That is Ray Hou. She’s a — — at Restore Sisters. Restore Sisters is an all-female dwelling restore firm within the metropolis of Chengdu, the primary of its form in China. In China, should you wanted one thing mounted, almost definitely a person would present up at your door. Ray and her colleagues are altering that. They usually’re not simply doing repairs. They’re constructing a model. Going viral. And discovering that China’s rising inhabitants of single girls want their service. Ray as soon as managed a shopping center in Xi’an, however because the economic system slowed, her arduous work stopped paying off. She was craving one thing actual, work the place she might truly see what she’d achieved on the finish of the day. So, at 40, Ray made a daring pivot. And studied for 2 months to turn out to be an electrician. With none expertise, Ray wanted to discover a expert employee prepared to take her on as an apprentice. So she packed her luggage, obtained a a technique ticket — “OK, let’s go to Chengdu.” And moved a whole lot of miles to apprentice with Restore Sisters. There, Ray discovered a group of ladies prepared to share their expertise. Considered one of Ray’s first solo jobs was to mount a cat furnishings set on the wall. Ray’s purchasers, most of whom are girls, inform her that they like feminine technicians as a result of they’re simpler to speak to. And, for single girls specifically, a handywoman appears like a safer possibility. By 2030, round 35 million Chinese language girls of their 20s and 30s are anticipated to be residing alone. This inhabitants is rising as extra girls are delaying marriage to pursue schooling and careers. Greater than half of the Restore Sisters had workplace jobs earlier than becoming a member of. It’s not nearly following their ardour both. Whereas conventional workplace salaries stagnated, blue-collar wages have been climbing at a quicker tempo. The Restore Sisters have managed to construct a social media model by telling their startup story. Their greater than 600,000 followers means regular work, in addition to partnerships with manufacturers that need extra feminine customers. However their success and social media fame have additionally introduced pushback. Earnings from Ray’s new profession covers her bills, however remains to be lower than her supervisor wage.
