The Moodie Report, famed British magazine in the travel retail industry, has published a feature story on Ever Rich Duty Free Shop titled “Impressive Public Service Facilities at Taoyuan International Airport by Ever Rich.” In the article, The Moodie Report’s editor-in-chief suggests that “all airport CEOs and owners of major global enterprises should book a flight to Taiwan, and spend a few hours there to fully experience Taoyuan International Airport. Because I have never seen any airport that can masterfully incorporate globalization and charming local features like Ever Rich does.” All these impressive achievements are the brainchildren of Ever Rich founder and Chairman Simon Chiang.
Mr Chiang came from a farmer family in Chiayi county in southern Taiwan. Though undereducated, his father Chiang Yung-Ray and mother Chiang Hsu Ying were both simple farmers nurtured by traditional Chinese culture. Unlike other entrepreneurs who only give back to the society after their successes, Simon Chiang committed himself to public service when he first started his own business. From protecting environment in the community to reaching out to minority groups, Simon Chiang contributed and asked for nothing in return. Later, he founded four charity foundations without external fundraising. These foundations are: Yungray Charity Foundation, Chiang Education Foundation, Ever Rich Foundation, and Chinese Traditional Culture Foundation. Mr Chiang continues to be involved in charity works, gives back to the society, and facilitates exchange of traditional Chinese culture.
An inspirational rags-to-riches entrepreneur, Simon Chiang first started as a leatherwork apprentice; he later founded OEM companies for leather products and boutiques. Mr Chiang founded Ever Rich D.F.S. Corporation in 1995, and opened the first airport duty free shop in 1997. Over two decades, Ever Rich has pursued its goals of “international operation and local services,” successfully promoting much of Taiwan’s natural and cultural sceneries to travellers from around the world through the platform of international airports. Ever Rich has won praises and recognitions for its themed airport waiting lounges and remarkable service quality. Ever Rich has won the recognition of Executive Yuan’s “Golden Thumb Award” three times in 2008, 2012, and 2013, and helped Taoyuan Airport to rank atop Airports Council International’s 2015 evaluation on quality of airport services in the category of 25 to 45 million-passenger-airports. To date, Ever Rich has established over 17 points of operation in Taiwan and offshore islands, and has over 8,000 employees.
Mr Chiang has unique and progressive management philosophy; on top of taking care of employees, adhering to laws and regulations, protecting benefits and rights of shareholders, and generating profits for government, Mr Chiang stresses the application and practice of traditional Chinese culture in everyday life.
Ever Rich uses Chinese classic texts, such as “Di Zi Gui (The Rules for Students),” “Liao Fan Si Xun (Liao-Fan’s Four Lessons),” and “Tai Shang Gan Ying Pian (Tractate of the Most High One on Actions and Consequences),” to shape and nurture corporate culture and educate and train employees, and all managerial personnel are required to lead by examples. Therefore, at monthly meetings, Ever Rich never reviews performances; instead, they strive to facilitate innovation and progress of the company through sharing success stories and reporting on volunteer works.
Ever Rich’s works in social welfare are not limited in Taiwan, as Ever Rich has shown great concerns for international emergency relief and global exchange of traditional Chinese culture. Ever Rich has received “The Ninth National Civic-Service Award” from Office of the President in 2011 and “Special Taiwan Tourism Contribution Award” by President Ma Ying-Jeou in 2013. In 2014, Ever Rich became the first duty free shop in the world to receive GRI3.1 and AA1000AS international CSR certifications. In the same year, Ever Rich became the first recipient of the “Moodie Report Humanitarian Award for Travel Retail” under the witness of over 400 senior executives in the travel retail industry. Looking back at the twenty-year history of Ever Rich, Mr Chiang has always reminded younger generations to “remember the traditions,” and follow Confucius’ teaching: “A young man should serve his parents at home and be respectful to elders outside his home. He should be earnest and truthful, loving all, but become intimate with his innate good-heartedness. After doing this, if he has energy to spare, he can study literature and the arts.” This way, young people can cultivate knowledge, build own character, and ultimately become indispensible members of the company.
Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, Ever Rich will not only pursue higher levels of professionalism and quality of service in the future, but also strive to expand globally and embrace love and friendliness of the world.
Mr Simon Chiang is a winner of the inaugural Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2015 Taiwan, where he received the honourable Special Achievement Award. The Awards were held on 8 October 2015 at Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan.
