Adam and Chen Xia, first-generation immigrants from China, arrived in the Bay Area 12 years ago. In a remarkably short period, they managed to complete their education, start working, get married, immigrate, and start a family—all while facing the challenges of launching multiple entrepreneurial ventures. Their business, “Lan Zi Chinese Goods,” now includes the Victory Nursery and Chinese Notary Services, along with three websites, including a Chinese lifestyle guide. Adam expressed his hope to integrate various services that cater to the needs of Chinese immigrants for their convenience.

The couple’s journey together began with their shared experiences in the Bay Area and a common faith. Chen Xia was baptized into the Christian faith at a young age due to her mother’s influence, while Adam first encountered the church during his studies. After meeting Chen Xia, they often attended church events together. Following graduation, Adam briefly worked before enlisting in the military, where he was stationed in Hawaii. In a show of support for their relationship, Chen Xia also enlisted and requested a transfer to join him in Hawaii.

Despite having humble beginnings, Adam harbored entrepreneurial dreams from a young age. He attempted to delve into computer software business during college and even tried setting up an Amazon store while in service, though these initial endeavors did not yield much success. However, this two-year military experience honed their skills, setting them up for a fresh start.

Recognizing a love among the Chinese community for gardening, Adam saw a business opportunity in the nursery industry after moving to the U.S. He started a website to share valuable experiences that could help other new immigrants. When a nursery supplier from Las Vegas approached him about advertising on his site, Adam and Chen Xia jumped at the chance. The supplier offered hawthorn and osmanthus trees—varieties loved by Chinese customers but hard to find in the U.S. They not only facilitated the advertising but also organized group sessions and invited experts to give online classes about planting techniques.

However, Adam’s lack of prior planting experience led to challenges; he failed to recognize that many of the nursery supplies were dead-root stock incapable of thriving. Customers who purchased these trees soon returned to Adam and Chen Xia for refunds after realizing they had been misled. Rather than shirking responsibility, the couple decided to take ownership of the situation and refunded customers out of their own pockets.

Rather than being discouraged by this setback, Adam recognized that fruit tree seedlings represented a significant opportunity. Many Chinese immigrants enjoy growing fruit trees in their backyards to savor the rewards. Unlike suppliers from big box stores such as Home Depot and Costco, which often offer small, slow-growing trees, Adam aimed to find robust varieties that would bear fruit quickly—some even already laden with fruit.

After extensive research, he began visiting nurseries throughout the Bay Area and even Los Angeles. He sought advice from experts and carefully compared options to find tree varieties more suited to the Chinese community. He specifically chose larger, healthier plants that could quickly yield fruit.

Adam then launched a website where he listed the carefully curated tree varieties favored by the Chinese community, offering delivery services alongside. The response was overwhelmingly positive, leading to soaring sales. As the business thrived, he hired dedicated customer service staff and participated in various regional exhibitions, where he distributed free promotional items, including seeds and candles shaped like persimmons and oranges, which were well-received.

Simultaneously, Adam pursued certification as a notary public, noting that many newly arrived Chinese immigrants often require notarization for their documents. His work as a notary brought him joy as it enabled him to assist others. However, seeing a gap in the market for in-home notary services, he envisioned bringing together scattered Chinese notaries through Lan Zi Chinese Goods, efficiently linking clients in need with local notaries.

Today, the Lan Zi Chinese Goods website serves not only as a shopping platform for Victory Nursery and a hub for notary services but also offers a wide range of services such as ticketing, consulting, matchmaking, business printing, driving tours, and insurance advising, while hosting numerous small Chinese businesses.

When asked if his past experience at Alibaba inspired him to create a North American equivalent of Taobao, Adam replied that he hadn’t thought that far ahead. His priority is to gather all the services that Chinese immigrants need in one place for convenience. He hopes Chinese immigrants will establish roots and enjoy fruitful lives, much like the thriving trees from Victory Nursery.