Li Shufu, dubbed ‘The Chinese Henry Ford’ is the man responsible for the takeover of the renowned Volvo brand, by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Li Shufu is the chairman of the company that has just completed a $1.8 billion purchase of Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Co.

This transaction represents China’s largest offshore auto deal and illustrates the growing influence of the country on the international market. Li Shufu seems to be intent on building a global brand with high prestige and profit margins.

Mr. Li Shufu is the son of a farmer from the Zhejiang province, in China. He started to make cars in 1997, despite criticism that he had no experience or track record. Some of the traits of his personality are similar to Henry Ford’s, beginning with their childhood spent on a farm and a determination to build cars from nothing. This is why he probably wished to buy Volvo from Henry Ford’s company.

The agreement to buy Volvo was first announced in December 2009, as Volvo has been on the market since 2008. Ford Motor Co. was hoping that Volvo sales could pay off the debts and allow focusing on Ford’s core brands in this difficult time for the auto industry.

As Volvo has been struggling to increase sales and has not registered profits since 2005, this deal could mean a very profitable move for Volvo. China is the currently the world’s biggest car market, with a rise of 50% compared to the previous year. The company also intends to benefit from the European market Volvo is associated with.

Volvo will remain a separate company with headquarters still in Sweden. The existing manufacturing facilities in Sweden and Belgium will be preserved. Car manufacturing will however, take place in China, catering for the Chinese consumers. The Chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group wants China to become the second home market for Volvo.

Li Shufu was trained as a mechanical engineer, but after graduating high school he opened a photo studio in his native village. He moved into refrigerator parts business in 1984, then into motorcycles turning a state managed company into the best-known domestic brand in China. He moved into cars and his company became the largest privately owned car maker in the country.

He came to be one of the richest men in China by focusing on mass-marketing cars with prices around $6,000. By contrast, Volvo will sell cars for as much as $205,000. In 2009, Mr. Li was ranked number 44 richest man in mainland China by ‘The 400 Richest Chinese’ American Forbes. One other pursuit is to manufacture TX4 cabs after ensuring a controlling stake with Manganese Bronze, a London based black cab taxi manufacturer.

Although Li had once dreamed of taking America by storm with the cheapest car, he changed his mind and decided to have a luxury brand as China’s biggest privately owned automaker. And he finally succeeded, but still he has to face other problems of a company with an expensive cost base and a safe but rather boring car. Will Li succeed where Ford failed?

Edison pearls are the result of many years of experimentation and perfection of the cultivating technique – a significant achievement for the cultured pearl industry. But what makes different than another farm? These are almost perfectly round, they come in sizes of up to ¾ inch, their skin is smooth, they have an intense luster, and they come in many different colors, such as purple, pink, bronze, peach, gold, champagne, and white.

The History of Edison Pearls

These were first introduced to the market in 2010 by Grace Pearls, a group of cultivating companies situated in Zhuji, a town in the Zhejiang Province in east-central China. This worked closely with Zhejiang University to develop the cultivating process used to create these unique pearls. After five years of research and experimentation, they were finally happy with the results.

Zhan Weijian, president of Grace Pearls, named these after Thomas Edison. Ironically, Mr. Zhan did not choose the name out of admiration for Thomas Edison, but rather out of appreciation for their own achievement. In an interview, he said that “Edison, for all his intelligence, could not invent pearls or diamonds.”

How Are Edison Pearls Cultivated?

Edison Pearl Jewelry

Edison Pearl Jewelry

Grace Pearls guard their techniques closely and they don’t even want reveal on which of their farms they grow Edison.

What we do know is that the mollusks are carefully selected through genetic research. The mussels are implanted with tiny beads, instead of mussel tissue like other freshwater cultivated pearls. They also use a special method when inserting the beads, which is slightly different from the technique other farms are using.

Also, the water temperature and level of mussels are other important factors for Edison Pearl farming. Depending on different seasons, the water level for hanging mussels has to be changed in order to cultivate better quality jewelry.

Most freshwater mussels produce many small pieces of jewelry, while Edison mollusks only produce one gem per mollusk, which is why these can become so huge.

Superior Quality of Edison Pearls

The first cultivated jewelry was farmed successfully in 1916. These early pearls were of low grade, but over the years many improvements were made to the cultivating process, and the quality improved a lot. But the quality was taken up a notch with the introduction of Edison pearls to the market. The size, shape, luster, and colors of Edison pearls are phenomenal, putting these are in a class of their own. What makes them even more remarkable is the fact that they are surprisingly affordable.

Women throughout the world are now able to afford of superior quality in any shape, size, and color they prefer. Have a look at our Edison jewelry direct from Grace Pearls’ headquarters. You’re sure to find something that suits your style.