Extreme Career Pivot! Chinese Woman Quits Teaching to Export Coffins, Earning Over 180 Million Baht Annually

Liu Lisa, a 29-year-old former teacher from Heze City in Shandong Province, China, quit her seemingly stable job after experiencing accumulated stress and chronic hoarseness. She unexpectedly transitioned into the coffin manufacturing business, generating over 180 million baht annually. Her turning point came in July 2023 when she accidentally attended a job interview and toured a comprehensive coffin production factory, observing processes from wood cutting to carving and assembly. Initially nervous, she discovered that for workers, coffins were simply another wood product, gradually dispelling superstitious beliefs. Her business focuses on the European market, especially Italy, noting significant cultural differences in funeral practices. Chinese coffins are typically large, heavy, and dark, while Italian coffins are lighter and often religiously decorated. In Italy, coffins are cremated with the deceased, unlike in China where only the body is typically cremated. Heze has approximately 3 million Paulownia trees, which are lightweight, fire-resistant, and have beautiful wood grain—ideal for the European market. Their production costs remain competitive, with coffins priced between 2,900-4,700 baht, compared to European prices of 35,000-66,000 baht. Currently, her factory exports around 40,000 coffins annually, generating about 40 million yuan (approximately 182 million baht). Despite challenges from European Union regulations and increasing transportation costs, she remains confident, simply stating, 'People die every day, and everyone needs a coffin.'