A 29 year old woman in China has taken an unexpected career turn after leaving her job as a teacher due to stress.
Lisa Liu, who is from Heze in Shandong province, decided to walk away from the education field after feeling exhausted from handling students on a daily basis.
Instead of moving into another conventional job, she ventured into a business that many would not typically consider. She started selling coffins and now earns RM23 million annually.
Left teaching due to mounting pressure
Like many educators, Liu reportedly faced immense pressure while teaching. The constant responsibility of managing students and meeting expectations eventually took a toll on her.
As a result, she made the bold decision to resign and explore a completely different industry. In July 2023, she officially entered the coffin manufacturing and export business.
Focuses on exporting coffins to Europe
Rather than targeting the local market, Liu set her sights overseas. Her business focuses on exporting coffins to Europe, particularly Italy.
Heze, her hometown, plays a key role in the operation. The city is known for its abundance of paulownia trees, with around three million planted in the area.
The wood from these trees is widely used to make coffins as it is lightweight, has a low ignition point, and features an attractive wood grain.
Reported by mStar, coffins produced in Heze typically cost between US$90, which is approximately RM352, and US$150, which is approximately RM587.
In comparison, coffins in Europe can range from US$1,100, about RM4,301, to US$2,100, around RM8,211.
This makes the Chinese made versions significantly more affordable.
Exports 40,000 coffins a year
Over time, Liu’s factory has grown steadily. It now exports approximately 40,000 coffins to Europe each year.
The business reportedly generates around 40 million yuan annually, which is about RM23.2 million.
Despite challenges such as rising shipping costs, Liu remains confident about the industry’s future.
People die every day, and everyone will eventually need a coffin,” she said in an interview with Chinese media.
Her story has since sparked discussion online, with many surprised at how a career shift driven by stress ultimately led to multi million ringgit success.
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