Chapter 240 Marketing Methods
It is just a smaller version of a door hinge, something that every household has.
A normal door axis is very large, with two grooves above and below, a round log in the middle, and a wooden door on the round log, which can be opened and closed freely by inserting into the groove.
However, because it is not smooth enough and the friction is high, there is always a "squeaking" noise when opening and closing the door.
This design can be used on pencil cases after being reduced in size, and the noise is also much smaller.
Carpenter Liu was amazed again when he saw the drawings.
He made countless doors for the villagers, but he never imagined that the hinges on the doors could be used in this way after being shrunk.
Of course, there are also environmental limitations. From ancient times to the present, the pen cases used by scholars are pull-out boxes, which are very convenient to use, so there has been no change.
But the opening and closing pencil case actually has a larger capacity and can hold things on both the upper and lower sides, as long as it is equipped with corresponding card slots.
Erlang followed Qin Yao's instructions and took out the pencil case from Si Niang's study box.
The box was brand new and Qin Yao took it with her when she set out, but none of the four siblings had used it yet.
When they arrived, Qin Yao and Carpenter Liu recruited new staff, and the water mill factory was transformed into a stationery factory. In addition to the magical bookcases that were originally planned to be expanded, they also added pencil cases.
Carpenter Liu felt that it was a bit risky to start production without any orders.
But Qin Yao thought that this trip to the capital city could not be in vain. There was a large blank market here, and she returned empty-handed, wouldn't it be a waste?
So when she came, Qin Yao asked Carpenter Liu to organize the workers to produce the magic bookcases and pencil cases at full speed, and she would definitely bring back the orders.
It's impossible that when someone wants to get the goods, she tells them that they haven't been produced yet and ask them to wait.
Every bookcase and pencil case produced by the factory will be engraved with the words "Made in Liujia Village, Kaiyang County".
So Qin Yao had a hunch that during this trip to the provincial capital, she would definitely be able to make Liujia Village famous.
Look, as soon as the Dalang brothers and sisters set up their stall, there were already crowds of onlookers.
There was no one who came to write letters for them, but there were several groups of people who came to inquire about the magical book box and pencil case.
Due to inconvenient transportation, information is blocked. The magical book box that has been popular in Kaiyang County has not been seen by people in the capital city.
Erlang is a clever fellow. Whenever anyone asks him about the item, he will tell them that it is produced in Liujia Village, Kaiyang County. He also generously shows them the internal structure of the bookcase and the personalized painted pendants and graffiti.
At this moment, there were candidates coming to the provincial capital to take the examination. There were many scholars, and seeing how clever and unique the bookcase was, they came one after another to ask the price.
Erlang glanced at Qin Yao first, got the hint, and then answered: "It only costs 568 coins in our place."
This leaves local merchants with a lot of room for adjustment in pricing. After all, prices vary from place to place when costs such as shipping are taken into account.
For those who can afford to read, five hundred coins is not expensive. People from well-off families even think it is too cheap. They ask curiously:
"I think this material is a bit inferior. Is there any better wood? For example, rosewood, mahogany, etc.?"
Jiro nodded, "It can be customized."
The scholar clapped his hands excitedly and asked anxiously, "Where is the bookcase shop? Tell me quickly, little brother!"
Si Niang picked up the pencil case and handed it over, pointing to the words engraved on the bottom. "This is Kaiyang County Liujia Village Stationery Factory."
The scholar was a little disappointed, "There's none in the city?"
Qin Yao stepped forward and said, "Yes, we didn't expect that there is none in the city. However, if you have relatives or friends in Kaiyang County, you can ask your friends to buy one for you and have someone send it to you. It should be fine if you spend a little more on travel expenses."
The scholar still sighed, squatted down and touched Sanlang's magical book box again and again, unable to let it go, so he wanted to buy it and take it back.
Sanlang was so scared that he quickly pulled his book box in front of him and sat on it to protect it.
Erlang, on the other hand, was itching to sell his bookcase again.
After being glared at by Dalang, he gave up the idea.
Seeing this, the scholar felt it was not right to take away someone else's favorite thing, so he had to let go.
Qin Yao then spoke up: "If you really want it, but you don't have any relatives or friends in Kaiyang County, there is actually another way."
The scholar looked at Qin Yao in surprise and motioned for her to speak quickly.
Qin Yao said, "For a book box, the factory may not be willing to take the trouble to deliver it to your door, but if you can order more than fifty, then it will be easy."
"What? Fifty? I can't use them all by myself!" the scholar was shocked.
Qin Yao, however, looked calm and continued, "One person can't use it, but you can start a group purchase. Young Master, you can find classmates from the same county to order together. This way, you can not only enjoy home delivery but also get a more favorable discount."
"This pencil case is also very useful. It can hold ten pens. It's much more convenient than a pencil case. Would you like to get one?"
After hearing this, the scholars and the onlookers finally reacted.
This isn't a letter writing company; this is a company selling book boxes!
The scholar smiled bitterly and asked Qin Yao: "Young lady, you are the boss, right?"
Qin Yao smiled heartily and admitted generously, "You have discovered me, I am indeed, so would you consider group buying?"
The scholar was indeed a little tempted, but the provincial examination was more important right now, and he was afraid that he didn't have the leisure to organize so many people for a group purchase.
Qin Yao smiled slightly, "It doesn't matter, take the exam first, and come back after that. I will stay in the city for a while. When you have made up your mind, you can come to Yuelai Inn to find me at any time. My name is Qin Yao."
Someone in the crowd who was attentive immediately wrote down her name, address, and the time she would stay.
Only now did Dalang and the twins realize that their mother was doing marketing here.
But this trick is really clever. If they told the onlookers right away that they were selling book boxes, they would definitely not be so curious and the effect would not be as good as it is now.
Si Niang thought that she and her brothers had performed so hard, and whispered to Qin Yao, "Mother, you have to buy us some delicious food when we get home."
Qin Yao made an OK gesture and patted the little girl on the shoulder. "Keep going, there are more and more people coming."
Si Niang giggled and looked at the new wave of people gathering around her. She and her brothers continued to repeat the previous book box display session.
The five people, mother and children, cooperated well. In one afternoon, they didn't finish writing a letter, but the people in the whole city already knew that Madam Qin Yao of Yuelai Inn could help buy this new magical book box.
Qin Yao and the children set up their stall until the evening, then packed up and went home.
As soon as she entered the inn, Qin Yao felt many inquiring gazes.
Looking back, they were all middle-aged men wearing fine, thin silk clothes, but in a low-key and simple style. They had shrewd eyes and a businessman's mercenary nature.
Seeing Qin Yao looking at them, they were a little surprised by her sharpness, but they nodded at her politely.
Qin Yao nodded and smiled, then led the children back to the guest room.
The other party was still observing, and her children were hungry, so today was obviously not a good time to discuss business.
(End of this chapter)