Old Zhang's business is booming. The products produced in the factory are so good that Old Zhang has found three other contract manufacturers, and he is still a little overwhelmed.
I specifically invited Shuyan over today because I wanted to expand the factory's production capacity.
“When I first started my business, I was full of ambition. Like Lao He, who only rented a small factory, I rented two. Business was good then, and when the shop next door was up for sale, I rented it too. It's been empty ever since. Now I'm planning to clean all these places and put machines in them. Outsourcing isn't a long-term solution. Ms. Shu, look at this shop, it can easily fit thirty machines, and that one can fit forty. Add another seventy, and we won't need to find an OEM anymore.” Old Zhang led Shu Yan around the empty factory, which had already been cleaned. Clearly, this idea had been in his mind for some time.
Shu Yan was speechless. She herself didn't have much ambition. She just wanted to make some money to buy more houses, but the business partners she encountered were all very ambitious.
"Last month's orders were phenomenal because we were the only ones doing business. Now there are already many thermal underwear products on the market, so orders will definitely decrease in the future." Shu Yan's implication was that the investment was too large.
Ye Shuqin agreed, "I think Shuyan is right. Let's set up a factory first, buy thirty machines, and if business is still good next year, we can open another one."
“One machine costs 600 yuan, so 70 machines would cost 42,000 yuan. I don’t think that’s a huge investment.” Old Zhang was a little unwilling.
Shu Yan thought it would cost over 100,000 yuan, so the investment wasn't that big. She was about to say, "Let's buy it then," when Ye Shuqin snorted and exposed Lao Zhang.
"Sewing machines aren't expensive, but you also need to buy a large ironing table, a cutting table, an electric cutter, an overlock machine... Can you afford to do all of that for less than 200,000?"
Shu Yan didn't understand production. Hearing a long list of dizzying machines, she looked up at Old Zhang, who was looking down.
"I think it's better to play it safe," Shu Yan suggested. "Or you could look for secondhand items, like those that are 80 or 90% new. They should be much cheaper than brand new ones, right?"
"The reason I agreed to Lao Zhang's expansion this time is because someone wanted to close down the factory, so we planned to take over all the machines in his factory. We've seen those machines, and they're at least 80% new. We'll give them to us at 40% of the original price," Ye Shuqin said with a happy smile.
"That's good. I don't have much to do regarding production, so you can make the decision yourselves," Shu Yan said with a light smile.
"Well, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you today. The factory is planning to expand, and we're wondering if you'd like to take a stake?"
Shu Yan was taken aback. She thought they wanted to break up with her, but she didn't expect them to want her to become a shareholder.
"No need. Didn't I tell you last time? I'm partnering with a friend to start a brand, and we'll also be setting up our own factory. This is all your and your wife's hard work, and I haven't been able to help much. You and your sister-in-law have been the ones doing all the work lately, and I've just been waiting to get my share of the profits. I already feel bad about it." Shu Yan thought for a moment and said, "How about this, let's work together until the end of this year, and next year the business will be yours."
Since the start of the partnership, nearly 300,000 units have been shipped, and the costs have already been recouped; now it's all pure profit.
After deducting rent, utilities, and labor costs, as well as some miscellaneous items, they can earn more than 4 yuan per set of clothes. So far, they have made about 1.2 million yuan. There are still two months until the Chinese New Year. However, because other brands of thermal underwear have appeared on the market, their business has decreased significantly. They should still have about 700,000 to 800,000 yuan left. By the time of the Chinese New Year, Shu Yan may receive about 1 million yuan, which is already a very large sum of money. Anyway, Shu Yan is quite satisfied.
"That won't do. We agreed to cooperate beforehand, and we even signed an agreement. How can we just break up with you once business is going well?" Old Zhang shook his head.
"I really can't help much anymore. When we agreed to cooperate, apart from the initial material costs, I didn't contribute any money or effort. It was all you and your sister-in-law who did the work. It's already very kind of you to let me get a share until the end of the year," Shu Yan said sincerely.
Old Zhang disagreed no matter what he said, and in the end Ye Shuqin stepped in.
"How about this, let's not talk about dividing it up or not. Next year, we'll give you shares in the factory directly."
"this……"
“Yes.” Before Shu Yan could finish speaking, Old Zhang clapped his hands and said, “We’ll give you shares directly, so don’t refuse.”
Shu Yan couldn't refuse, and after discussing it for a long time, she finally decided to take 20% of the shares.
As she was about to leave, Shu Yan thought for a moment and said, "Right now, the factory only has one thin version and one fleece-lined version. I think we can also focus on the materials and research other materials, dividing them into high, medium, and low grades based on the materials. Also, there's the issue of styles. It doesn't necessarily have to be for adult men and women. The children's market is also very large, and we can also consider the elderly market. Anyway, we're all making thermal underwear. Once you make a batch of sample garments and have some customers, promoting them might be a good approach."
In return for their kindness, they showed their gratitude, and Shuyan naturally did her best to help them as well.
After finishing things here, Shu Yan went to the company. There was a lot to do there too. She had said before that she didn't have much time to go, but she couldn't just never go.
"I was just about to call you when you arrived. The advertising contract for that celebrity couple has been finalized." Hu Ruixue got up and sat down on the sofa next to Shu Yan. Her secretary brought in a cup of tea, gently placed it down, and quietly closed the door as she left.
"They agreed?" Shu Yan thought it would take some time to negotiate.
"Agreed. It'll cost 180,000 for the two of them, but the official price will be 500,000." Hu Ruixue looked at Shu Yan's face. "Why is it getting darker and darker?"
"The quoted price is 500,000?" Shu Yan touched her face. "The doctor said it's normal. It's scabbing over now, and it'll be fine once it falls off."
Shu Yan is afraid of scarring, so she doesn't even wear a mask anymore. She's afraid that rubbing the scabs will remove them and leave a white mark, which would be a huge loss.
"Yes. Raising our brand value actually benefits us too. For an unfamiliar brand to spend 500,000 yuan to hire a celebrity couple is quite a news story." Anyway, it's just a matter of making a splash, which also increases the value of our own brand. Why not?
Shu Yan nodded knowingly, just like those celebrities decades later, whose asking prices were always much higher than advertised.
When will the commercial be filmed?
"Preparations are already underway, and it should take about a week. From the finished product to the market launch, it will probably take at least a month, right?" Hu Ruixue was very dissatisfied with the progress. "Also, there's the issue of the store. Chen Fei said it will be ready in another half month. I've hired two sales clerks, and I'd like to put them in your store for training first. Is that alright?"
When it came time to renovate the directly operated store, Shu Yan recommended Chen Fei as the designer.
"Of course, no problem. I'd be happy to have someone come and work for free. Have you found a store manager yet?" As a directly operated store of the company, a store manager is definitely needed. It's impossible for Shu Yan, the company's CEO, to personally oversee things.
“We have a few candidates, but it’s not finalized yet. They’ll be here the day after tomorrow. Would you like to come and take a look then?” Hu Ruixue asked Shu Yan.
"We'll see when the time comes."
The company was making preliminary preparations; it was busy in some ways, but not so busy in others. At least Shu Yan felt there was nothing much to do, so she simply went back to her own shop.
Since her last conversation with Zhang Huaxiu, she has consciously changed a lot. For example, she tries to handle some small things herself, and she asks Shuyan for permission to do some things. She has a good grasp of the balance between these two aspects.
Yesterday, a customer came to return an item, and Zhang Huaxiu handled it very well. Shu Yan felt that Zhang Huaxiu might still have some shortcomings, but she was perfectly capable of being the manager of her small shop.
"How are you feeling? Tired?"
"Not tired." Zhang Huaxiu shook her head and asked, "Boss lady, is that shop across the street also yours?"
"It's not just me. I'm opening it with a friend. Why?" Shu Yan looked at her curiously.
Zhang Huaxiu hesitated for a while before saying, "It's like this, my parents' factory isn't doing well, and they might be laid off. My older brother is the only one in the family who earns money, so the pressure is quite high. My mom was thinking about whether my sister-in-law could open a clothing store on Fuqian Street."
"That's great. Fuqian Street is right next to the university town. The clothing stores there now are all pretty ordinary in terms of quality and style. I think we could open a mid-to-high-end store there, with more stylish and fashionable clothes. The business should be pretty good." Shu Yan felt that opening a store there would be much better than being a full-time housewife at home.
“That’s what I was thinking too, but my sister-in-law is worried that she’ll lose money opening the shop, so she’s still hesitant. I originally wanted to ask you for advice, but she said she’d open the same shop as you, so she’s embarrassed to tell you,” Zhang Huaxiu said half-jokingly.
"What does it matter? One is on Fuqian Street and the other is on Chengnan West Road. They're so far apart. It would be great if your sister-in-law opened her own shop. You know quite a bit now, so you can help her out."
“I don’t mean to leave. I think I’m doing quite well here,” Xiuxiu quickly explained.
Shu Yan was taken aback. "I didn't say you had to leave. I just said that if your sister-in-law runs a shop, you can help her during your breaks. She's worked so hard to train you, so you can't leave. Otherwise, I'll really cry." Shu Yan added half-jokingly.
Zhang Huaxiu really learned a lot from her, such as event planning and clothing matching. If you do these two things well, as long as the clothes are good-looking and the price is affordable, you should have no trouble selling them.
"I'll try to tell her this during my break." Zhang Huaxiu's heart almost skipped a beat just now, afraid that Shu Yan would notice something.
The reason she felt so guilty was because her mother had talked to her about opening a shop yesterday, saying that she had experience and that it was better to be her own boss than to work for someone else. She refused outright.
Shu Yan had shown her kindness and taken good care of her all along. She couldn't just leave after learning the skills; not to mention anything else, her conscience wouldn't allow it.
Even close brothers don't settle scores, let alone with a sister-in-law who's a distant relative. Zhang Huaxiu felt it was better not to cooperate. It was polite to help each other out during her free time, but if things really escalated into a fight, it would be her parents who would suffer.
Besides, her salary is really not low now; even opening a shop on Fuqian Street might not earn her as much.
"You can arrange it yourself. Also, I have something to discuss with you."
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