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Store Owner: Putting Others First Is the Secret of My Success

March 13, 2017 |   By Qinglian, a Falun Dafa practitioner in Weihai City, Shandong Province, China

(Minghui.org) I opened a convenience store in the city over ten years ago. The neighbors of my store came to me back then and said, “Why don't you bring in a fortune teller to take a look? A few supermarkets and restaurants opened here before, but none of them lasted long.”

I smiled, “I don’t need a fortune teller. I practice Falun Dafa.”

Following Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I treated all of my customers and neighbors with genuine kindness. Not only has my store not gone bankrupt, but my business has continued to grow.

Putting Customers First

Many convenience stores in China refuse product returns, even if there is no quality issue. However, I always take returns, even if the package has been opened and cannot be resold. To me, customer satisfaction is the most important.

Every now and then some customers accidentally leave behind money or other belongings in my store, and I do my best to get these back to their rightful owner.

Once I found a bag on my refrigerator with several thousand yuan (around US $1,000) in it. I waited the whole morning, but the owner didn't return. I then searched the purse and found a business card. I called. Not sure if it was the owner whom I was talking to, I simply asked if she had lost anything. She had indeed lost her bag and came back. She thanked me sincerely and tried to give me two hundred yuan.

“That is your money,” I told her. “It should all be returned to you. I practice Falun Dafa, which teaches people to always think of others.”

Creating a Welcoming Environment

My store has become a gathering place for my neighbors. In the summer, I put several chairs outside my store. In the winter, I move them inside. Though the neighbors may not need to buy anything, they enjoy coming to my store every day.

I shelve the goods neatly and keep the store clean. I make origami lotus flowers to decorate the tables. I put up a beautiful Falun Dafa calendar and a door-hanging with a poem about Falun Dafa.

Informing Customers about the Persecution

A man came to my store to buy some bread. While chatting, he complained that society had turned bad and his son didn't listen to him.

I explained that society had been ruined by Jiang Zemin, the former head of the Communist Party. Communist officials are corrupt and moral standards have gone south. I also told him that the Communist Party persecuted Falun Gong and committed many other crimes, which will ultimately result in karmic retribution. Thus, it is in everyone's best interest to take a stance against its crimes and to disassociate themselves with the Party.

He was not a Party member but had joined the Communist Young Pioneers, a Communist Party affiliate. I helped him quit the Young Pioneers by submitting his declaration of withdrawal to an overseas quitting-the-Party website.

“My trip to your store was really worth it!” he said.