Research Question 5. What kinds of successful enterprises can be observed among China-born immigrants in the GTA, and how can these enterprises be described? Three themes emerged for this research question: (a) Hair salon; (b) Supermarket and retail services; and (c) HAC home services. Following is a discussion of each of these themes.
Theme 1: Hair salon. The first type of effective business in the study that could be observed among China-born immigrants in the GTA was specialized, skilled or trained, and practical services, such as hair salon. As most winning entrepreneurs had higher human capital or learning background, however, high level of education was not necessary for successful entrepreneurship among the participants. As noted …show more content…
They were very busy all the day, and already had three to four walked-in customers were waiting in the guest sitting area. P21 and his wife had great customer relationship. They often greeted their clients and responded their inquiries. P21 described most of his customers had to book one to two days ahead of their appointments. Most of their clients were nearby local Chinese immigrants and retirement residents in the apartments. P21 and his wife got along with the customers who walked in very well, they talked and treated them like an old friend or members of the families. Some of their customers were even came from far away downtime as they adored and liked P21’s hair design and talent. The busiest times were the afternoons and evenings after working hours, and the whole weekends. P21 hired a part-time lady hair dresser in the weekend to assist them, so they could go home early and had more family time with their son and daughter together. They earned and paid for their two children to a local top university. The success in starting his own business as entrepreneur in the GTA was P21’s trained, specialized, and useful talent and …show more content…
The second type of effective business in the study that can be observed among China-born immigrants in the GTA were the useful and every-day and household related business, such as Participant P18’s Chinese supermarket. Although P18, female, who held a B.Sc. degree in civil engineering and worked as an Investment Banking Vice President in one of the five major banks in China for twelve years before immigrated to GTA in 1996. As a single mother, and seventeenth years after she landed in Toronto, she and her business partners opened two supermarkets specialized in Chinese and ethnic food items in GTA. Both stores not only served the vast Chinese population, but also attended the huge ethnic Canadian markets, especially focused on the growing of south Asian and African Canadian populations. In direct observation of business, P18’s Chinese supermarket used modern computer and management systems to ensure high business standard to compete other retails in the area. The store opened from 7 a.m. to evening 9 p.m., 7 days a week. The busiest times were in the evenings and the weekends, when shoppers and their families came in shopping after works. The store offered color printing of daily special prices or on sales and promotion products to their shoppers. The store employees in the fast-food section often greeted their customers and answered their questions, especially the inquiries from non-Asian shoppers to ensure they enjoyed
Theme 1: Hair salon. The first type of effective business in the study that could be observed among China-born immigrants in the GTA was specialized, skilled or trained, and practical services, such as hair salon. As most winning entrepreneurs had higher human capital or learning background, however, high level of education was not necessary for successful entrepreneurship among the participants. As noted …show more content…
They were very busy all the day, and already had three to four walked-in customers were waiting in the guest sitting area. P21 and his wife had great customer relationship. They often greeted their clients and responded their inquiries. P21 described most of his customers had to book one to two days ahead of their appointments. Most of their clients were nearby local Chinese immigrants and retirement residents in the apartments. P21 and his wife got along with the customers who walked in very well, they talked and treated them like an old friend or members of the families. Some of their customers were even came from far away downtime as they adored and liked P21’s hair design and talent. The busiest times were the afternoons and evenings after working hours, and the whole weekends. P21 hired a part-time lady hair dresser in the weekend to assist them, so they could go home early and had more family time with their son and daughter together. They earned and paid for their two children to a local top university. The success in starting his own business as entrepreneur in the GTA was P21’s trained, specialized, and useful talent and …show more content…
The second type of effective business in the study that can be observed among China-born immigrants in the GTA were the useful and every-day and household related business, such as Participant P18’s Chinese supermarket. Although P18, female, who held a B.Sc. degree in civil engineering and worked as an Investment Banking Vice President in one of the five major banks in China for twelve years before immigrated to GTA in 1996. As a single mother, and seventeenth years after she landed in Toronto, she and her business partners opened two supermarkets specialized in Chinese and ethnic food items in GTA. Both stores not only served the vast Chinese population, but also attended the huge ethnic Canadian markets, especially focused on the growing of south Asian and African Canadian populations. In direct observation of business, P18’s Chinese supermarket used modern computer and management systems to ensure high business standard to compete other retails in the area. The store opened from 7 a.m. to evening 9 p.m., 7 days a week. The busiest times were in the evenings and the weekends, when shoppers and their families came in shopping after works. The store offered color printing of daily special prices or on sales and promotion products to their shoppers. The store employees in the fast-food section often greeted their customers and answered their questions, especially the inquiries from non-Asian shoppers to ensure they enjoyed