"I'm an opportunist," said Zhao Jianguo, chairman of Beijing Jimei Home Furnishings, with a straightforward and candid tone.
In 1979, this former middle school teacher, earning just 49 yuan a month, made the bold decision to start a wood products factory. By the early 1990s, he felt exhausted by the manufacturing process and shifted his focus toward business. In 1995, he opened the Beijing Jimei Home Furnishing Store, marking his entry into the home décor market in Beijing. Yet, Zhao never confined himself to just being a "home furnisher." He once expressed regret for not entering the real estate sector at the right time and has since expanded into industries such as red wine, bottled water, olive oil, and even health and wellness sectors related to aging. His company's positioning remains somewhat vague: "We are in the market."
After 30 years navigating the business world, Zhao has continuously sought new opportunities to build wealth. But along the way, this "opportunist" often reflects on deeper questions: "What is money? Life doesn't bring death or death."
In 2000, in support of Beijing's bid for the Olympics, Zhao voluntarily gave up 60,000 square meters of retail space, wiping out nearly 18 years of commercial success and suffering a direct loss of over 40 million yuan. Then, in 2003, during the SARS outbreak, Jimei, still struggling financially, donated its remaining millions to hospitals. He said, "If it weren’t for the good times, I would have still been a teacher earning 49 yuan a month."
"Why do we live here? To sing with joy!" Zhao explained. He finds pleasure in challenges and takes pride in his strong sense of responsibility. "It makes sense that I could take a break, but I’m not satisfied. The Internet hasn’t caught up yet!" At 63 years old, Zhao continues to push forward, driven by passion and purpose.
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