Running Rabbit - the success story that's hard to miss

[David Emmerson Nicholson]

Wang Xibo returned from overseas delighted with the prospect of using his college major to develop a business after graduation.

Now, food deliveries are his recipe for success.

Wang, 29, founded Running Rabbit last year. The company takes orders via new-media platforms and delivers dishes to customers from more than 70 restaurants in the urban area of Changchun, Jilin province.

"My classmates either stayed abroad or went to first-tier cities for more opportunities and better working conditions," Wang said.

But he returned to Changchun after graduation with a master's degree in new media and society from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.

"I wanted to do something for my hometown, especially for my alma mater," he said, referring to Jilin University.

Wang went to job interviews, and got offers from a telecoms company and a food bureau. Both were good offers. But soon he found that the 9-to-5 lifestyle did not really suit him.

One day, he noticed people standing around in front of restaurants, giving him an idea. Why not meet their demand with a new-media platform? He established Running Rabbit in August last year with 12 employees .

"It's actually a media platform where customers can order dishes through a website, We-chat, Taobao and telephone," Wang said, adding that customer service is also provided through a variety of new media such as Weibo, Momo and Changba, a mobile karaoke app with social functions. 

Within a year, the company expanded its service to the whole city, with a delivery team of 40. Nearly half of the employees are students at Jilin University.

The deliveries are easy to spot. A "rabbit" zips through the streets on an electric bike carrying food. Residents of Changchun are becoming familiar with the sight.

Monthly sales have reached 550,000 yuan ($89,200) and total sales volume has exceeded 3 million yuan.

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2014/07/27/7942085.htm#

[Richard Paul Roman]

Great story David. I would like to do an interview with him for the Changchuner. All hail the success of Changchun's own!