Chapter Nine
Ji Wanmei said, "A women's goods general store, as the name suggests, is a store that specializes in selling things for women."
She used an analogy to explain: "It's like women's scarves, handbags, sunglasses, underwear, socks, and sanitary napkins. Although you can buy these things at roadside stalls or general stores, the products sold there are varied and of inconsistent quality."
Ji Wanmei already had a forward-thinking awareness of gender-specific services at this time, and explained in detail: "Actually, many women are too embarrassed to choose things like underwear and sanitary napkins when they go to those noisy stalls on the street. They usually just buy whatever the shopkeeper recommends."
"After buying something, you often find that it doesn't suit you, but it's not easy to talk about such a private matter. You can only suffer in silence if you buy something that doesn't fit."
"But if we could open a store that specializes in selling women's products, then everyone could come in and choose whatever size and style they wanted, without having to worry about encountering male vendors and being too embarrassed to ask."
"Moreover, nowadays, influenced by the trends in coastal cities and Taiwan and Hong Kong, people are gradually starting to pay attention to their image. Many women are willing to spend money on dressing up as long as they have money in their hands."
"I think that opening a store that specializes in serving women is definitely a way to make money."
After saying that, Ji Wanmei counted on her fingers and said, "I remember that the rent for a street-front shop in the county isn't very expensive, probably less than a hundred a month. Let's find one in a location on the street, not necessarily in the center, just somewhere easy to find."
"If you are interested in this collaboration, then the two of us can pool our money and jointly lease a storefront."
In fact, Ji Wanmei had already thought about these things in advance.
Moreover, she had entrepreneurial experience in her previous life, as well as experience in managing employees and expanding markets. For her, at this stage, simply opening a grocery store would not be difficult.
She just needs a trustworthy and capable partner.
"As for the source of goods, there's no need to worry. First of all, our Dongfang factory has some daily chemical and household products, so we can negotiate purchase orders and get the goods through the proper procedures. As for the other products I mentioned, I can go to the small commodity wholesale market in the neighboring city of Zhejiang to get them."
"I still have studies to finish. After we open the shop, Chunyan, you'll be in charge of looking after the shop. We can use some of the profits to pay you an extra salary for looking after the shop. What do you think?"
Ji Wanmei blurted out her plan in one breath.
After hearing this, Luo Chunyan was completely stunned. Her mouth was so wide open that it could almost fit an egg.
After a long pause, she finally stammered, "Meimei, who told you these ideas? Did you come up with them yourself?"
Could such a bold idea have been suggested by her father, Factory Director Ji?
That's not the case at all. Director Ji dotes on his daughter so much. Ji Wanmei is only eighteen years old and just got into university. He has always hoped that his daughter would become successful. How could he allow her to go into business right after getting into university?
But the idea is indeed very tempting.
The two of them partnered up to open a general store that specializes in selling women's goods.
And they'll even pay her extra salary for running the shop?!
Luo Chunyan felt a surge of excitement, because Ji Wanmei's plan sounded absolutely perfect.
They had the backing of Dongfang Daily Chemical Factory; Ji Wanmei's father was the factory manager, so getting supplies wasn't a problem.
Luo Chunyan originally planned to find a job in a factory. If she could open her own store, she would be her own boss instead of working for someone else.
Even if she got a job in a state-owned factory, a "secure job" that others would envy, Luo Chunyan, a young woman who had attended a vocational school and was somewhat educated, was not willing to waste her youth in the factory.
Since the reform and opening up, the wave of people going into business in the coastal areas has long since spread to the inland regions.
In Pingquan County, some people also followed the trend and went to Shenzhen and Guangzhou to do business and make money.
But……
Then I realized that opening such a store together would require a significant investment of capital.
The thought of investing a large sum of money instantly dampened Luo Chunyan's initial excitement, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.
"I... but I don't have that much capital," Luo Chunyan said dejectedly, her head hanging low.
Ji Wanmei had also thought about this issue. Although Luo Chunyan's parents were both working, she also had a younger brother and sister-in-law to support, so her family's situation was not very well-off.
If opening such a store would require an initial investment of over a thousand yuan, Luo Chunyan simply couldn't afford it.
Ji Wanmei then said, "Chunyan, we need to see if you are interested in this matter first. If you are interested, you can go back and discuss it with your parents first, and then we can make a detailed plan."
After all, it's a big deal for two girls who are not even twenty years old to start their own business. Any family would need their parents' consent before they could do it.
Ji Wanmei invited Luo Chunyan out today not because she wanted to persuade her to agree immediately.
From finding a suitable shop in the county, to finding suitable supply channels, as well as decoration, labor, and subsequent operations, everything needs to be handled gradually.
It can't be rushed in just a few days.
Ji Wanmei thought that it would be good if this matter could be settled before she went to university in the provincial capital.
"Okay, I'll go back and say it and see!"
Luo Chunyan was indeed tempted.
But she was worried that her parents would not agree.
The first issue was her job. Her parents had originally planned for her to go to a vocational school, and then, through family connections, get a job at the Dongfang Factory, continuing the work shifts for the adults. The whole family of five would work together to support her two younger siblings.
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