pjbooks Chapter 62: A Dilemma, Then I Thought of Something!
Chapter 62: A Dilemma, Then I Thought of Something!
"This dress is nice, I'll buy it!"
"Buy a sewing kit."
"This jacket is nice!"
"Make way, don't block the way!"
"Let me through!"
"Whose child is this? Keep a close eye on them!"
"..."
On the other side, the Emmy Department Store was bustling with customers, so many that the aisles were blocked.
To move forward, one has to push and shout.
This scene was even more spectacular than the Chinese New Year celebrations last month!
Stockings bring not only profits to department stores, but also a huge customer base.
In fact, similar practices were implemented in supermarkets and pharmacies in later generations.
Emmy Department Store used stockings as a gimmick to attract everyone's attention and get people to rush to buy them.
Whether or not they ultimately managed to snag the stockings, once they entered the department store, they wouldn't mind buying anything they already wanted.
Later supermarkets and pharmacies, lacking such eye-catching features, focused on price.
The unprofitable goods were discounted, and special offers were made to attract customers to the store.
Although that batch of goods was used to attract customers, it resulted in very low profits or even potential losses.
However, once customer traffic increased, the profits were recouped from other profitable products that weren't discounted.
You need to have customers first before you can have the opportunity to sell your goods.
If you open your business but it's deserted and not a single person comes in, you naturally won't make any money.
For example, some businesses that sell high-value products will advertise in shopping malls or other crowded places, offering small gifts to customers who come into the store.
Regardless of whether you buy anything in the end, you will receive a gift.
This has led many curious people to enter the store specifically for the gifts.
Once someone enters the store, whether or not a sale is made depends on the individual's sales skills.
Therefore, a paradox circulates in the world: Eloquence is useless, yet eloquence is useful!
The owner of Aimei Department Store, Mr. Gu, saw that stockings could make money and also serve as a gimmick to attract customers, which is why he attached such importance to them.
And the sales on the first day were indeed as he had predicted.
The department store was bustling with noise, a cacophony of voices as people haggled over prices, creating a lively atmosphere.
Every now and then, the secretary would provide a statistical report on the sales figures.
Mr. Gu stood by the window, holding an imported cigar, and couldn't stop smiling as he looked at the lively scene outside.
Turning to him, he urged, "Manager Du, when will the next batch of stockings arrive?"
The voice was friendly, yet tinged with urgency.
The batch of stockings that Lin Wanyun brought back consisted of only 100,000 pairs.
Of those 50,000 pairs, Director Zheng took them to Beiping (Beijing) to sell them throughout the Northeast market.
And what they earn is all the money of those capitalists.
Therefore, only 50,000 pairs of shoes remained in Shanghai.
Moreover, it wasn't exclusively owned by Ema Department Store; it was shared equally with two other department stores.
In other words, this lively scene wasn't limited to this location; it was also unfolding in two other places.
Each family can only get a little over ten thousand pairs.
Even with limited sales, given the current popularity, it won't last more than three days before it sells out.
Everyone here is a shrewd businessman, so they can naturally see the huge benefits that stockings bring.
Given the constraints of supplier backgrounds and the inability to monopolize the market, the only option is to capture as much market share as possible.
Whoever has a larger share can sell for a long time, thus maintaining popularity and increasing customer base for the department store.
Therefore, in the eyes of the three wealthy businessmen, stockings were not just a commodity, but a trump card to attract customers to the entire department store!
Du Hengtai, who was regarded as a business representative from the South, naturally became their favorite and honored guest.
Moreover, in the current situation, being able to maintain good relations with people from the south is also a way to leave yourself a way out for the future.
If the situation in Shanghai collapses one day and I really can't stay any longer, I can go south and have acquaintances to take care of me, right?
This is also why Du Hengtai deliberately spread the news to add an identity to himself.
At this critical juncture, even the arrogant and domineering Secret Service wouldn't dare to be rude to him before confirming his identity was false.
Otherwise, if the identity is real, wouldn't that be tantamount to digging one's own grave?
Du Hengtai sat in a comfortable leather chair, a cigar between two fingers.
He took a leisurely puff, his practiced movements giving him the air of a big businessman.
He said with a smile, "Boss Gu, you should know what the situation is right now."
Back home, everyone was in a state of panic, planning for the future. Wouldn't someone else covet something as lucrative as stockings?
In addition to Shanghai, other cities will also gradually begin selling the product.
With current production capacity, we are not yet able to provide sufficient supply.
In other words, Du had some connections in the south, and the people behind him had influence, which is why he was able to get the quota of 50,000 pairs.
In markets like Nanjing, we've only managed to get 10,000 pairs!
However, I heard that due to the tense situation in Nanjing, there were small groups of Communist troops harassing the market.
The stockings and military supplies were attacked on the way and were all burned.
According to the information I received, the person in charge of Nanjing sent a telegram requesting 3 pairs of shoes this time, in order to recover all the losses from last time!
So, Boss Gu, don't even think about getting more stock; maintaining the status quo will be good enough!
His sincere attitude, coupled with the helplessness and difficulty in his voice, naturally earned him more trust.
Moreover, it's normal for stockings produced using this latest technology to be in short supply.
The hesitant tone made it sound as if the quantity would be reduced next time.
Unfortunately, Boss Gu was unaware that all of this was a scheme devised by a young man surnamed Chen 76 years later.
Selling stockings now is to make money off the rich, in preparation for future liberation.
That's why they retaliated by controlling the quantity.
Otherwise, given the manufacturing speed of China in 2025, it could supply not only Shanghai, but also the entire world!
However, the restrictions were lifted only after the liberation of Shanghai.
When the new government takes control, lowering the price will make it affordable for ordinary people, which can be considered a beneficial measure for the people.
When Boss Gu heard the troubled tone in the voice, his heart skipped a beat.
Without stockings as a flagship product to attract customers, they wouldn't have much of an advantage compared to other department stores.
Not only will they not make money from stockings, but the entire department store's business will also be affected.
Boss Gu gave the man sitting in the leather chair a deep look, then turned around, opened his office drawer, and took out a small wooden box.
Smiling, he handed it over: "This is just a small token from me, Manager Du. I hope you'll take good care of it!"
Du Hengtai took the box, opened it, and saw that it contained several small, golden yellow croakers.
The so-called "wartime gold" and "golden antiques of prosperous times" are now considered hard currency in the current situation!
It is the foundation for a stable life!
A box of ten small yellow croakers already shows enough sincerity.
Du Hengtai grinned and put the box away without any hesitation.
As an agent from the south, accepting bribes in private is the bare minimum!
He smiled meaningfully and said, "I just suddenly remembered something...!"