Zhejiang Baofang Printing and Dyeing: From Waiting Patiently for the Right Time to Time Wont Wait for Me

In Keqiao District, a stronghold of printing and dyeing, there are countless printing and dyeing enterprises. Among them, there is such a company that has been diligently improving its capabilities in its field for many years without making a fuss. Now, facing the ups and downs of the international economic and trade situation, the company has seized the opportunity and made a breakthrough after years of accumulation. From "waiting patiently for the right time" to "time waits for no one", Zhejiang Baofang Printing and Dyeing Co., Ltd. has soared against the wind and made a leap forward.

Recently, when entering the finished product workshop of "Baofang Printing and Dyeing", I saw 12 labeling machines lined up in a row, quickly and neatly applying various labels to the continuous stream of fabrics coming off the assembly line without any errors. Li Ruizong, the company's deputy general manager in charge of production, said that these machines, which cost the company over 10 million yuan to purchase last year, not only replaced over 100 jobs but also greatly improved work efficiency, with the label error rate reduced to zero.

This is a microcosm of the series of measures taken by "Baofang Printing and Dyeing" in the past three years to continuously increase investment and enhance product competitiveness. "Baofang Printing and Dyeing" is one of the earliest enterprises to settle in the Keqiao Economic Development Zone (formerly known as the Binhai Industrial Zone). Over the past decade, the company has been quietly working hard, focusing on its work without making a fuss, specializing in the production of vibrant and durable batik fabrics, and focusing on what many people consider to be a representative of the low-end market - Africa. The company's decision-makers believe that the low-end market does not equate to low added value, and as long as the products are marketable, considerable profits can be obtained.

The perseverance amidst loneliness has finally paid off. Over the past three years, the energy that "Baofang Printing and Dyeing" had accumulated in the African market for many years began to erupt. Its registered trademarks "Baofang" and "African Star" have become well-known and sought-after brands on the African continent. When opportunities came, the company did not hesitate to seize them, immediately expanding its production capacity and market share. Within three years, it invested over 100 million yuan to update equipment, improve processes, and launch new products. The production lines were also increased to 17, and sales achieved an average annual growth rate of 30%. The company has developed into a national high-tech enterprise integrating research and development, production, and sales. In 2019, "Baofang Printing and Dyeing" produced 320 million meters of fabric, with an output value of 1.14 billion yuan, exported over 1,500 containers, and earned 120 million US dollars in foreign exchange. It is the first printing and dyeing enterprise in Keqiao District to achieve sales exceeding 1 billion yuan, and it is currently the largest batik printing and dyeing fabric production enterprise in China and even globally.

Since last year, the international market situation has been confusing, and now, with the global COVID-19 pandemic spreading, many enterprises targeting the high-end markets in Europe and America are facing significant challenges. Conversely, "Baofang Printing and Dyeing" is thriving against the tide: upon entering the company, all machines in the workshop are operating at full capacity, and the grey fabric awaiting processing piles up like a hill. The company's orders have been booked until May. General Manager Yu Shaobo made an analogy: "From 'waiting patiently for the right time' to 'time waits for no one', 'Baofang Printing and Dyeing' is like a walking fish: it quietly exercises breathing underwater at ordinary times, but once it sees the right opportunity, it leaps up."

However, as the saying goes, "fish cannot live without water." As "Baofang Printing and Dyeing" marches forward, it also becomes more aware that the good momentum the company enjoys today is closely related to the high-quality business environment that Keqiao District has always provided. Especially since the resumption of work and production in the early spring this year, the district committee, district government, and local party committee and government have provided timely guidance and great assistance. Yu Shaobo believes that it is the high-quality development environment in Keqiao District that allows the company to pursue high-quality development without any worries. Currently, the company is carefully analyzing the international economic and trade situation and the trend of the African market, planning to add three production lines when the timing is right. At the same time, it will extend the industrial chain, open its own exclusive grey fabric factory, and improve product quality from the source to ensure stable supply.