DIY workshops for arts and crafts could be found in almost any big cities in China. They give people the opportunity to make things like lipsticks, jewelry, pottery, homemade cakes or dolls. Some of these shops are even located in fancy shopping malls. 

However, the concept of "Do It Yourself" in China is different from that in the West. Chinese don’t consider repairing houses or setting up furniture as an activity of fun and pleasure. Instead, they like DIY for some small accessories like lipsticks, leather bags and purses. How has the business evolved in China? 

You can buy almost buy anything a DIY shop can offer at a reasonable price on e-commerce shopping sites like Taobao, JD.com, Amazon or eBay. Does that make DIY shops irrelevant? Well, maybe not. But what exactly are DIY shop owners doing to offer a unique customer experience that you won't get when shopping online? 

The Chinese version of DIY is not necessarily the same as it is in the West, but it is interesting to see what sort of ethics and principles develop here and how it grows into a lucrative business. Since DIY is still a new thing in China, most DIY shops are still struggling to obtain and retain customers. The good news is that some DIY shop owners have already come up with a few effective solutions to woo more customers.