China News Service, Sydney, August 12th, title: Chinese companies in Sydney go against the trend under the epidemic
China News Agency reporter Tao Shelan
Under the epidemic situation, life is in various forms. Sydney has been fighting the epidemic for more than half a year, and its economy and people's livelihood have suffered severe setbacks. At the beginning of August, a family in Chinatown that had been operating for decades in Tak Kee Roast Meat closed its doors and went out of business, taking away the memories of many people. On the same day, the Melco Hot Pot restaurant opened not far away, bringing some warmth to the winter under the epidemic. "The epidemic is still there, but you have to stick to it," Jin Che, the general manager of the store, told a reporter from China News Agency.
In fact, Jin Che also opened another restaurant called Beijing Porcelain in Chinatown. Business has been prosperous since it opened for more than two years. Unexpectedly, starting from the second day of the Lunar New Year this year, due to the confirmed cases of new crown in Australia, people dare not go out to eat anymore, and turnover has been declining. In order to let the employees have something to do, Jin Che teamed up with the previous travel team to do takeout together. Fortunately, the Chinese in Sydney attach importance to the epidemic, and they go out less and order more food, so the business barely maintains.
In order to help those Chinese who are isolated at home, Jin Che also proposed an idea: Chinese people who self-isolate within 2 kilometers of the two stores in Chinatown and Ashfield, as long as they call, they will give out two dishes and one soup for free. Jin Che said: "After we delivered the food, some residents insisted on paying. This moved us very much. Under the epidemic, it is not easy for everyone."
In this way, until June, the effectiveness of Sydney's fight against the epidemic began to appear, and the business of Beijing porcelain returned to 70% of its pre-epidemic level. Jin Che is mentally prepared. If foreign students and tourists can't come, this will be the norm in the future. Unexpectedly, the subsequent rebound of the epidemic in Victoria caused psychological panic to the citizens of Sydney, and business dropped to 30% of the previous level. Jin Che felt helpless.
In February last year, Jin Che took a fancy to the commercial layout and residential structure around Chinatown, and signed the shop to start the Melco. Stumbled all the way down, and finally opened on August 6 of that year. Jin Che said: "We have no choice. The employees are well trained, and everyone has employment needs. Let's open it. We can do as much as we can."
Compared with the demand for customers in the catering industry, Lin Bingyang, who runs a sofa factory, has the same experience. In March and April, when the epidemic in Sydney was the most severe, because of the "closure", shops were closed and no one was shopping, naturally there were no orders, and business was once reduced by half. So, when the government did not require the factory to close, he himself decided to temporarily suspend production and let the workers go home. Except for occasional inspections in the factory, he basically stays at home, grows vegetables, and also conceives new sofa styles, hoping to be put on the market after the epidemic is over.
Lin Bingyang immigrated to Australia from Fujian in 1988. Relying on his exquisite woodworking skills and the spirit of "love to work hard and dare to win", he founded the present sofa factory 10 years later, and all products are supplied to the Australian market.
Like many people, Lin Bingyang was a little panicked at the beginning of the epidemic. As the president of the Changle Chamber of Commerce in Australia, he immediately donated protective materials to his hometown. Later, protective materials were sent to Changle folks in Australia. For some elderly folks, he personally delivered them to the door. For the factory, he also took adequate protective measures. A reporter from China News Agency saw in the factory that there were hand sanitizers and disinfectants, and the workers were wearing masks.
With the control of the epidemic, the city was "unblocked" and people were free to go shopping, and Lin Bingyang's orders slowly returned. Although some parts are imported from China, and the price of raw materials has risen due to the epidemic, he is still happy. After all, there are jobs and business, and everything is slowly returning to normal.
"The epidemic has changed our lives. Before, I was in the factory every day. Now, it is worthwhile to spend more time with my family. However, the epidemic has not been completely eliminated, and the impact on the economy is also serious. We are developing more new products to meet market challenges." Lin Bingyang said.
Under the epidemic, there are "dangers" and "opportunities." Strolling through Sydney’s Chinatown, some shops have closed one after another, and some new businesses are also actively preparing to open. Jin Che originally planned to open a new store in Melbourne, and all the decoration materials have been delivered. As a result, because of the second outbreak of the epidemic, it had to be temporarily shelved, and the monthly storage fee alone would cost thousands of yuan. He said: "I believe the epidemic will pass. Right now, do what you can do." (End)