Why read this: This is a simple story about a young man who started small and built a big company. Ding Shizhong left school at 17. He took 600 pairs of shoes to a big city. Slowly, his small shop grew into Anta, one of the biggest sports brands in China. Students will like this 'rags to riches' story. It shows that big companies often start very small. The story is also a good way to talk about Chinese brands and how they go to other countries.
What to notice: Notice the order of the story. It moves from the past (the late 1980s) to today. Look at the small numbers in the story: 17 years old, 600 pairs of shoes, and more than 10,000 shops. These numbers help students see how the company grew. Also notice the simple word 'but' in sentences like 'But beating Nike is not easy.' This word shows a problem after some good news.
Skills practised: Students practise reading short, simple sentences. They learn five useful business words from the side notes: 'multi-brand strategy', 'controlling stake', 'brand ambassador', 'made in China', and 'supply chain'. The questions ask students to find facts in the text and to put events in order. The open questions ask students to describe and to list things from the story. This is good practice for finding and organising information.
A Chinese Brand That Wants to Beat Nike
How a young man with 600 pairs of shoes built a famous Chinese sports brand called Anta
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
In China, a man named Ding Shizhong started one of the country's most famous shoe companies. Today his brand is called Anta. It is one of the biggest sports brands in China. Anta now wants to be famous in America too. But first, it must compete with Nike.
Ding's story began in the late 1980s. He was only 17 years old when he left high school early. His family had a small shoe factory in southern China. Ding decided to take 600 pairs of shoes to a big city to sell them. With this money, he opened his very first small workshop. He started making shoes for other companies, but he had bigger dreams.
Slowly, his business grew larger and larger. Ding gave the company the name Anta. The word means 'safe steps' in Chinese. Soon, Anta opened many shops all over China. It also made shoes for big sports events. Today, Anta has more than 10,000 shops in China.
Anta also bought parts of other famous Western brands. This plan is called a . Anta bought a in some Western sports companies. It also paid famous athletes to be a for Anta. Some people in the West do not trust a brand. So Anta uses Western names to sell more of its products.
In February, Anta opened its first shop in America. China makes most of the world's shoes today. It has a strong for shoes and sports clothes. But beating Nike is not easy. Nike is still the biggest sports brand in the world. Anta knows this very well. The company says it will keep trying for many years.
In China, a man named Ding Shizhong started one of the country's most famous shoe companies. Today his brand is called Anta. It is one of the biggest sports brands in China. Anta now wants to be famous in America too. But first, it must compete with Nike.
Ding's story began in the late 1980s. He was only 17 years old when he left high school early. His family had a small shoe factory in southern China. Ding decided to take 600 pairs of shoes to a big city to sell them. With this money, he opened his very first small workshop. He started making shoes for other companies, but he had bigger dreams.
Slowly, his business grew larger and larger. Ding gave the company the name Anta. The word means 'safe steps' in Chinese. Soon, Anta opened many shops all over China. It also made shoes for big sports events. Today, Anta has more than 10,000 shops in China.
Anta also bought parts of other famous Western brands. This plan is called a . Anta bought a in some Western sports companies. It also paid famous athletes to be a for Anta. Some people in the West do not trust a brand. So Anta uses Western names to sell more of its products.
In February, Anta opened its first shop in America. China makes most of the world's shoes today. It has a strong for shoes and sports clothes. But beating Nike is not easy. Nike is still the biggest sports brand in the world. Anta knows this very well. The company says it will keep trying for many years.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
How old was Ding Shizhong when he left high school?
- 02
How many shops does Anta have in China today?
- 03
Why does Anta buy other Western brands?
- 04
Describe how Ding Shizhong started his shoe business. Use three details from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
List three things Anta does to grow bigger and become famous in other countries.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
How old was Ding Shizhong when he left high school?
- 02
How many shops does Anta have in China today?
- 03
Why does Anta buy other Western brands?
- 04
Describe how Ding Shizhong started his shoe business. Use three details from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
List three things Anta does to grow bigger and become famous in other countries.
Suggested length: ~50 words