2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 43 Old Tan's Psychology

How can a beginner successfully operate a Taobao store? Where should they start?
In fact, operating a store is not as simple as Tan Jincheng thinks. There are many things to consider, from operational planning and product selection to creating high-quality, popular products, channel traffic generation, and even store marketing.

Taobao, which originated during the SARS outbreak in 2003, has been around for over a year, but at this time, the shop owners or customers who dare to open stores on it are definitely considered unconventional.

Or rather, this group of people has a very high acceptance of new things, and is definitely not considered ordinary.

If you can keep doing this for several years, you'll be worth at least a million.

The website design, reeking of knock-offs, makes the transaction process seem unbelievable to online shoppers more than a decade later.

Old Ma even partnered with several banks to launch a card. Shopping required depositing money into the card. Due to the underdeveloped courier industry, many local sellers even delivered the goods themselves, exchanging money for goods on the spot.

Countless people have bought counterfeit goods.

However, the internet has never lacked people who are curious about new things, and it is precisely because of this almost non-existent foundation that business is very easy to do.

In Chen Shuyi's view, selling only a little over 100 pieces of clothing priced at 59 yuan a month, even with free shipping, is a dismal sales figure, but in the current environment, it is actually a pretty good sales figure.

There are many other shops that sell only a dozen or even one or two pieces of clothing a month, because many people do not do this as their main job; it's just a novelty for them.

Tan Jincheng, who knew nothing about the business, casually opened a shop and uploaded a few pictures. He was able to attract a certain amount of traffic simply because of the concept of free shipping.

In an era of complete imbalance between supply and demand, doing business relied on a simple and brutal approach.

However, Chen Shuyi's words reminded Tan Jincheng that whether it's a Taobao store or an international site, making the store look nicer and planning it well should attract more customers.

"Looks like I'll have to find a graphic designer and a model when I get back to take better photos of the clothes."

Tan Jincheng didn't understand the specifics of how it worked, but he was familiar with terms like "operations," "graphic design," and "traffic generation," which were still new to him.

“You’re right. When I get back, I’ll find a model, take some nice photos, upload them, and redesign the page.”

"When are you going back?"

"tomorrow."

"Wow, that was fast! You got your driver's license already?"

"Yes, I've received it."

"Alright then, be careful on the road, let's get together again during the New Year."
-
Parting is for a better reunion. The next morning, amidst the family's reluctance to part, Tan Jincheng once again boarded the minibus from Yicheng to Ningbo.

The next time I come back will be during the Chinese New Year.

Inside the minibus, Tan Jincheng waved to the window: "Dad, you should go back now. Ride slowly on the way."

Tan Lihua looked at his son and said, "After you get there, make phone calls frequently. If there's anything you can't solve, tell us. Even if we can't help, it'll be good to have another person to offer advice."

"Okay, I understand. Tan Jinyue is still young, and her grandma and maternal grandma are old, so you need to keep an eye on her. As for work, just do it casually. It's okay to take more time off to take care of the family."

“You’re always taking leave. Don’t worry about things at home. Just take care of yourself and be careful when you’re out.”

"Haha, son can earn money now, you and your mother don't need to work so hard. The environment in the chemical plant isn't good either. If it really doesn't work out, you and your mother can take early retirement and move to our old home in the countryside." "What nonsense are you talking about? Your father isn't old enough to retire yet. Who are you to tell me what to do?"

"Alright, alright, you should go back now. Your motorcycle was pretty cold this morning, go back and warm up. I'll get you a car to ride in when you go home for the New Year."

"Okay, I'm leaving." With that, Tan Lihua turned and left.

Watching his father walk away, Tan Jincheng felt that his father's mood seemed a little off. Logically speaking, he should be very happy to have a daughter late in life.

I don’t know if it’s just a feeling that something’s off, but I always feel that Lao Tan is a bit awkward, especially when he talks to me, his tone is always a bit harsh.

In fact, Tan Jincheng's feeling was not wrong; Tan Lihua's mindset has indeed changed recently.

The birth of his daughter brought Tan Lihua immense joy, a joy that was impossible to conceal; however, he was somewhat caught off guard by his son's sudden growth.

When Tan Jincheng arrived home on his first day, he mentioned that the company had achieved a turnover of 100 million yuan in just over two months. Although Old Tan remained outwardly calm, he was not surprised.

But deep down he was deeply shocked; at that moment, he seemed to realize that his son was no longer the little child who needed protection.

From childhood, Tan Jincheng, as the eldest son and grandson in the family and with good academic performance, has always been loved by his parents and elders.

Although he didn't say it, Tan Lihua was always proud of this son.

Until last year, the sudden disappearance of his son dealt a heavy blow to Tan Lihua; it was not a loss of face, but the guilt brought by fatherly love, feeling that he had not protected his son well and had not made him realize the dangers of society.

During those months when he couldn't contact his wife, Tan Lihua felt like every day was an eternity, but he couldn't show it too obviously, because that would affect his wife's condition.

It wasn't until later, after they received news of having a son again, that the family was able to calm down a bit, but they were still very worried. They were traveling across the ocean, not knowing what might happen.

After a year of living in fear, my son finally came home.

Then, he seemed to have become a different person, becoming exceptionally mature, decisive, and capable of making decisions; not only did he earn enough start-up capital to start a business, but he also acted on his ideas immediately.

Most importantly, the business seemed to be doing quite well, requiring no help from him at all, making the old father appear utterly useless.

Especially these past few days, my son has been glued to his computer day and night, and occasionally on his phone, communicating with foreigners in English. It's clear that he's quite capable at work.

But at night, they have to sleep on the sofa.

Everything changed so fast that Tan Lihua wasn't prepared at all. So when Tan Jincheng mentioned early retirement and moving back to the countryside, it immediately broke Tan Lihua's composure.

When a man feels he is no longer needed, that is often the beginning of his existential crisis.

When Lao Tan returned home, he looked somewhat depressed. Zhang Suzhi quickly noticed this, but assumed it was because he was reluctant to see his son leave home.

"What's wrong? Did you miss your son after you sent him off?"

Tan Lihua sighed and said, "Tell me, aren't we getting old?"

Today is Tuesday, so here's an extra chapter. Please continue reading!



(End of this chapter)