Another pioneering businessman in the footwear industry, Wang Jianping, succeeded by transforming Hazan Shoe Co Ltd from a small footwear factory to a middle-class brand.

Launched in 1991, Hazan used to be a small factory with dozens of workers who made about 300 pair of shoes every day by hand.

"We used to focus on being the original equipment manufacturer for international brands for the first three years, and I decided to bring Hazan as a Chinese brand to Russia as the first step out of China in 1994," said Wang Jianguo, Hazan Shoe chairman.

Becoming the first shoe manufacturer in China involved in global acquisition and marketing, as well as the first transnational enterprise in Wenzhou, Hazan has two modern production lines in the West African nation of Nigeria, making 3,000 pair of shoes each day, and a research center in Italy.

With the support of 2,000 highly skilled employees in China and abroad, the daily output volume of Hazan now exceeds 15,000 pairs. "Our shoes are selling well in more than 50 countries and areas, with an annual sales revenue of $3 million," Wang said.

Hazan spent 20 years transforming a local manufacturer into a global company, which sets an example for other struggling shoe makers. "Although our business has been affected slightly by the financial crisis in the US and Europe, I can quite confidently encourage more Wenzhou businessmen to take their brands abroad," Wang said.

Contact the writers at gaochangxin@chinadaily.com.cn and yuran@chinadaily.com.cn.