Duì shāngjiā láishuō, huítóukè shì zhēnzhèng de yīshí-fùmǔ.
For a business, repeat customers are its true livelihood.
Tips
history
Found in Tang Xianzu's (汤显祖) Ming drama 《南柯记》: '着甚么南庄田，北庄地，有溜二便是衣食父母', the land that feeds you is your parent. 'Clothing-and-food parents' extended this metaphor to anyone on whom one's livelihood depends.
culture
Business cliché: 顾客是衣食父母 ('customers are our bread and butter') is the Chinese equivalent of 'the customer is always right.' Treating clients with literal filial respect (since they 'feed' you) is still a pillar of Chinese retail and hospitality culture.
