In 2006 , Anthura opened a product web site of tailflower potful plants in China . Kunming Anthura Horticulture Ltd. is located in Songming , near Kunming . In 2008 , Managing Director Sander Smeding moved to China to manage and further develop the company . He start with a group of about 60 employee and a glasshouse for the mature untested Anthurium plant textile for sale on the local market . The company develop in the follow years and a large tissue acculturation laboratory was ramp up and put into use over several stage . The company now produces not only for China , but also for Europe . today Sander is back living in the Netherlands and was travelling to China every calendar month until the eruption of the pandemic .
China has a large and expanding domesticated grocery store . Local product guarantees the timber of planting material and cut the distance to the sales market . The size of the market is like to that of Europe .
" In China , the government is everywhere and has an all - hefty voice in the developments of the country . As a company , you involve to ensure good communicating with local authorities . Indeed , local government decisions can have a huge impact on the business . The magic is to make those decisions go in favor of the company ’s development . At the local level , we have experience cooperation , for example in increasing the electrical capacity of utilities , " enunciate Sander .
" Although it is not always easy to negociate , most people are solution - oriented . This is discernible in the development res publica - astray . When we started , the area where we are situate was underdeveloped . In the preceding 15 years , main road , a unexampled airport and a high - amphetamine rail occupation have been build here . grammatical construction is currently afoot on a orotund electricity capacity , namely an area connected to gas pedal , and the first plans for an underground connexion between Kunming and Songming ( 60 kilometer ) have already been drawn up . "
" For the day - to - day running of the business sector , on the other hired hand , you are more dependant on yourself . For example , you may be less able to take vantage of quick deliveries or provider service . This is partly due to geographical limitation and partly because certain technique and/or stuff that we apply and/or need are not yet available in China . Moreover , bring home the bacon service is new for Formosan companies . By keeping large(r ) stocks of production resources and surplus parts and by having a comparatively large in - family technical overhaul , we are able to make do with this . By experience this in position you will eventually be sovereign and also more flexible . "
China in late 2019 / betimes 2020"The first reports about Wuhan reached us as early as late December 2019 , while Kunming is about a thousand km southwest of Wuhan . By January 2020 , it became exculpated that the job was significant and that it involved a highly catching computer virus , namely COVID-19 . It was Chinese New Year and people had already started to travel all over the country , back to their house realm or on vacation . That was the accelerator of the spread and everyone realized that this was conk to be a big trouble . Many cities and expanse get into a hard lockdown due to coronavirus outbreaks . Villages close to our society also went into lockdown , not always because coronavirus had been find there , but as a care or even out of fright . The result was that many of our employee suddenly could no longer come in to work . "
" It was a constant process of fitting : with the local authorization , with logistical party , with workplace schedules that had to be changed , and with employees who had to exercise overtime as much as possible . A number of employees persist overnight at the troupe , in typeface we had to go into lockdown as well . That way , we could keep the nursery and the lab running at all times . We switched to contingency design , scale down all non - pressing body of work , were in constant inter-group communication with the Greenwich Village leaders and other government agencies to assure that we could continue to operate on in a responsible and good personal manner . "
Post - pandemic"The Chinese , part due to their recent story , can manage change situations well . That does help tremendously in billet like this . Their willingness to give everything , to keep thing running as well as they could , was enormous . We are positively surprised and still tremendously impressed by it . At that meter there were also intensive ‘ corona consultation ’ going on between the offices in the Netherlands , North Macedonia and China . Through these consultations , we were able to adapt promptly and always stress to stay one step ahead of the post . "
" Halfway through last year , things becalm down a mo . In China , the corona pandemic was under ascendency and client start out to return to their normal musical rhythm . Confidence returned and the local mart recovered . However , fears burst out up again when local corona outbreaks re-emerge towards the end of 2020 , all of which were actually trackable to incoming travelers . China has a very stern entry insurance , with a mandatory quarantine of 14 days and then , for several responsibility , another seven day of base quarantine . This is strictly controlled . In addition , local eruption instantly result in a severe lockdown until it is under control again . So far , that approach is working well . "
" Furthermore , our large stock has proven to be a blessing , making us value it even more . We have gained even more confidence in our tractability and resiliency . Finally , it ’s also very nice to see how committed and patriotic our employees are , because without their crusade the situation would be very different now . "
Developments are there in the theater of operations of production"In Kunming , we have also switched to Unoform . Since we do n’t yet have extensive automation there , we could throw over more gradually than in the Netherlands . That project has now been complete .
It was also a big step to amply throw to CupGrade publicity in the lab . This has now been accomplish and is also being deliver to customers in China . They were used to receiving tissue paper culture plants in the glass bottles used in the local labs . But once they have experienced CupGrade ’s advantages , they quickly accept the raw packaging method . "
Hortiflorexpo IPM Shanghai"It was very special to be back at a bazaar with lots of visitors . The funfair in Shanghai in especial is a good opportunity to meet everyone again and apportion the late developments , both from the growers to us and frailty versa . Two eld ago it was normal , but this time it was really special .
You also see increase demand from the market , from the end of the range of mountains . There were florist shop who straightaway called their supplier for availability when they see our raw varieties . This communicating in the range is exceedingly crucial in club to better coordinate succeeding provision and need . "
Market focus"The mart for cut Anthuriums has also ameliorate . A better monetary value social system also generates demand for young plant material . It is important to be able to offer a complete kitchen stove , including technical support and training programs for customers .
Those training programs are very important here . Often these are completely new projects where there is no cultivation experience . Our own grooming centre in Kunming enables us to train people even before a project really starts . This ensures that beginners ’ mistakes are normally void once cultivation has set forth and saves the client a plenty of trouble .
In the pot flora market place , we ’re seeing a movement towards smaller pot size , and in the logistics chemical chain , online sales are becoming increasingly important . In China , online sale are dependent to tremendous damage competition : consumer buy a mickle online , but the cost is often critical . This is because people are regrettably used to receiving inadequate quality products . There is no self-confidence in expend more to get better quality . This also applies to flowers and plants that are purchased online . The challenge is to build that trust . "
Customers on the farm"We started a client event at our company in 2018 . Due to its expectant success , this was organized again in 2020 and the next one is planned for 2022 . Clients from all over the area come to Kunming for an intensive computer program , which charter about a sidereal day - and - a - half .
In calendar week 34 we also hold the Kunming Anthura undefendable days . Our show glasshouse is filled with the late varieties and newfangled construct . China is a Brobdingnagian grocery that is developing rapidly . The market place is grow , and greening is a priority for the home government , for model by make agri - common where people can delight flowers and plant in their free time .
But there are certainly challenge and risks as well . For lesson , compliance with and enforcement of intellectual place and plant breeders ’ rights are still inadequate . It is therefore still out of the question to quiet build up a market for , say , a raw breed . We are not contribute that time , because in no time at all the market is swamped with illegal young flora material . "
" I am most proud of the fact that , with a team of attached employees , we have build this company into what it is today . Even in difficult times , we are able to continue to operate at a level that causes little or no incommodiousness to our customers . Within the national border , we are able-bodied to apportion with local uncertainties and excitableness while achieve a unchanging business enterprise .
China is an interesting market . Entrepreneurship is rewarded , as long as you are prepared . The Chinese market is not something you just add on – the res publica and the market are far too complex for that .
In any case , we ’re looking to the future with great self-confidence , but above all we ’re look forward to it . "
