Chapter 135 Order Explosion: No matter what worries we have, let's eat first! ...
The people at Feiyan Textile Factory, including Qin Xiangxiang, initially aimed to sell tens of thousands of pieces, at most securing an export order of 100,000 pieces. However, they unexpectedly achieved their goal right from the start.
"Factory manager, a trial order of 5,000 pieces! We'll add another 100,000 pieces later!" Assistant He was so excited he blushed.
Li Jinling: "My God, how many clothes do these foreigners buy in a year? They just placed an additional order for 100,000 pieces at once."
"People in our village only buy new clothes during the Chinese New Year."
Qin Xiangxiang: "A great start!"
Qin Xiangxiang held her daughter, feeling somewhat dazed and incredulous. This "salted fish" T-shirt could actually sell 100,000 pieces. Did people all over the world want to be "salted fish"?
In fact, Feiyan Textile Factory's salted fish T-shirt was also the first to try something new. Before 1976, textile patterns could not have prints with a petit-bourgeois tendency, which is why there were silk prints of agricultural implements such as tractors.
Qin Xiangxiang's salted fish prints were very clever. Salted fish is a staple food of the hardworking people on the islands. Most fishermen eat salted fish, which is inexpensive and has nothing to do with the petit bourgeoisie.
Master Huang's salted fish pattern features simple yet dynamic lines, evoking feelings of happiness and comfort while possessing an artistic design sense that can win over everyone's heart.
After the Han Chinese buyer left, an American buyer arrived. Like Liberian, the United States started participating in the Canton Fair in 1972. Forty-two Americans came to the Canton Fair in the spring of the first half of the year.
The man in front of us, Mr. Zulian from the United States, was one of the first American businessmen to legally visit China. He mainly deals in chemical products, but also engages in the trade of textiles and textile raw materials.
Zulian was originally just browsing silk fabrics when he was unexpectedly attracted by the salted fish T-shirts from Feiyan Textile Factory. He was inclined to buy the synthetic fiber T-shirts, also known as Dacron salted fish T-shirts.
Mr. Zulian did not order much, only 20,000 pieces.
Next came textile buyers from Liben, who preferred the salted fish pattern and ordered 100,000 pieces.
The Jewish man, Landsberg, mainly sells printed shirts for youth subcultures and has ordered 50,000 pieces.
...
The largest actual purchase orders came from a few Hong Kong merchants. They found it profitable because clothing and OEM manufacturing in China were too cheap. They ordered the printed garments at this price, and they wouldn't lose money no matter how they sold them overseas.
Moreover, Hong Kong merchants are not subject to quotas on textiles from Europe and the United States, and they can re-export them to countries in Europe, America, and Africa, thus making substantial profits.
Li Huan, a Hong Kong businessman who placed an order for hundreds of thousands of pieces, praised, "Who came up with the printing patterns for your factory? They are brilliant!"
He praised him in broken Mandarin.
The person who came up with this print is a genius! Many textiles in China are not selling well, also due to the limitations of prints. Those with bright red and green patterns, or those printed with agricultural tools, are not as easy to sell as this salted fish pattern.
These are cheap, fast-fashion T-shirts with simple, pleasing designs that are easy on the eyes, so there's no worry about them not selling.
Yang Zhixia said with immense pride, "It's our factory director!"
"Amazing! Amazing!"
Hearing the Hong Kong businessman's praise, Yang Zhixia felt a surge of warmth in her chest. Yes, it was all thanks to their factory manager's excellent guidance.
Two or three days after the Canton Fair, the number of orders kept increasing, and all the employees of Feiyan Textile Factory, including Yang Zhixia, began to feel scared.
...because they seem to have received a surge in orders.
When Assistant He heard about the increased orders, he didn't feel excited, but rather pressured. "Director Qin... should we still accept orders? We already have 100,000 trial orders."
"If it is confirmed that there are no quality issues, subsequent orders will amount to millions of pieces."
Qin Xiangxiang was also scared; she was numb: "Manager Meng told us to sell as many orders as we could."
Assistant He: "Our factory doesn't have that kind of production capacity right now. Even if the female workers step on the sewing machines until they spark, we still can't produce a million T-shirts a year."
“We will go back and recruit female workers, two hundred skilled female garment workers. Each female worker can make ten pieces a day, which is two thousand pieces a day, sixty thousand pieces a month, and seventy-two hundred thousand pieces a year.”
Qin Xiangxiang: "Manager Meng said that depending on the order volume, if it is confirmed that there will be a large number of follow-up orders, he will help our Feiyan Textile Factory introduce industrial sewing machines and improve the machinery and equipment. This way, a female garment worker can make 20 T-shirts a day, doubling the production capacity."
Assistant He: "We need to recruit a lot of workers when we get back. If we recruit that many garment workers, it's equivalent to building a new subsidiary garment factory, which is just unbelievable."
Qin Xiangxiang shook his head: "We can't blindly increase the number of female workers. What will these female workers do if there are no more foreign trade orders after this batch of orders is completed?"
Assistant He nodded: "Yes, Factory Manager, you've thought this through very well. We can't blindly increase the number of people; we'll proceed according to the actual number of orders."
Qin Xiangxiang sighed with worry. After being the factory manager for so long, she had actually become a thoughtful and meticulous person, and she was now considering the factory's development.
“If necessary, we can consider cooperating with other textile factories.”
"Director Qin, you guys are amazing! You're incredible!" Manager Meng and his team arrived at Feiyan Textile Factory's booth and immediately shook hands with each of the factory's staff members to express their gratitude.
"Millions of orders! Millions of orders! With such low cotton costs, the country has earned a lot more foreign exchange! This is an exciting example of achieving great things with minimal investment!"
The million-dollar order from Feiyan Textile Factory is insignificant compared to the entire Canton Fair, but it is a very good start.
Compared to exporting fabrics directly, exporting T-shirts carries a much higher premium, meaning they sell at a higher price using less raw material and have more industrial added value.
Many other domestic products have to be sold at low prices in order to obtain foreign exchange, which is a great pity.
"Director Qin, you are the most capable textile talent I have ever met. You must manage Feiyan Textile Factory well."
"I will submit a report to my superiors to apply for a special permit for industrial sewing machines for Feiyan Textile Factory so that we can complete this foreign trade order! We have won a battle we can be proud of!"
Manager Meng and the other employees of the foreign trade company were all smiles. Their goal was to sell their products at a higher foreign exchange rate with less raw material cost.
Qin Xiangxiang and the others could no longer laugh, because a million-dollar order was looming over them, and they also had to pass the test of trial orders. One wrong move and the whole game would be lost. Completing a million-dollar order was a tough and arduous task!
Qin Xiangxiang was holding her daughter, tears welling up in her eyes, when she asked someone to draw a picture of a happy salted fish. Surprisingly, this salted fish brought in a million-dollar order.
Even a salted fish can't stay idle; it brings a bustling and energetic atmosphere.
Assistant He said, "Factory Director, this is an opportunity for our development! If we can complete a million-dollar order, we will have made a great contribution to the country, and we can apply to the province for more funds for factory construction! We can build a dormitory building for employees and their families! We can build a main gate! We can change the gate sign!"
Qin Xiangxiang: "..." Indeed.
Assistant He's words touched Qin Xiangxiang's heart. She had long been disgusted by the factory's dilapidated appearance. If they could complete the foreign trade orders, they could apply to the province for more factory construction funds and building materials.
Then they can build a family apartment building! Build a brand new, beautiful gate! Change the facade to a grand one!
Perhaps with a little more effort, we can even get her, the factory manager, a small car for transportation.
Wow!
Could she possibly be the first to get a Santana before her mother, Zhou Aodong?!
"Factory manager, you need to find Master Huang to design the signboard for our storefront!"
"Our entire factory should thank him for 'drawing fish' for you."
Qin Xiangxiang: "..." That's outrageous.
I have to thank that damn man in my family for coming up with the idea of printing salted fish on clothes.
Yang Zhixia, Li Jinling, and the others exclaimed excitedly, "We can change our storefront sign now!!!"
On the last day of the Canton Fair, Qin Xiangxiang and the others did not rush back. Manager Meng of the foreign trade company invited the people from their various factories to dinner at a grand hotel. In addition to the people from Feiyan Textile Factory, there were also Chen Shulan, Factory Director Liao, and other people.
Chen Shulan was somewhat discouraged by her visit to the Canton Fair. Previously, her silk factory sold its products directly to foreign trade companies' buyers, without paying attention to sales channels or knowing the sales situation at the Canton Fair. She thought that silk would never have trouble selling, but unexpectedly, some of the products were experiencing sluggish sales.
Compared to domestic sales prices, many products were sold at low prices, leaving her with little bargaining power, which made her feel ashamed.
If it weren't for the comparison with Feiyan Textile Factory, Chen Shulan wouldn't be in such a distress. Although Feiyan's products were cheaper, they secured orders worth millions! High premiums! Winning big with less!
Liao, the factory manager of the cotton mill, was also very shocked, but he wasn't as concerned about gains and losses as Chen Shulan. He hadn't expected to do foreign trade anyway, and seeing Feiyan Textile Factory selling so well made him very happy. Look! Their textiles are in high demand abroad! They have no trouble selling!
The cotton textile factory where Director Liao works has already developed quite well, with complete infrastructure and stable annual profits. He only seeks to achieve nothing... Of course, if there is any credit to be gained for free, he will not refuse it.
"Sister-in-law, we're going to Yangcheng Restaurant for dinner. I heard they have a famous chef who makes Maotai chicken!"
"I haven't even tasted Moutai liquor, yet I've already eaten Moutai chicken?"
Qin Xiang thought about the delicious food and became happy: "Let's not think about whether we can complete the orders today, let's all enjoy our meal!"
No matter what worries you have, let's eat first!
"There are so many big hotels in Guangzhou that host foreign guests for the Canton Fair. If we come to the Canton Fair a few more times, can we eat at all of these hotels?"
Thinking of this, Qin Xiangxiang felt like a salted fish could finally turn over.
"Factory manager, I have something to do. I need to go out for a bit. I want to make a phone call home."
At this point, Yang Zhixia couldn't hold back any longer and made a phone call to her uncle, Guo Youcai.
Guo Youcai asked on the other end of the phone, "How much did your factory sell at the Canton Fair? Did you sell over 100,000?"
His tone was somewhat sarcastic, as he simply did not believe that a small, remote island factory like Feiyan Textile Factory could receive any foreign trade orders.
Yang Zhixia: "Uncle, I'm really stunned! Our factory is overwhelmed with orders! We've received millions of dollars worth of foreign trade orders!"
"I'm at Yangcheng Restaurant right now, getting ready for a celebratory banquet! I just wanted to call and let you know!"
"Our factory manager is really amazing!"
"Uncle, I want to work hard at Feiyan Textile Factory for the rest of my life!"
Guo Youcai: "??????"
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