry standards. She insists that you shouldn’t skimp on the right people just to save a few bucks; every single delivery driver is handpicked by her. I once asked her why she went to such lengths, and she replied, “I could certainly pay at the highest industry rate, but then the service attitude I demand would have to be rigorously upheld for every single customer. If I receive three customer complaints in a month, I’ll fire them immediately.” There’s a military adage: “A fierce general has no weak soldiers.” Indeed, Qin Qifeng’s approach to staffing embodies this principle—soft on the surface yet firm at heart—and only such management can ensure that her high standards of service are consistently delivered, earning her customers’ unanimous praise. Although she sets exceptionally high standards for her delivery team, she is also deeply attentive to their health and safety. Turning to the delivery driver sitting beside me, I asked, “Do you like having a boss like this?” They all laughed and said, “It’s great—we not only make good money, but our professional quality has improved as well. We’re all happy to work under her!” Suddenly, Qin Qifeng chimed in with, “Look at this young fellow—he’s even learning to flatter me now!” which set us all laughing. Through our conversation, it became clear that with such a harmonious and united team, all it takes to grow and excel is time.

 

Qin Qifeng is precisely the kind of distributor who runs the Yexiangquan drinking-water business in his own distinctive way: he wins over customers with the utmost professionalism, offers competitive salaries to attract and retain top talent, fosters unity among his team, maintains rigorous standards in his work, and at the same time shows genuine care and concern for everyone around him. It is these very strengths that have enabled him to grow the bottled-water business into a thriving enterprise. Of course, the same holds true for each of us: as long as we approach our work with dedication and diligence, success will surely follow. (Text and photos by He Guotong)