Core Insights - Zheng Yuan's professional foot care business has rapidly expanded into a significant commercial empire, with over 9,103 stores globally and an annual revenue of 13 billion yuan in 2023 [2][7][4] - The company aims to go public and is focusing on global market expansion while continuing to open new stores domestically [2][7] - Despite its growth, the company faces a trust crisis due to a surge in customer complaints regarding service quality and treatment effectiveness [2][3][8] Company Overview - Zheng Yuan, born in 1983, started his career in foot care after dropping out of school at 14 and learning the trade from his uncle [4][5] - The company was founded in 2007 and has since expanded rapidly, establishing a brand and training school to attract franchisees [5][6] - As of 2023, the company employs 75,000 staff and serves over 108 million customers annually, with membership exceeding 14 million [2][7] Expansion Strategy - The company has set an ambitious goal of reaching 50,000 stores in the future, with a current focus on global market penetration [7] - The average monthly salary for employees is projected to be 8,292 yuan in 2024, and the company has implemented an employee stock ownership plan [7] Customer Complaints and Quality Control - There are over 750 complaints on the Black Cat Complaints platform, primarily concerning issues like "induced card purchases," "unprofessional techniques," and "hygiene concerns" [3][8] - The company has a quality control system that includes training, monitoring, and surprise inspections, but rapid expansion has led to inconsistencies in service quality [9][10] Treatment and Pricing - The business model relies on selling products, membership prepayments, and treatment services, with high profit margins on treatments like toenail fungus [11] - Treatment costs for toenail fungus range from 680 yuan to 980 yuan per nail, with total costs for full foot treatment potentially exceeding 6,800 yuan [13] - Medical experts criticize the treatment methods used by the company, suggesting that traditional methods like nail removal are outdated and less effective compared to modern treatments [13]