On November 11, at the disability-friendly live-streaming base of Yang Zhang Gui Food Technology (Henan) Co., Ltd. in Dading Subdistrict, Mengzhou City, hosts were actively introducing products to online viewers from their individual live-streaming rooms.
"Please click on link number 1. This is our star product, Vermicelli, Noodle, Vegetable, and Egg, which comes in four flavors. Feel free to order based on your preference!" Facing the camera, 52-year-old Suo Luosen skillfully engaged with viewers.
Born in Beiguo Township, Wuzhi County, Suo Luosen was born without hands or feet. However, his passion for calligraphy led him to master the unique skill of holding a brush between his arms to create expressive calligraphy. "I'm so grateful that Yang Zhang Gui has given me this job. Through daily live-streaming sales, I can also share my calligraphy with viewers," he said with satisfaction.
Founded in 2004, Yang Zhang Gui is a specialty food company that primarily produces convenience foods, and its Vermicelli, Noodle, Vegetable, and Egg product has become a national best-seller. In 2015, the company launched its factory store on Taobao, marking its transition to e-commerce.
As the company grew, it began focusing on providing assistance to people with disabilities. In 2021, the company invested in building a live-streaming base specifically for disabled employees, selecting individuals with strong communication skills and unique talents who could independently conduct live-stream sales as e-commerce hosts.
"Our company has three live-streaming bases—in Mengzhou, Zhoukou, and Zhengzhou—with more than 30 streaming rooms and over 40 disabled hosts like Suo Luosen," explained Zhang Shaolei, the company’s general manager.
In recent years, Yang Zhang Gui has pioneered a new “1+C+T” partnership model in e-commerce live-streaming. Here, “1” represents Yang Zhang Gui, “C” stands for Celebrities and online influencers, and “T” represents Telework, allowing employees to work from home.
On Singles’ Day (November 11), the company’s disability-friendly live-streaming cloud management platform was abuzz, with red dots flashing across the screen—each representing a disabled host live-streaming and selling products from home.
This platform integrates real-time data, live-stream management, and online training. Managers can monitor hosts’ live-stream statuses and audience sizes in real-time, while hosts can access training from home, receive company updates, and improve their performance. This has enhanced both the quality and quantity of live-streamed sales, ensuring steady income growth.
“Working here has given me a sense of purpose, and it feels great to be able to support myself,” said Wang Jiabin, a 27-year-old disabled employee who manages the platform’s operations daily.
Liu Jinkai, a disabled host working from home in Linzhou, said that his income from live-streaming allows him to send 1,000 yuan monthly to support his daughter in college, with enough left over to cover his family’s daily expenses.
"Currently, we have 286 disabled hosts from various regions, including Jiaozuo, Zhoukou, and Anyang. Each host needs to live-stream for just six hours a day, 22 days a month, to earn at least 2,200 yuan monthly, plus a minimum 10% sales commission," shared Jia Liya, head of the company’s disability-friendly live-streaming project.
Why does a private company focus on providing jobs for disabled individuals? “I grew up in poverty, and after establishing this business, I wanted to help other marginalized groups through our company,” said Yang Fan, the company’s chairman. “Over the years, we've committed to supporting, assisting, and respecting people with disabilities, creating a workplace tailored to their needs. Currently, we have 586 disabled employees, making up 39.6% of our workforce, which is well above the national requirement of 25% for welfare companies.”
In April of this year, Yang Zhang Gui received the "National Disability Employment Base" award from the China Disabled Persons' Federation, making it the only private company in Jiaozuo City to receive this honor. "We will continue to recruit disabled hosts and provide more jobs suited to people with disabilities," Yang Fan added.
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