Chen Ning organizes tools at her workshop in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on March 18. [Photo provided by Chen Ning]

A female-led home repair team founded by a doctoral student in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has completed more than 700 service orders in six months.

Chen Ning, 27, from Taizhou, Zhejiang province, founded the team, known as "Mulan Repairwomen," in September 2025 after pausing her doctoral studies. Her academic research focuses on social psychology and female leadership, and her fieldwork made her aware of how few women work in technical trades such as electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, and low-voltage installation.

Chen said she had long been interested in hands-on work and had also studied the market potential of home repair services. After deciding to test the idea herself, she spent three months training with an experienced technician, moving from basic assistance to independent operation, and later obtained an electrician certificate.

Her first job came through a service platform and involved repairing a ceiling light at nearly 8 pm for a woman living alone. Chen said the experience showed that a female technician can sometimes give customers — especially women who live by themselves — a greater sense of security, making them more willing to accept evening repair services rather than wait until the next day.

Chen Ning (middle) and her team. [Photo provided by Chen Ning]

The team has worked to address long-standing complaints in the sector, especially around opaque pricing. Before each visit, technicians assess the problem in advance and explain each part of the quoted cost, including labor and materials. Chen said women technicians can also have an advantage in communication, particularly when unexpected issues arise, and clients need clear options on site.

In half a year, the team has grown from one person to nearly 20, and its services have expanded from water and electrical repairs to general home maintenance, pre-delivery housing inspections, and renovation work. Chen said she hopes more women will enter traditional trades.