Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Chapter 1179 Clothing Supermarket
"Ah, there are so many twists and turns in doing business?"

Liu Xiaoling scratched her head.

He Jiawen laughed: "Why do you think money is so easy to make?"

The third brother, He Jiayi, said sternly, "Every time Ouyang comes home, he looks like he's just escaped. Although he never tells me how hard life is out there, I can tell from the way he buys tickets that get farther and farther each time how hard he works to make more money."

Even Qin Hao had to admit that Ouyang was indeed very hardworking. As more and more people came to buy treasury bonds, many people already knew the value of treasury bonds. In order to collect more treasury bonds, they had to go to more remote towns. The public security in the 1980s was not like that of forty years later. In those days, many remote areas would kill people and throw them directly into the ravine, and the bodies could not be found.

Qin Hao also advised Ouyang not to take risks. Perhaps because he had lived through hard times for too long, Ouyang had a special obsession with making money and would feel uncomfortable if he didn't make any.

While cooking, Qin Hao pulled He Jiayi into the kitchen under the pretext of asking her to help.

"Brother-in-law, I really can't cook."

Qin Hao handed her a few potatoes: "Can you peel them?"

“That’s true.”

While He Jiayi was peeling the skin, Qin Hao reminded her, "You and Lao Wu should open a clothing store together. Let Lao Wu be in charge of sales. Don't let her touch the money."

"Why?" He Jiayi asked puzzledly.

"How much does Lao Wu make per month at work?"

"Thirty-six."

"The income from opening a clothing store will be hundreds of times her salary. With such a large sum of money coming up suddenly, given Lao Wu's personality, he will definitely squander it lavishly, and he might even lose the money he spent on purchasing the goods."

He Jiayi nodded in agreement. Based on her understanding of Lao Wu, she could really do such a thing.

"But, will this make Lao Wu think that I am cheating her out of her money?"

"It's not that you don't give her money to spend, but you have to limit it. Give her two to three hundred yuan a month, which is already ten times her salary. It's enough for her to live a life she never dared to imagine before. You can use the rest of the money to expand your business or buy more goods. Just think of it as saving it for her and give it to her in a few years when she is more mature."

He Jiayi sincerely sighed: "My second brother-in-law really has good intentions."

"Stop flattering me. Have you peeled the potatoes?"

"It's done."

Qin Hao looked at the potatoes that He Jiayi was peeling and was speechless: "Forget it, forget it. You should go out and chat with Lao Wu."

……

In the following month, Liu Xiaoling pretended to go out early and come back late every day, but in fact she was helping He Jiayi with the preliminary preparations for opening a clothing store.

"I think our clothing store can't be too high-end. We are all working class people, and our monthly salary is basically 30 or 40 yuan. It's unrealistic to ask them to spend several months' salary to buy a piece of clothing."

After listening to He Jiayi's analysis, Liu Xiaoling nodded in agreement, but also expressed a different opinion.

"But if we go for the low-end route, as my second brother-in-law said, the competition will be fierce in the future."

He Jiayi nodded: "I heard from my second brother-in-law that there is a kind of shopping mall abroad called a supermarket. There are no counters in it. Customers take the goods directly to the front desk to pay. Can we open a clothing supermarket?"

"Clothing supermarket?" Liu Xiaoling was confused.

He Jiayi also had a flash of inspiration, but she had never seen a supermarket, so she could only ask Qin Hao for help.

"Clothing supermarket? Third brother, your idea is really advanced." Qin Hao was also a little surprised.

He Jiayi's eyes lit up: "Second brother-in-law, do you think you can do it?"

"I am capable, but the operation and management model of a supermarket is different from that of an ordinary store. It requires a very high level of management skills. If you really want to do this, you need to learn a lot of knowledge."

He Jiayi was a little nervous: "Second brother-in-law, do you think I can learn it?"

"Of course, the fact that you can come up with this idea shows that you have a good business sense. And I have always felt that among you sisters, you have the most business talent."

He Jiayi was a little embarrassed by the compliment: "Really?"

As a result, Qin Hao changed the subject: "But if you want to open a clothing supermarket, starting tonight, you and Lao Wu will have to come to my place for extra lessons. You still have a lot to learn."

"Ah~~~" Liu Xiaoling wailed. She hated studying the most.

"No problem." He Jiayi was full of energy. Although Ouyang made a lot of money, the risks were also great. Qin Hao also said that there would be policy changes next year and the treasury bond business probably wouldn't last long. If she could make the clothing supermarket a success, she could also share some of the pressure with Ouyang.

That evening, the "small classroom" resumed classes.

"Brother-in-law, aren't we going to talk about how to open a clothing supermarket? Why do I have to learn arithmetic?" Liu Xiaoling looked hopeless.

Qin Hao said seriously: "For example, your clothing supermarket has just opened, what is the fastest way to attract customers?"

"Discount?" This is a promotional method that He Jiayi has seen in Shanghai.

"That's right. How much discount do you think we can offer to ensure that we don't lose money, but still make customers feel that they have made a profit, thus attracting them to the store?"

Now He Jiayi was also confused, and Liu Xiaoling was even more bewildered.

"Before you start discounting, you need to calculate the costs first, not just the cost of the goods, but also the rent, utilities, and labor costs. All the costs should be apportioned to the cost of each piece of clothing, and then you can set your selling price. For example, if you calculate that all the costs of a piece of clothing add up to three yuan, then your normal price should be more than five yuan."

"And the discount price for the event cannot be lower than 40%, otherwise you will basically be working in vain. You will only make a profit if it is 30% off..."

After listening to Qin Hao's analysis, He Jiayi benefited a lot, but Liu Xiaoling was still worried about how to calculate the cost and how to calculate the discount price. Her academic performance was only slightly better than Lao Liu's, but also very limited.

"Brother-in-law, isn't it too troublesome to give a discount? Why don't you mark the price so that we can make a profit and sell it directly?" Liu Xiaoling couldn't help but ask.

Qin Hao said seriously, "This involves the course of consumer psychology. For example, if a piece of clothing originally costs 10 yuan, but is discounted by 30%, it only costs 7 yuan. Which one do you think will sell better, compared to a piece of clothing priced at 6 yuan?"

“The seven-yuan ones should be selling well because customers will feel they are getting a good deal,” He Jiayi had an idea.

Qin Hao nodded approvingly: "Yes, this is the anchoring effect in consumer psychology. The price of ten yuan is an anchor. When customers see this anchor, they will subconsciously think that this piece of clothing is worth ten yuan. But if you mark the price at six yuan, others will think it is only worth six yuan."

He Jiayi benefited a lot from the remedial classes for half a month, and Liu Xiaoling also learned a lot. However, as a result, their previous store opening plan had to be completely scrapped and started over again.

Fortunately, Qin Hao continued to help them improve the details. After a month of polishing, He Jiayi finally came up with a specific implementation plan for the clothing supermarket.

Of course, the amount of investment has also increased several times. Since it is a clothing supermarket, we cannot just open a small store casually, and we also have to find a new source of goods.

He Jiayi was not afraid of trouble and often went to Shanghai. She basically went to both the Huating Road Clothing Market and the Qiupu Road Clothing Market and got the first batch of goods.

This batch of goods are basically the leftovers from foreign trade clothing factories. They are cheap, of good quality, and most importantly, have fashionable styles.

The first snow of the winter of 1987 arrived as expected, and the clothing supermarket jointly opened by He Jiayi and Liu Xiaoling also opened amid the sound of firecrackers.

Before this, He Jiayi had thought of many ways to promote the product, such as inviting a waist drum team to play drums and gongs along the streets, and following Qin Hao's advice to post small advertisements and distribute flyers on telephone poles in various streets.

The commotion was quite loud and attracted a large number of customers that day.

The moment the door of the clothing supermarket opened, the bright 40% off sign at the door made the customers who had been waiting for a long time unable to hold back and rushed in.

According to Liu Xiaoling, she had never seen such a crazy shopping scene in her life. Customers flocked into the clothing supermarket as if they were free. She also truly experienced what it was like to count money until her hands cramped.

That was really a cramp. Not only did he count the money once when he collected it, he also counted it again when he closed the door and counted the money.

Of course, the income did not disappoint them. In just one day, they earned more than 3,000 yuan, which was pure profit.

The three-day opening event made the clothing supermarket the focus of the entire Tianjia'an, and naturally, it also caused other clothing stores to have poor business.

"Lulu, if this continues, our store will definitely go bankrupt."

A ruffian-like young man looked at the clothing supermarket that was about to become a tourist attraction.

A fashionable woman next to him was furious when she heard this: "60% off for everything. I've never seen business done this way before. This is going to squeeze all the clothing stores on our street to death."

"Maozi, you have to think of a way to deal with these two little girls."

Maozi's eyes flashed with coldness when he heard this: "Humph, they dare to tamper with the Tai Sui. I think they are tired of living."

Early the next morning, He Jiayi and Liu Xiaoling came to the clothing supermarket early, ready to open the door for business. However, before they even got close, a pungent odor hit them in the face.

"Who did this?"

He Jiayi looked at the mess at the door and was so angry that he jumped up and down.

Liu Xiaoling almost vomited the breakfast she had just eaten.

The vendors around were also covering their noses. Some were watching the fun, while others were urging them to quickly clean up the things at the door so as not to affect their business.

He Jiayi had no choice but to take Liu Xiaoling and the store employees to clean the entrance. They used five basins of water and washed it three times before the smell was finally gone. However, this delayed many customers' purchases.

"Who is this? Do you have any shame to use such despicable means?"

Liu Xiaoling was so angry that she stood at the door and cursed.

Maozi swaggered forward, his eyes lingering over Liu Xiaoling, "Hey, sister, what's wrong? Did you offend someone and get dung thrown at you? Then you better be careful. Cutting off someone's financial resources is like killing their parents. I think throwing dung at you is just a warning. If you keep doing this, who knows what will happen."

He Jiayi pulled Liu Xiaoling behind him: "Who are you?"

"My name is Maozi, and you brothers should call me Brother Mao for your respect. My two sisters, listen to my advice. This business is not something that everyone can do. You are so beautiful, why do you have to show up in public? Wouldn't it be better to find a man to support you?"

A few thugs behind Maozi laughed lewdly.

"You are hooligans." Liu Xiaoling was so angry that her hands were shaking.

"Oh my, my sister is really good at judging people."

Seeing this, He Jiayi pulled Liu Xiaoling into the store.

"Third sister, this was most likely done by these guys."

"I know, but we have no evidence. What can we do to them?"

"Are we just going to let this matter go?" Liu Xiaoling was indignant.

He Jiayi shook his head: "Unless we close the shop, they will definitely not stop. These hooligans have many tricks up their sleeves."

"Closing? Third sister, we invested so much money in this store..."

"We definitely can't close the door. Since he wants to fight, let's fight him to the end."

Liu Xiaoling's eyes lit up: "Third sister, have you thought of a solution?"

That night, shortly after the clothing supermarket closed, Maozi brought a group of thugs and planned to do it again according to the method of yesterday.

As a result, just as they started to act, seven or eight big men rushed out from the darkness, chased them and started beating them up.

Each of these people had a wooden stick in their hands, and it was obvious that they had prepared in advance. The Maozi group was caught off guard and could only run away, but they were soon caught up and knocked down by this group of people.

"Sister-in-law, these are the guys. How do you think we should deal with them?"

Ouyang Bao's elder brother Ouyang Xu threw Maozi in front of He Jiayi like a chick.

Maozi was beaten black and blue, but he did not give in: "You have more people today, I admit defeat, but if you have the guts, kill me, otherwise this matter will not end."

"Damn it, if you keep talking tough, my teeth will be broken, believe it or not!" Ouyang Xu also had a bad temper. He slapped Maozi in the face, making his mouth full of blood.

This Russian guy was quite tough. He spat out the blood and continued to stare at He Jiayi and the others.

He Jiayi frowned. She felt it was difficult to deal with such a tough guy. She couldn't just kill them.

"Hmph, are you going to fight or not? If not, we'll leave!" Maozi brushed off the dust on his body and stood up.

Ouyang Xu was furious and was about to kick him, but was stopped by He Jiayi: "Everyone does business just to make money. How about I give you double what others give you?"

"Not very good. To tell you the truth, my girlfriend's clothing store has been squeezed out of business by you. Unless your store goes bankrupt, this matter will not end."

"That means there's no need to discuss it?"

"Not negotiable."

"Okay, then let's fight and see who can't hold on in the end."

"We'll see."

Liu Xiaoling was a little unwilling: "Third sister, are you going to let them go so easily?"

"Then how can we kill them?"

"What if they come to cause trouble again? We can't ask Brother Ouyang and the others to keep watch every night, right?"

(End of this chapter)