Chapter 128 Striving for Excellence
This gave Zhou Shufen a lot more free time.
Finally, I can free up my hands to do some things for myself.
A few days later, the shop renovation was completely completed, and the workers did a thorough cleaning before leaving.
The place was cleaned inside and out, leaving no dust untouched.
She had high hopes for this store and poured all her heart and soul into it.
They are no longer following the old strategy of low profit margins and high sales volume.
Instead, we aim to create a brand with quality and design.
She wants everyone who walks into the store to feel the care and warmth behind the clothes.
This path is not easy, but she is willing to walk it step by step.
She has already collected a large batch of design drafts.
The three large volumes of hand-drawn illustrations are the culmination of her hard work, spent countless nights revising them.
The first batch of garments was also completed, and she personally supervised the cutting and sewing.
From the pattern to the buttons, everything is meticulously crafted.
The next step is trademark registration and applying for relevant qualifications, officially taking the first step towards branding.
Guo Zhenyi knows a lot about this.
He is a retired employee of the Industry and Commerce Bureau with extensive connections and rich experience.
Upon learning of Zhou Shufen's wish, he immediately accompanied her on numerous trips.
All the formalities were completed in just two days.
Zhou Shufen was extremely grateful, but Guo Zhenyi simply waved his hand.
"If you're willing to put in the effort, I'm happy to help."
The store now has all the necessary permits, goods are on the shelves, and promotional leaflets have been printed.
Just one command is needed for this door to welcome its first wave of customers.
That evening, Zhou Shufen sat at home flipping through the calendar.
She read through each page carefully.
Flipping to three days later, it reads "Suitable for opening a business, praying for blessings, and meeting relatives and friends."
Her eyes lit up, and her heart skipped a beat.
"This day is set!"
Make a clean decision without hesitation.
Time is running out; there are only three days left.
She immediately sped up the preparations.
They checked the inventory list overnight, inspected the mirrors in the fitting rooms to ensure they were intact, and confirmed that the POS system was functioning properly.
They even contacted several long-time customers to ask them to help promote the product.
Finally, everything was arranged on the opening day.
Zhou Liya and Zhou Hairong arrived at the store early in the morning to help out.
The three worked together, and the scene was orderly.
Before opening, Zhou Shufen took a deep breath, clenched her fists and placed them in front of her chest, silently cheering herself on.
She set the door to open at eight o'clock.
At this time, office workers happen to be passing by, and housewives also begin their morning shopping.
Only a few minutes left.
Her heartbeat almost drowned out the chimes on the wall.
Zhou Liya and Zhou Hairong also wore the newly designed sample garments.
One is an elegant, modernized cheongsam, and the other is a men's jacket that combines casual and formal elements.
The three people stood in the store, their posture upright and their smiles confident, looking exactly like walking billboards.
As the clock struck eight, Zhou Shufen steadied her breathing and reached out to push open the shop door.
Several congratulatory flower baskets at the entrance immediately caught the eye, their colorful lights flashing continuously.
Accompanied by the crisp sound of firecrackers, fireworks exploded with a "bang," and colorful confetti fell like snowflakes.
Customers who had been waiting outside, as well as passersby attracted by the excitement, all stopped and looked around curiously.
Within a dozen seconds, the crowd surged in.
Some people originally came in just to browse casually.
As a result, I was immediately attracted by Zhou Shufen's design.
Someone couldn't help but pick up a dress and examine it closely, exclaiming in admiration.
"This is something a small street shop could never make! It looks like something out of a magazine!"
On their first day of business, the three of them were extremely busy.
Zhou Shufen was busy attending to customers seeking advice, restocking the warehouse, and helping people try on clothes and coordinate outfits.
Zhou Liya was busy with cash registers and wrapping gifts.
Zhou Hairong maintained order and reminded people of safety precautions.
Despite their backs being soaked with sweat and their voices becoming hoarse, they maintained a smile on their faces.
Almost all the goods were snapped up that day, with only a few sample garments left hanging on the racks for display.
The crowd gradually thinned out as the mall was about to close.
A few people stayed until the very end, approaching the counter hesitantly, their eyes filled with eagerness.
"Boss, the clothes in your store are so creative!"
One of the middle-aged men, wearing a dark jacket, spoke first.
"The design is novel, the pattern is unique, and the tailoring is particularly exquisite. I have never seen anything like it in the market. Its style is unique and it definitely has the potential to be a hit! Have you considered doing wholesale? I can pack a few dozen pieces to test the waters. If the response is good, there will definitely be no problem with ordering large quantities later."
"That's exactly what I was thinking of saying!"
A slightly overweight man next to him immediately chimed in.
“Your designs are very stylish, unlike those mass-produced items on the market. You can immediately tell the difference when you put them on. This kind of thing will definitely be popular among young people! If you want to collaborate, you must contact me. I have ample funds and extensive channels, and I will never delay payment after we start working together.”
"Me too, I hope to have a long-term working relationship with you."
Another woman, who was also short, chimed in.
“Now is the time of year when the seasons change from autumn to winter, and the market demand for new styles is particularly high. As long as you can supply a stable amount of goods, we can sign an exclusive agency agreement, or even develop a series of styles together.”
The group chatted amongst themselves, their conversation filled with plans for the future and calculations of their own interests.
"Hmm, do you want to do wholesale?"
Zhou Shufen raised an eyebrow and glanced at the group of people.
"Right now, I don't plan to go the wholesale route. Our production capacity, inventory, and team haven't caught up yet. If I really have an idea, I will definitely let you know first. You were the first ones to ask, so I know what I'm talking about."
She spoke frankly and honestly, without beating around the bush.
Now you want to talk about cooperation?
Absolutely not!
Let alone mass production, even the sample prototyping was done by me, working through the night and refining it stitch by stitch.
Where do we find the spare capacity to handle orders?
"Oh, I see. That's a bit of a shame."
The business owners looked somewhat disappointed.
They exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing slightly, but they quickly adjusted their expressions.
"But it's okay, doing business always has to be done step by step."
"Yes, I understand."
The man in the jacket smiled and casually took out his phone.
"Let's exchange phone numbers. Just contact me as soon as you have any updates. I'm ready to take orders anytime."
"Yes, yes, I'll leave my number too."
The other two quickly followed suit.
"If you want to cooperate in the future, you must come to us."
Before leaving, he didn't forget to give a few words of advice.
They were afraid that someone else would beat them to it and steal the opportunity.
"Don't worry, I'll contact you as soon as I hear anything."
Zhou Shufen smiled and nodded in agreement.
She knew in her heart that although these people were enthusiastic, she still needed to observe carefully to see who was reliable and who was pretentious.
After finally seeing off the last group of people, the shop suddenly became quiet.
Only the family remained, gathered around the counter.
Everyone slumped into their chairs, their backs hunched against the chair backs, not even caring about their posture.
This was a day where we really gave it our all.
Working from dawn until closing time late at night, I was under immense mental strain and almost completely exhausted.
"Thank you for your hard work!"
Zhou Shufen forced herself to speak.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
