Chongqing News

Shoemaker's bilingual signboard

2014-07-11 13:52:16

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Set up along Shuyuan Lane in Hongyadong, Linjiangmen, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, a 45 year old shoemaker by the name of Lao Zhuo has taken his serve to the next level. The shoemaker has been in business for over 15 years and does not only repair shoes, but also bags, watches, household appliances and is also a locksmith.

His unique selling point is a bilingual signboard, listing 12 different services in both Chinese and English. “In 2010, a Belgian teacher in Chongqing came to me to repair her bag. She thought I did a good job and often introduced other foreign customers to me. She said Hongyadong was often frequented by foreigners and suggested me to add English onto my signboard, so that more foreigners would come for help. I agreed with her idea and sent my son to make me a bilingual signboard,” said Laor Zhuo proudly.

Now, Laor Zhuo has regular customers from all sorts of backgrounds, such as members of staff working at the consulates in Jiefangbei as well as foreign teachers. He states that dozens of regular foreign customers drop by each month.

"In 2012, an American came to have his shoes repaired. And several days later, he came again requesting I teach him how to repair shoes. The American even took a camera and shot the process of me repairing shoes of other people for a few days. He not only acknowledged me as his teacher, but bought up all of me tools on the stall."

 In April 2014, when the American came to Chengdu for a family visit, he paid a special visit to Laor Zhuo in Chongqing and invited his teacher to dinner to express his gratitude. (Translated by Chen Siyan, Fathom Language Limited)

 

Editor:Chen Qiaodi

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