bookrandom Chapter 603: Southern Goods Sold Well in the Republic of China
Chapter 603: Southern Goods Sold Well in the Republic of China
However, the ideal is full, and the reality is very skinny.
As the second generation of entrepreneurs, Lin Yonggu has produced the "Yonggu Brand" sewing machine, the quality is acceptable, and the price is much cheaper than the imported John and White Eagle products.
But sales were slow to open up.
The reason is simple. For the vast majority of families who have just established themselves in Nanyang or are even struggling to make ends meet, a sewing machine that costs nearly 100 Nanyang dollars is still an absolute "luxury item".
With that money, it would be better to buy more rice, flour, oil, salt, or some more important things for the home.
As for making clothes?
Ordinary people cannot afford ready-made clothes, but they can make do by buying some cloth and sewing them by hand, which just takes a little time and requires more effort.
The time and energy of the poor are the least valuable.
Lin Yonggu looked at the sewing machines piling up in the warehouse and became so anxious that blisters formed on the corners of his mouth. He couldn't sleep every night, fearing that the bank would come to take away his factory and his family's rubber plantation one day.
The turning point came a few weeks ago.
As the chemical fiber cloth called "Dacron" blew through the streets and alleys like the wind, Lin Yonggu keenly noticed that the number of cloth shop owners, small tailor shop masters, and even some small businessmen who looked like they were running their own businesses, who came to the door of his small factory suddenly increased.
At first they just asked about the price, but later they started buying three or five units at a time.
Later, orders came in like snowflakes, and the number kept growing.
"Boss Lin, do you have any more stock? Send me ten more. I need them urgently."
"Lao Lin, let's work together. I'll underwrite the sale of 50 of your machines. The price is negotiable."
Lin Yonggu was stunned by this sudden happiness.
He quickly ran to the market to inquire, and then he suddenly realized.
Dacron cloth is so cheap, its price is only one-third or even one-quarter of cotton cloth.
what does this mean?
This means that countless ordinary families who used to only be able to look at the "cloth" and sigh, can now finally afford to buy cloth frequently to make new clothes.
This means that the business of countless small tailor shops has suddenly become booming. Previously, they might only receive one order every ten days or half a month, but now they can receive several orders in a day.
This means that many women in cities have also started to calculate. It is too troublesome to always ask others to tailor clothes or sew by hand. Since cloth is cheaper now, they can bite the bullet and buy a sewing machine. They can make clothes quickly and well at home, and they can also take on some odd jobs to help supplement the family income. It seems that it is not too unaffordable, right?
The market demand was completely activated by cheap fabrics.
The old-fashioned foot-operated sewing machine he produced, which has a simple structure, is durable and affordable, just in time with this trend.
"Hurry! Work overtime! Everyone's bonus this month will be doubled, no, tripled."
Lin Yonggu rushed into the workshop and shouted excitedly to the workers. The sadness on his face disappeared, replaced by a rosy glow.
He even took out a stack of brand new Nanyang dollars from his bag and gave red envelopes to everyone he met.
"Master Wang, thank you for your hard work. Use this to buy some wine."
"Xiao Li, well done. I'll buy some candy for your baby."
The entire workshop was silent at first, and then erupted into huge cheers.
The roar of the machine tools seemed to become even more powerful.
Lin Yonggu looked at the bustling scene in front of him and was so excited that he could hardly control himself.
He originally thought he was going to lose the bet, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better.
How could this be Dacron? This was clearly the God of Wealth sending him money.
He seemed to have seen his own "Yonggu" brand sewing machines entering thousands of households, accompanied by the crisp sound of "da da da", producing countless brightly colored, sturdy and durable Dacron clothes...
This fire ignited by Dacron is rapidly spreading to every corner of Southeast Asia and even the surrounding areas, with major cities such as Bianzhou, Yangon, and Xingzhou as the center.
It is not just a kind of cloth, but more like a key that opens the floodgates of long-suppressed people's livelihood needs, driving the gears of the entire Nanyang light textile industry to start spinning rapidly.
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In the Republic of China, goods from overseas were often labeled "yang" (foreign goods).
For example, matches are called foreign fire, and kerosene is called foreign oil...
Now, in rear-area cities such as Yunnan Province and Sichuan Province, these southern products from Southeast Asia are becoming very popular.
Chuncheng, the capital of Yunnan Province, is located in the rear area, but due to the war, it has gathered forces, wealth and extravagance from all sides.
On Zhengyi Road, the most prosperous street in the south of the city, the "Ruifengxiang" cloth shop is crowded with people and guests today.
The shopkeeper Qian Youliang, a lean middle-aged man, was wearing a brand new silk gown and was greeting several ladies decked out in jewels with a rosy face.
"Look, ladies! This pattern and texture are genuine Nanyang 'Starlight Brand' high-end printed fine cotton."
He spread out a piece of cloth printed with an intricate rose pattern. The cloth was delicate and smooth, and the colors were so bright and tempting that it caused several ladies to let out low exclamations.
"Touch it, it feels so much better than the little foreign cloth in stock at the old Shanghai shops.
Go back and find a good tailor to make you a cheongsam. Then stand at a gathering of ladies, and wow, I guarantee you'll be the most eye-catching one."
A fat lady wearing a purple velvet cheongsam and jade earrings was obviously moved, but she still acted arrogantly:
"Shopkeeper Qian, your cloth is good, but the price is... a bit too high."
Qian Youliang chuckled and lowered his voice:
"Mrs. Wang, you know your stuff. This isn't just any Nanyang product. It's a limited edition. It was shipped via the Burma Road, through many obstacles, to this Spring City. It must have cost a lot."
But if you really like it, I'll give you a real price, this number..."
As he spoke, he made a gesture.
Mrs. Wang was still hesitating, and Qian Youliang used his trump card again, mysteriously leading the ladies into the inner room.
The several ready-made garments hanging here are even more dazzling.
A cherry pink velvet cheongsam, with an extremely slim cut and delicate dark patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs; a men's suit, with straight material and smooth lines, exuding an indescribable Western style and elegance.
"Ladies, please take a look." Qian Youliang's voice was bewitching. "This is a limited edition piece designed by the true Italian master, Mr. Valentino, in Yangon.
Look at this design and workmanship. It's the only one of its kind in all of Spring City, no, in the entire rear area. Wearing it out, you'll be a true icon."
"Valentino?" The eyes of several ladies were wide open. Although they had never heard of this name, the words "Western master" and "personally designed" were enough to make their hearts beat faster.
Mrs. Wang could no longer hold back and was about to ask the price when she heard a loud bang and the door of the cloth shop was roughly kicked open.
A group of sturdy plainclothes men in black Zhongshan suits with weapons bulging around their waists rushed in aggressively. Leading them was a man with a fleshy face, a top hat and a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth.
"Don't move!" the burly man shouted, his saliva almost spraying on Mrs. Wang's face.
The store suddenly became chaotic. Several ladies were frightened and screamed one after another.
Qian Youliang's face changed, but he quickly calmed down. After all, he had seen storms before.
He pushed aside the guy who was blocking his way and walked towards him with a fake smile:
"Oh, officers, what's going on here? It must be a misunderstanding. This little shop is a legitimate business, and... Hehe, officers, why don't you ask around, who owns Ruifengxiang?"