How should a novice operate a Taobao shop well?
Where to start?
In fact, operating a shop is not as simple as Tan Jincheng thought.
There are many subtleties involved, from operational planning, product selection thinking, weight-based popular items, channel traffic generation, to shop marketing.
Taobao.com, which emerged during the SARS outbreak in 2003, had been around for over a year, but at this time, shop owners who dared to open a shop on it or customers who dared to buy products could definitely be considered unusual.
Or rather, these people had a very high acceptance of new things and were definitely not ordinary people.
Those who could persist for several years would have at least a million in assets.
The page design, full of a strong "knockoff" vibe, and the transaction process, would seem incredible to online shoppers more than 10 years later.
Lao Matou even cooperated with several banks to launch a card.
Shopping required transferring money into the card, and the express delivery industry was not developed.
Many sellers in the same city even delivered goods themselves, exchanging money for goods hand to hand.
Countless people bought fake products.
However, the internet has never lacked people curious about new things, and precisely because of this almost non-existent foundation, business was very easy to do.
In Chen Shuyi's opinion, selling over 100 pieces of clothing priced at 59 yuan a month, with free shipping, was a dismal sales figure.
But in the current environment, it was actually a decent sales volume.
Other shops selling a dozen or even one or two items of clothing a month were everywhere, because many people's main business wasn't there; it was just a novelty.
Tan Jincheng, who knew nothing, casually opened a shop, uploaded a few pictures at random, and merely the concept of free shipping attracted a certain amount of traffic.
In an era where supply and demand were completely imbalanced, business was all about being simple and crude.
However, Chen Shuyi's words reminded Tan Jincheng that whether it was a Taobao shop or an international platform, making the shop a bit more attractive and planning it well should attract more customers.
"It seems I'll have to find a graphic designer and a model after I get back to make the clothes look better in photos."
Tan Jincheng didn't understand the specifics of how to operate it, but he did know the terms "operation," "graphic design," and "traffic generation," which hadn't appeared yet.
"You're right. After I go back, I'll find a model, take some nice photos to upload, and redesign the page."
"When are you going back?"
"Tomorrow."
"So soon? Did you get your driver's license?"
"Yes, I've already got it."
"Alright then, be careful on the road, and we'll gather again during Chinese New Year."
Parting is for a better reunion.
The next morning, amidst his family's reluctance to part, Tan Jincheng once again boarded the minibus from Yicheng to Yongcheng.
The next time he returned would be for Chinese New Year.
Inside the minibus, Tan Jincheng waved out the window:
"Dad, you go back, ride slowly on the way."
Tan Lihua looked at his son and said,
"Call often once you get there. If you can't solve something, tell the family. Although we might not be able to help, it's good to have more people offer ideas."
"Okay, I know. Tan Jinyue is still young, and Grandma and Maternal Grandma are old, so you need to keep an eye on them. As for work, just do it casually. Take more time off to take care of the family, it's fine."
"How can I always take time off? Don't worry about family matters; just take care of yourself. Be more careful out there."
"Haha, your son can earn money now. You and Mom don't have to work so hard. The chemical factory environment isn't good either. If it's really not working out, you and Mom can take early retirement and move back to the old house in the countryside."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Your old man isn't even at retirement age yet. Do I need you to tell me what to do?"
"Alright, alright, you should go back quickly. Your motorcycle is quite cold in the morning. Go back and warm up. When I come home for Chinese New Year, I'll get you a car to drive."
"Got it, I'm leaving."
With that, Tan Lihua turned and walked away.
Watching his father gradually disappear into the distance, Tan Jincheng always felt that his father's mood seemed a bit off.
Logically, having a daughter late in life should make him very happy.
He wondered if he was mistaken, but he always felt that Old Tan was a little awkward, especially when talking to him, his tone was always a bit sharp.
In fact, Tan Jincheng's feeling was not wrong; Tan Lihua's mindset had indeed undergone some changes recently.
His daughter's birth brought Tan Lihua immense joy, an uncontainable joy; but facing his son's sudden growth, Tan Lihua seemed a bit caught off guard.
On Tan Jincheng's first day home, when he mentioned that the company had achieved a turnover of 1 million yuan in over two months, Old Tan appeared outwardly calm.
But inwardly, he was greatly shocked; at this moment, he seemed to realize that his son was no longer the child who needed protection.
From childhood to adulthood, as the eldest son and grandson in the family, and with good academic performance, Tan Jincheng had always been doted on by his parents and elders.
Though he didn't say it aloud, Tan Lihua had always been proud of this son.
It wasn't until last year that his son's sudden disappearance deeply affected Tan Lihua; it wasn't a loss of face, but the guilt brought by fatherly love, feeling that he hadn't protected his son well and hadn't made him realize the dangers of society.
During those months when he couldn't be contacted, Tan Lihua felt like every day was a year, but he couldn't show it too obviously, because that would affect his wife's state.
It wasn't until later, after they received news of their son again, that the family finally recovered somewhat, but they were still worried.
Who knew what might happen when he was so far away?
After a year of anxiety and fear, his son finally came back.
Then, he seemed like a changed person, becoming unusually mature, decisive, and capable of making decisions; not only did he earn enough startup capital for his business, but he also acted on his words immediately.
Most importantly, his business seemed to be doing quite well, not needing any help from him, making this old father feel useless.
Especially these past few days, his son was glued to his computer day and night, occasionally holding his phone, communicating with foreigners in English, showing that his work ability was not weak.
And at night, he had to sleep on the sofa.
All these changes happened too quickly, so quickly that Tan Lihua was not prepared, so Tan Jincheng's comment about early retirement and moving back to the countryside instantly broke Old Tan.
When a man believes he is no longer needed, it often marks the beginning of questioning his life.
Back home, Old Tan looked a little downcast.
Zhang Suzhi quickly noticed this, but she thought it was because he missed his son leaving home.
"What's wrong? Did seeing your son off make you sad?"
Tan Lihua sighed and said,
"Do you think we're getting old?"
(End of chapter)
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