Describe a family business You should say:
What kind of business?
How do you come to know it? What kind of clients it targets? Why it is successful?
Sample:
I'd like to talk about a family business selling a full range of clothes. It's the one runby the family of my brother-in-law's, and I got to know it after my sister was engaged to her husband. Their shops are those in small cities and towns where people care more about the quality and price of clothes, rather than the brand. Mother of my brother-in-law's, together with her family started to open retail-chain selling clothes in Xi'an about fifteen years ago. His mother was responsible for selecting and purchasing clothes from the wholesale
merchants', and his father was in charge of selling and other affairs. The competition was not so fierce at that time, and they did well in running their first two shops. Then they succeeded in persuading their relatives in investing in them, and more than twenty shops are in running. Family members, especially the young generation, the peers of my brother-in-law, gradually take up the business.
I had a visit to one shop of theirs, which is about 100 square meters, with four sections selling clothes for children, male, female and the old respectively. My brother-in-law told me the success of their business is that they are strict with the quality of clothes from very beginning which won them loads of customers who are regular customers, and that with so many chains available, people trust in their clothes. Because of the increasing competition and the huge influence of the e-business, however, their business is not so successful as before. My brother-in-law has started a shop online which is not bad, which I think highly of.
Sample2
I will talk about the Zhejiang Semir Garment Company, a family business, set up by Qiu Guanghe eighteen years ago in the city of Wenzhou. In 1996, Qiu Guanghe convinced his son, who was then working in a bank, to open a clothing firm with him. The company mainly markets causal clothing,
ornaments for clothes decoration, and leatherware, such as belts for men and bags for women. Teenagers and adults below 35 years old can buy their year-roundclothes there. I think his business was successful for his special idea for running. He was an electronic producer who had much experience in marketing, however, he did not won any manufactory. He then came up with the idea of relying on clothing factories to make clothes, while his own
company in charge of making design and marketing. What’s more, they
succeeded in opening retail chains in cities around the China in the next few years by taking in cooperative partners. The brand was then made known. It's my favourite brand. I got my first coat of the brand when I was fourteen years old. That day, my Mum and I went to the shopping center in the city to buy me a few clothes for mybirthday. With the help of a sale girl in the Semir shop, I put on the coat, which suited me well.It cost Mum 280 RMB, which was not a small sum of money at that time. I was hesitated at firstas it’s too
expensive, but Mum said the clothes were of high quality, as she was told by hercolleagues. The fact proves the saying, as the coat is still in shape and its color fades slightlyafter my six-year wearing. Many of my friends are also fans of the clothing brand. There was atime when we bought different kinds of clothes in the shop and exchanged our clothes forwearing. It’s such an
interesting experience.
Sample3
mainly manufacturing and marketing cement, was set up forty years ago by Li's grandpa, starting as an agency. The business is successful for that it targets on the building materials which is in great need of the society.
Besides, it has gradually made a range of products except for its original one, and a number of improvements have been achieved.
On the very beginning, his grandpa’s business was in charge of
communicating cementmanufacturers and construction firms. At that time, the country was under rapid development aswell as the urban sprawl, and there was a great demand of cement in building factories and‘resident lots. The business, therefore, was prosperous; however, his grandpa didn’t have his own factory to produce cement, for the lack of adequate fund. Then twenty years ago when Li’sfather took over the company, the first measure that he took was to invest in the building of hisown plant. By doing that, more profit was made and the business was more independent, for thebusiness no longer had to rely on other producers. Step by step, several plants were
constructed,making it a well-known company in the local city. Li’s father then decided to invest in steelproducing and established good business relations with several steel factories. In addition, thecompany enjoys a good reputation through his father's effort. His father purchased a buildingfor housing the workers in the company; the longer an employee works for the company, thebetter pay and treatment he gets.
Li is expected to take up the business in ten years and he’s working hard in management. I am hopeful that he will make it better.
PART 3: Discussion topics:
1. Do you think what the business men need most to run companies?
Well, to run a company, a business man needs to have an insight into the market, to know well of the need and future demand of people. Also, he must catch up with the social and global development, so that he could be active and open to new ideas which are beneficial to his company. Besides, it's best for him to be good at managing, getting along with his staff, especially the time at the start of his company.
2. Do you think which is better, to go into a big company or to go into a small company for a job?
Well, I think it might be better to go into a small company. Although there are more opportunities and resources available in a big company, the competition among staff is much fierce, and there may be more regulation in a big one. making staff enjoy less freedom.
3. What does the leader need to do in a small company when the business fails?
There are a lot of things the leader needs to do. Firstly, the leader has to find out the causes of the business fail and comes up with effective measures. Secondly, he needs to spare effort in making his staff believe they could make it through if they try to, and be confident of the future of the company.
Otherwise, some staff may leave, causing a great lose or even the bankruptcy of the company.
4. Do you think what the causes for the success of a family business are?
There are various causes. Like any successful company, a family business must develop with the trend of the world, so it won't die out. To achieve that, the young generation of the family must be able to take the lead and have their new idea in managing and running the company, rather than just relying on the experience of their parents and grandparents. Secondly, the family members should be in conformity, otherwise, the company won't enjoy a further development with members fighting for their own interest.
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a family business?
On the positive side, most people in charge in a family business are members of the family, therefore they sincerely care about the development of the company, as its development is closely related to their family. However, there may be problems because of that. For example, staff, those not belong to the family, may not be pointed to important positions even they are professional and capable, so the development of the business may not be so rapid as it could be.
6. What are the relationships among the members of a family business?
In a family business, members may be direct or indirect relatives. A man, or with his wife, founded a business, then his children and grandchildren may be likely to take part in the business, in charge of managing. Then if the rapid development of the company is in need of more people in management, then other relatives, such as relatives by marriage, will gradually join the business if they are able to.