Continuing the Charm of Purple - -“Our wish is that the Lavender CottAge would appear in every corner of Taiwan.”

Wang Chun-Huang | Profile |

Education
‧ EMBA in Cultural and Creative Industry Management, Feng Chia University

Experience
‧ Co-founder of “We” Creation Firm
‧ Adjunct Assistant Professor Level of Professional-technical Personnel, Feng Chia University
‧ Associate Manager, Lavender CottAge Co., Ltd.
‧ President of Xinshe Township Leisure and Agriculture Guide Development Association
‧ Associate Manager of the Continental Engineering Company Related Business
‧ Associate Manager of Condominium Management Consulting Firm

Current Position
‧ CEO of Lavender CottAge Co., Ltd.
‧ President of Creative Living Industry Association

Providing the Owned Land as a Dreamland

Accidentally, Wang Chun-Huang, a senior alumnus from University, is the key man to pull together the line between two girls: our university alumna Ms. Lin Tingfei, a cousin of his and his father is a landowner at Xinshe while another alumna Ms. Zhan Huijun is a colleague of Wang’s wife. The two ladies had seen only once each other before the cooperation. About half an hour of short conversation, the two struck a deal and they courageously adhered to their idea and faith to support each other with no one else to share their seemly impulsive decision in the beginning. What’s worse, the mountain land at Xinshe is the hardest hit spot of 921 Earthquake, so no one was in favor of their venture.

Nevertheless, the two ladies resigned from their posts and went up to the mountain area, carrying all they had to the remote village of Chung He, Xinshe County, eventually transforming a betel nut garden into a coffee shop. Despite different personalities-- one careful and outgoing, the other shy and reserved, they formed a perfect match with one responsible for the customer side, the other responsible for procurement and staff training. This cooperation afforded a perfect opportunity to let two complete strangers to get together to do what they like and become the most fit partner for each other. Together they worked toward their dream and made that dream come true!

From an Apprentice to an Executive?

With the rise of their fame, there were more and more people going to their dreamland. Due to the lack of manpower, they asked another alumnus of ours, Mr. Wang to come to help them out. Occasionally, when the two ladies disagreed with each other, he would also serve as a peacemaker between them. After several assistances of this kind, he was persuaded to join them as chief executive responsible for business management changing his role of a part-time helper to full-time staff. “I would be Taiwan’s first manger promoted from an apprentice to the executive job!” Mr. Wang joked humorously. This also shows the good relationship between him and his cousin, Ms. Lin Tingfei. They would hope that through the leadership of Mr. Wang, they could learn from each other to boost the growth of the Lavender CottAge to a higher level, and to inspire them to create more products!

An Important Push behind the Dream

Obviously, behind the realization of their dreams, the two impulsive and brave ladies owed their success to the cool-minded Mr. Wang, who serves as their chief executive now. But Mr. Wang had his own company and was once a high-level manager before he joined these two ladies. At first he used his free time to go up to the mountain to help clear the land for his father, but later he persuaded his father not to plant betel-nut trees but just trees and even lavenders, an important move for the success of the Lavender CottAge, in which he played a very critical role. It is because the Lavender CottAge provides the kind of attitude and life value to which he is agreeable. Mr. Wang once said: “’I am the practitioner of the idea of the founder of the Lavender CottAge: turning the impossible to possible, and also keeping a balance between reality and dream!” And in the eyes of Mr. Wang the Lavender CottAge does not belong to the restaurant industry, nor does it the leisure industry. Rather, it is a “happy industry,” an industry to create a happy atmosphere to comply with the spirit of the Lavender CottAge--adhering to the priority of customer satisfaction. So, Mr. Wang’s idea of management is very special—keeping a perfect balance between reality and dream!

A Chance Occasion Spurring Rising Fame

On the eve of a New Year, there were 5, or 6 SNG cars stopping at the Lavender CottAge, a rare event in the mountain area of ??Xingshe. It is because the former President of Taiwan, Mr. Lee Teng-hui, came to visit Xingshe mountain area. The media accompanying President Lee incidentally found the signboard of the Lavender CottAge, so they decided to conduct an interview with Mr. Wang and his colleagues. Originally he and his cousin did not expect any business during the New Year holiday. But the accidental coverage made Xingshe crowded with visitors! This in turn caught the attention of news agencies and they started a round of competing reports. An instant fame fell on the Lavender CottAge. Even the rocks along the pond next to the CottAge were occupied with people; it was almost impossible for them to serve the visitors with any meals. The only thing available then was fruit tea! The whole surrounding area was packed with people. The radio stations were even broadcasting appeals for visitors to stop coming to the Lavender CottAge! Moreover, Mr. Wang had to send people down to the mountain foot to raise placards urging visitors to come another day, but this very act was considered negative marketing. Reflecting on this dramaticality, Mr. Wang thought that they could not thank God enough for His help!

Opening the first Taiwanese “Slow Lodging House” in Hokkaido, Japan
Ms. Zhan Huijun travelling with a dream

In July 2008, when Zhan Huijun was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the doctor declared that she had less than six months of life, but relying on her favorite Lavender CottAge, her dreams and the blessings of her partners, she found her support. She was brave enough to face the disease, and accepted professional treatment positively. Learning that she suffered illness did not make her depressed or give up. Rather she completely changed her habits, and lived every day with relish. During the sick period, she opened in Japan the Hokkaido Slow Lodging House, a first franchise of the Lavender CottAge outside Taiwan. The in 2010, she came back to Feng Chia, her alma mater, to study at the EMBA program.

“Although my sister did not get married, she completed the greatest dream of her life so that she did not have to feel regretful in her life,” said Ms Zhan’s sister. Ms. Lin, Zhan’s partner, wrote a letter to all Lavender CottAge colleagues to publicize the news of Zhan’s passing away that “Hui Jun was my mentor in facing customers! I originally thought that the two of us might be able to accompany each other, to support each other all our lives. Everything seemed to be a dream, we moved on without stopping just to fulfill our dream, but Hui Jun was tired, she traveled all alone in the sunny morning to ...”

To this, added Mr. Wang: “I knew Hui Jun when she was 18. She was like a sister, but also like a partner. We believe that this partnership would continue, but suddenly she was gone ...” Although Ms. Zhan’s lone travel brought a lot of sentimentality and regret for the Lavender CottAge’s colleagues , the story of the two girls’ working together would pass down to the new generation. Ms. Zhan’s laugh and tear will always exist in everyone’s mind. Her story would reverberate around the Lavender CottAge, with richer flavor, and her legacy would leave the Lavender CottAge a future with unlimited dreams!