Owner of the hardware
store, never a bargain
Mr. Yang, owner of
Wanbao Hardware Store, more than 60 now, had been doing hardware business since
he was 18. His father was the origin of Luchou Qie-a Noodle. Cause selling
noodle was so tough and unprofitable, that he asked Mr. Yang to change to
hardware business, which was regarded a little easier. Unexpectedly, he felt
that it was even tougher.
His eldest sister had
been running this hardware store since he was 18, studying at school meanwhile.
She could manage it alone, owing to less goods and less customers than present.
He wasn’t used to the idea of cost, because it’s his own work and a little
profit yearly would be enough. His hardware was countless and increasing every
year, without which he couldn’t go on, he said. Many stores like his had
bankrupted, and only one or two could survive among a village. A lot of
customers visited his store, from Wugu, Bali,
Taishan, and Fengtzewei, etc, including some foreign ones. You could get
everything you want there, due to its ample categories and fare prices. Many
people would feel troublesome if his store closed, for you couldn’t find it
anywhere. He stated that his goods were well selected and the best, which
someone may dislike but buy at last. He would have no choice if they were not
satisfied with the price.
Luchou once had had a
period of flood, when Mr Yang was the most nerve-racking and toughest, because
all the goods had to be held up, which tired him out. The boss came into a good
idea afterwards, that he bought many plastic buckets and put goods into them,
so goods were floating on water like boats. Surprisingly, those buckets were
unmovable after flood had receded. The other thing he proud of was that, “he
designed all the storage racks himself”. He was so proud that his store was a
“small-scale big mall “, with countless categories and DIY racks, pretty and
durable.
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Mr. Yong’s father was
so wise that he told him not to let customers haggle, since the prices were
fixed. The father thought he already had had prices fairly fixed; furthermore,
it’s a waste of time haggling, which would reduce customers’ flow. If you had
them haggle with you, they would pay in different prices, which would make them
very upset afterwards. All of the goods were bought by him 40 years ago, but
now they were delivered by bosses of source. He didn’t sell so many things at
first, and then he purchased those goods, that customers demanded. He would
require other bosses of source if he didn’t know where to purchase those goods.
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Dependable, hard-working as he was, he
was even at work for 360 days a year. He said he worked very hard but happily
before 40-year-old. If he had got wet in rain, he would change his clothes and
went on to work. Only due to his bold work, had he made a little money. He
assumed that you should have perseverance to do this business, because you had
to open at 7 in the
morning and couldn’t take a break until 10 in the evening, which accounted for a really long time. If his children continued
to do it, he would follow to attend to the store, by which he wondered how old
he was able to retire, so he didn’t encourage descendants to inherit the
business. He expected them to be white-collar workers, 2 days’ break a week,
which were able to recreate, which was just like refueling.
Mr. Yang made money by physical strength before
40, after which he did by intelligence. He was clear and proud, because he had
made great efforts to attain all the achievements with physical strength and
intelligence.
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