At six o'clock in the evening that day, shortly after the evening rush hour after get off work, a community elderly care service center in Ningbo's Yinzhou District suddenly became lively.
The seventy-two-year-old Master Chen had just completed moxibustion in the physiotherapy room, and then moved to the canteen next door to pack a hot grilled crucian carp with green onions.
Waving a senior dining card in his hand, he smiled and greeted the social worker he knew well, saying that he and his wife were the only ones at home, and one meal was enough to feed three meals. It was not as convenient as here, where there were many varieties of meals and the prices were cheap.
Scenes like this have now become the norm in many streets in Ningbo.
In an office building not far from the senior care center, 33-year-old Ms. Zhou had just finished her day's work. She was not in a hurry to return home, but went straight to the 24-hour self-service fitness cabin downstairs.
She scanned the code first, then opened the door, put on her headphones, and then ran on the treadmill for half an hour. This was the most relaxing moment of her day.
In the past, a trip to the gym would have taken an hour on the road, but now you can meet your fitness needs downstairs, your schedule is very flexible, and you don’t have to worry about being pushed to apply for a card. This novel and unique fitness model, which pays according to the number of times and has no one on duty to manage, has attracted many office workers like her.
On Saturdays and Sundays, she would invite friends to the newly opened RV camping site next to Dongqian Lake, rent a tent, make a pot of coffee, and enjoy the scenery of the lake and mountains.
In her words: “When I spend money now, I am more willing to buy experience and relaxation.”
The focus shifted to an old community in the west of the city. On weekend mornings, an event called the Community Parent-Child Market was currently being held in the open space of the community.
Here, several children, accompanied by their parents, set up stalls to exchange idle picture books and toys; there, teachers from a social childcare institution were leading children to carry out handicraft activities, and doctors from community health service centers were also nearby to provide free child health consultation services.
Ms. Li, a young mother pushing a baby stroller, lamented that when she wanted to find reliable childcare for her children in the past, it was either too far away or uneasy. Now that there is a professional one at her doorstep and the price is reasonable, it really solves a big problem.
At this time, in the activity room of the community next door, a smartphone training class for the elderly was being held. Volunteers were teaching the elderly how to make an appointment and how to make a video call in person.
These fragments, which seem to be small aspects of life, reflect the profound changes in Ningbo people's consumption concepts.
Aunt Zhang has been selling seafood at Yuehu Market for decades. She found that regular customers are more particular about choosing fish and shrimp. After buying, they will stop by the housekeeping service company upstairs to make an appointment for in-depth cleaning, or ask if there is a reliable hourly taxi worker.
The specialty bars and Livehouses on the Old Bund are crowded with young people on weekend nights. These young people go for a performance by a niche band, and they go there to enjoy the atmosphere created by a specially prepared cocktail.
In various large shopping malls, the popularity of traditional-style clothing counters may not be as popular as it used to be. However, upstairs, there are parent-child-themed restaurants, indoor venues where you can experience skiing, and courses where you can participate in handmade leather goods, but all the seats are often occupied, and there is no room.
People are increasingly willing to pay for time , experience , and spiritual satisfaction .
The supply side of services is also quietly changing.
In Xiangshan, there is an owner who has been engaged in the fisherman's entertainment business for 20 years. He recently renovated his yard and added barrier-free facilities suitable for the elderly. He has launched a slow-paced wellness route for senior tour groups from Shanghai and Hangzhou, including watching the sunrise, catching a small sea, making fish balls and other projects. Compared with simply providing seafood catering, his business has been significantly improved.
There is a children's programming institution in the southern business district. This institution originally only conducted offline training, but then developed small online classes. It not only sells courses, but also sells teaching aid boxes, and has reached out to more families across the country with the help of live streaming e-commerce.
These new business formats integrate cultural tourism , health care , education , and technology . They are breaking industry boundaries and reshaping the city's business ecology.
Of course, change doesn't happen overnight.
Aunt Lin lives in Haishu District and has always wanted to find a nursing home where she can feel at ease. However, she consulted several homes, but either the queue time was too long or the price exceeded her expectations.
I wanted to sign up for a reliable daycare for my three-year-old grandson, but found that there were still too few choices at home.
If I want to take my family to watch a high-quality children's drama on weekends, I often have to go to Shanghai or Hangzhou.
These "blocking points" that exist in reality truly reflect the current shortage of elderly care service resources, insufficient supply of high-end culture and other challenges.
The true vitality of a city is often hidden in the daily fireworks of the city.
The consumption of these services has different situations. Some are a meal in the community canteen that can make people feel warm, some are sports that can bring a sense of joy after get off work, and some are activities that can provide companionship between parents and children on weekends. Behind them is the simplest and most concrete yearning that people have for a better life.
Once those subtle needs are seen and met, the latent power of domestic demand will be quietly stimulated, and the driving force for economic growth will become more interesting and flexible.
Ningbo is a city with a manufacturing foundation and an open temperament. It is relying on these changes in life within reach to write a new chapter of its own high-quality development.
Comments NOTHING