Xu has been a master of making pancakes for over 15 years. Pancakes have become an essential food in her village and are consumed as a staple for all three meals. With such a high demand for this food, Xu decided to start her own business making and selling pancakes.
Despite her initial success, Xu did not rest on her laurels. Instead, she continued to innovate and create new pancake products. Her drive for innovation has enabled her business to flourish, and her pancakes have become a household name in her village.
Pancakes are the signature snack in her locality, and yellow peaches grow in abundance. Xu recognized this opportunity and tried to make peach-flavored pancakes. However, her initial attempts were not successful as she used big, crunchy peaches, which resulted in pancakes that did not taste good.
Undeterred, Xu continued to experiment with different types of peaches until she finally found the perfect one. She discovered that smaller, sweeter peaches made the pancakes taste better, and she started using them in her recipes. This proved to be a huge success, and her peach-flavored pancakes quickly became a best-seller in the village.
Xu’s dedication and commitment to her craft have paid off, and her business has grown tremendously. She now employs several staff members to help her meet the increasing demand for her delicious pancakes. She has become an inspiration to many young entrepreneurs in her village, who look up to her as a role model.
Xu’s passion for pancakes has transformed her life, enabling her to create a successful business that provides a staple food for her community. Her journey showcases the importance of innovation and persistence in business, and how a simple idea can be transformed into a thriving enterprise.
Xu has been mastering the art of pancake making for 15 years now. Being a staple food in their village for three meals a day, Xu took on the opportunity to sell them. Her business has been thriving as she continues to innovate and introduce new pancake products to her customers. Among the locals, pancakes have become a signature snack, while yellow peaches grow in abundance. Given the availability of the fruit, Xu decided to experiment and create peach-flavored pancakes.
Initially, Xu used big crunchy peaches for her pancakes but found that they didn’t taste good. She tried adding more peaches, but the pancakes became hard to flip. It wasn’t until she used ripe, squishy fruit that the peachy pancakes came to life. Xu’s determination and perseverance paid off as she discovered the perfect balance of ingredients for her peach-flavored pancakes.
Over the years, Xu has created over 50 flavors of pancakes using fruits and vegetables. Her pancake products come in several natural colors depending on the ingredients used. From dragon fruit, red jujube, pumpkin, black sesame seed, celery, and of course, peaches, Xu’s creations are a feast for the eyes and the taste buds.
Xu’s creative streak led her to come up with the idea of making pancake flowers four years ago. Her background in embroidering flowers while working in an embroidery factory played a significant role in developing her idea. Initially, her husband and fellow villagers were skeptical about her idea of making flowers out of crispy pancakes.
Xu’s husband, Zhao Jian, recounted how he was initially dismissive of the idea. “I told her there was no way to work it out because the pancakes are too crispy. How can crispy things be made into flowers, which need to be twisted and folded?” he said. Despite the skepticism, Xu persisted and experimented with various techniques to make her pancake flower dreams a reality.
Today, Xu’s pancake flowers are a hit with her customers and visitors to the village. Her dedication to experimenting and creating new products has brought her success in her business. With her pancakes becoming more than just a snack but an art form, Xu’s story is an inspiration for anyone who wants to turn their passion into a successful business venture.
Xu’s persistence and determination led her to make a breakthrough with her pancake flower creations. She spent four days working on a prototype, which didn’t look good at first. But Xu did not give up. She continued to study real flowers, spending time in parks to master the shape of the petals. Xu tried hundreds of times to figure out the perfect moment to fold a pancake into a flower petal, using trial and error to get it just right.
Xu learned that the pancake needed to be folded at a particular time, neither too dry nor too wet, to achieve the desired shape. She spent over three months working day and night to perfect the shape of the pancake flower petals. Her hard work and persistence paid off when the shapes of the petals became more consistent. But Xu faced another challenge – how to stick the petals together.
Xu couldn’t use water to stick the petals together, as it would make the pancake soggy. And regular glue was not edible. She tried several materials but found her answer in honey and glutinous rice. This allowed her to create realistic-looking pancake flowers that were also edible.
In her store, customers are greeted with a splash of colorful pancake flowers in baskets – yellow cherry blossoms, red roses, and peonies in yellow, white, pink, and purple. The flowers are amazingly realistic and have become a signature product for Xu’s business. They sell for 88 yuan ($13) per basket, which is 10 times more than the ordinary pancakes she used to sell.
Xu’s pancake flower products have been keeping her busy, especially on special occasions like Mother’s Day, International Women’s Day, and Teachers’ Day, when many people look for unique gifts. During festivals and holidays, Xu and some fellow villagers work long hours to meet demand. Her pancake business provides jobs for more than 30 women, which is good for those who need to take care of the elderly and children. They can work from home and come to work when they have time.
Xu’s husband and fellow villagers were skeptical of her idea at first, but her persistence and hard work have paid off. Her pancake flower creations have become a successful business that provides employment opportunities for many women in her village. Xu has become a role model for others, showing that with persistence and hard work, one can turn an idea into a successful business.
Xu’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the willingness to try new things. Her success shows that with determination and hard work, anyone can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Her pancake flowers not only bring joy to her customers but also provide opportunities for women in her community. Xu’s story is an inspiration to all those who dare to dream big and work hard to achieve their dreams.