An Interview with Ms. Lili Tu, Founder of GODREAM
A graduate of the Chinese Department of Wenzhou Normal College, Ms. Lili Tu, founded Wenzhou GODREAM Health Management Company in 1999. In Wenzhou, a place known worldwide for its entrepreneurship, she now operates eight beauty and health clubs, one health technology company, one TCM clinic, one beauty training base. She is the chairwoman of the Women’s Federation of Wenzhou Hair and Beauty Industry Association and the volunteer station chief of the Ruian Life Care Charity.
“I changed my career path from being a high school teacher to entering my current business. In the past 24 years, I’ve always been in a “beauty business” which I am really keen on. In fact, I didn’t give up my initial choice, I just moved from being an ordinary secondary school teacher to a more precise platform to learn, and develop talents in the health industry.” Ms. Lili Tu told SpaChina.
Over the years, GODREAM has always advocated building a happiness-oriented enterprise with family feel and a learning team, leading employees to learn Chinese traditional culture, improving the spiritual quality of employees and customers, and achieving both material and spiritual happiness of employees and customers. GODREAM has trained more than 500 beauticians, 41 senior beauticians, 2 national level-2 technicians, and provided internship and employment chances for more than 300 college and university students. “I continue to nurture people diligently and contribute to the economic development of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, and the country as a whole, as a female entrepreneur,” said Ms. Lili Tu. SpaChina interviewed her on the topic of women’s leadership and social contributions.
You have won many honors from the province and city. Which one do you personally like the most?
Over the years, I have won the following honors: Zhejiang Craftsmanship Awards, Wenzhou Service Industry “Famous Master”, Wenzhou Chief Technician, Wenzhou Craftsmanship Awards, Wenzhou Highly Skilled Personnel Innovation Studio Awards, Ouyue Craftsmanship Awards, Masters Around Us, Wenzhou Most Beautiful Woman, Fashion icon, Famous Master -Leader in Wenzhou Service Industry. I am very happy that my efforts have been well received by the province and city, and each honor makes me feel that my efforts are not in vain. I particularly like the honor “Zhejiang Craftsmanship Awards” the most. This title affirms the value of being a woman in the beauty industry, the craftsmanship and social contribution of women, and also the affirmation and support of the provincial government and our customers to our business.
What is the most important quality of being an entrepreneur?
It is responsibility, a sense of social responsibility. As a business leader, I realize that in addition to the efforts in the process of starting and operating our own business, we cannot do without the trust of our staff and team. As entrepreneurs who started business more than 20 years ago, we have taken advantage of the rapid economic development. Our business development is closely related to the government’s economic support policies, and the response of the society. Therefore, after we have achieved success, we have to do more to give back to the society.
I value “sense of social responsibility” so much that my company and employees are actively involved in contributing to and passing on the social responsibility. In 2011, we established Rui’an Life Care Charity Volunteer Station and 5 sub-stations, and organized more than 1,900 people to visit orphanages and nursing homes. We have participated in the Wenzhou Federation of Trade Unions’ public service program to go into the communities for a total of 29 times, spreading health and giving love.
Are all your employees women? How do you create more opportunities for your employees and encourage them to plan for their future?
Yes, all of them are women. It is best to be a woman in a business that is born for women.
In terms of creating opportunities for our employees and encouraging them to plan for the future, our company is committed to diversification, starting with two segments. One is the professional system from two lines: beauty therapist – professional consultant – store manager – operation director – general manager; and manipulation skills- professionalism-management. Through these systemized steps, we give our staff a platform and development space. Now GODREAM has directly-owned chain stores in Wenzhou area of Lucheng District, Longwan District and Rui’an City with 100 employees, serving more than 200,000 female customers.
The other segment is the education system: front desk – administration – teaching instructor – head of education department – director of education. We help them to plan for a good life, improve spiritual quality and professional skills, and achieve both material and spiritual happiness. We will guide and plan for their future employment in the health industry according to their respective personalities and specialties.
As women, we have strengths that men do not have, namely compassion and meticulousness. Our corporate culture encompasses a family-like atmosphere. The relationship between staff and leaders, and between the staff, features both a working relation and a friendly connection. Namely, there are tasks delivered by superiors to the subordinates, as well as equality and mutual support. Women’s emotions are delicate, and we always pay attention to each employee’s emotional condition, and give care and help to them in work, family and personal aspects. Many of our veteran employees have been with us for 24 years since we opened our doors, so we can say that we have made the company our home.
Therefore, it is important to have not only craftsmanship, but also warmth. The warmth and love that business leaders give to their employees can also be directly transmitted to our guests from them, which is what a good company must be able to do.
How do women’s leadership positions and roles in the health industry be manifested? What traits and skills should women leaders possess?
The health industry I work in is a special industry that starts with the idea of doing small things with great love to help more people. Being attentive and perceptive, good at listening and understanding happen to be natural strengths of women. It is also one of the important reasons why we can see so many excellent women in the big health industry.
The essence of the health industry is to provide people with products that improve their health, enhance their quality of life and create a better family atmosphere. This is very consistent with the role of women in the family, coupled with women’s unique perseverance and persistence, and the way to overcome the rigid with softness can eventually make the problem solved.
The challenges faced by women in the workplace cannot be ignored, such as gender-based labeling, dilemmas in personal growth and career transition, etc. As female entrepreneurs, they need to be able to step out of their comfort zone, and have the decisiveness to break the old and establish the new. Women leaders in the health industry should be knowledgeable, elegant and professional, as well as be able to empathize and understand women’s needs better. Female leaders should have an independent mindset, be confident but not conceited, decisive but not forceful, and gentle but with a bottom line.
What is the state of TCM now compared to 20 years ago?
The world considers TCM culture as a treasure of humanity and is actively researching and exploring this field in depth. We all know that TCM has a long history and has been remarkably effective in body strengthening, daily health care, disease prevention, and clinical medicine. One of the best things about TCM in China is that there is no need to educate guests any further, for their understanding and trust in it is rooted in their DNA.
The “Health China 2030” planning outline released in 2016, clearly defined the goals of the development of TCM in the next 15 years, namely, to vigorously develop TCM, promote the construction of a healthy China and improve the health of the people. By 2020, China has partnered with countries along the “TCM one belt one road” to build 30 overseas TCM centers, promulgated 20 international standards of TCM, registered 100 kinds of TCM products, and built 50 demonstration bases for TCM foreign exchange and cooperation. During the National People’s Congress in 2023, Zhang Boli, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that COVID-19 has made the world have a deeper understanding of TCM and recognized its accessibility. At present, the Chinese government has signed 86 TCM cooperation agreements with relevant countries and international organizations, and the Chinese government has supported the establishment of 10 TCM centers overseas. It is evident that no effort has been spared at the national level to promote the globalization of TCM.
Who are the target groups for the beauty and TCM programs at GODREAM? What kind of services do you offer?
Everyone has a love of beauty. Modern women’s pursuit of beauty and health has become a part of a good life. Therefore, our target group is “beauty loving women” of all ages. Our female staff also knows what our female customers need and can provide them with targeted health and beauty suggestions.
GODREAM continues many of the theories and treatments of traditional Chinese medicine based on modern beauty, and is strict in techniques and efficacy. We are inspired by a very core part of TCM wellness and modern SPA, which is based on natural healing philosophy, to customize treatments for different individuals. TCM helps people to achieve a full range of relaxation of body and mind and spirit based on theories like unity of heaven and humanity, conformation to the four seasons, a balance of yin and yang, the five elements and five colors, as well as catering to the five senses of man, namely hearing (healing music), taste (herbal tea, healthy diet), touch (massage, contact), smell (herbs, natural aromatic oils), and vision (natural landscape, humanistic environment). Now SPA has gradually evolved into a synonym for improving beauty and nourishing health. In fact it’s the same with TCM which our ancestors have left to us.
Technical services are the lifeblood of a beauty company. The company has invested heavily in the introduction of high-quality beauty and health devices and programs, and has created its own “5M Rejuvenation” life-cycle health management system, which covers more than a dozen high-quality treatments and is very popular among the guests.
What advice do you have for women who want to enter the TCM wellness and spa industry in the future?
Make sure you love the industry! Have a loving heart, craftsmanship and long-termism. Professor Deng Tietao, a lifelong professor at Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a national famous veteran TCM practitioner, said: Western medicine is microscopic medicine, TCM is macroscopic medicine, and both are sciences. All TCM doctors have to review, study and deeply explore the classical and cultural essence of TCM.
