Chapter 23: Chapter 22: Causing a Sensation_l
Translator: 549690339
In order to align with international large-scale formal supermarkets, Nie Zhenbang specially used the connections of Nie Guowei to introduce the most advanced barcode identification system and cash register system from the
United States under the auspices of the National Planning Commission and the Foreign Economic and Trade Commission. It was a brand-new cash register computer brought in from IBM, lined up in a row, with a total of thirty cashier outlets.
Nie Guowei was about to leave office, and the recent performance of Nie Zhenbang had surprised him. If Nie Zhenbang had done this according to the character of the old man before, he would have been driven out of the Nie family long ago. The fact that Nie Zhenbang is still living so comfortably now is abnormal in itself. This small matter, Nie Guowei naturally would not refuse. After all, it’s a good opportunity to improve his relationship with Nie
Zhenbang.
“Second Brother, has the cashier training been completed? Can they all operate independently?” Walking in the supermarket, at this moment, Nie Zhenbang also had a feeling as if he had returned to the 21st century.
When the supermarket began to operate, Nie Jiamin naturally returned to school. The stake in the supermarket was just a quota. The actual person in charge was still Yang Anbang. Since Nie Jiamin doesn’t have much to do, he naturally went back to school.
At this time, Yang Anbang was already amazed by Nie Zhenbang. Those state-owned factories, such as Hucheng Daily Chemical Factory, Nanjing Radio Factory and so on, paid hefty entry fees to have their products entered into the supermarket. Free merchandise restocking was no problem. After all, Yang Anbang, Nie Zhenbang and Xiao Yali held their joint identity here, the energy they exert together is not to be underestimated, naturally some people will curry favor with them, and there is a certain amount of human relationships involved.
However, the products from the Hong Kong, Taiwan and private enterprises in Jiangnan Province and Yuedong Province also agreed to pay entrance fees for free stocking. This confused Yang Anbang. This era was still a time of commodity shortage. What these factories produced was almost always in short supply. Is there any need to humble oneself in this way?
“Sister, the cashiers are your responsibility. Tomorrow, when the store opens, make all sixty cashiers come to work. Be on standby in two shifts at any time,” Nie Zhenbang ordered again.
Xiao Yali nodded, also somewhat puzzled, “Zhenbang, all of them will be on duty? We have so many people coming in to buy things?”
Nie Zhenbang smiled without answering. The early phase advertising had already gone out. For these two months, from national leaders to common people in Jingcheng, everyone was talking about Wal-Mart Supermarket. At the same time, the messages of high-quality and inexpensive goods, everyday low prices, wide variety of goods, and the ability to purchase without any plan have been spread out. Moreover, Nie Zhenbang also used some small techniques from future supermarket promotions, such as the first fifty customers who enter the store can get two kilograms of rice for a consumption of ten yuan, which fully utilized the curiosity and penny-pinching mentality of the Jingcheng citizens.
At eight o’clock the next morning.
Before Wal-Mart even opened, there were already thousands of ordinary people gathered outside the door. Seeing this scene, Yang Anbang and Xiao Yali jumped with excitement, hugged each other, and shouted loudly, “We succeeded. We succeeded. We have succeeded!”
Nie Zhenbang smiled and looked at the two, showing a triumphant smile. These two people, from the initial skirmishes when they first met, seemed to have sparked something now.
Then, Nie Zhenbang coughed and said, “Second boss, second lady boss, do you need to be mindful of your behavior? There is a minor nearby.”
Seeing the angry look on Xiao Yali’s face, Nie Zhenbang immediately said,
“Second brother, get some firecrackers ready for the opening.”
A set of one hundred thousand firecrackers was ignited. Although Jingcheng City prohibits the use of fireworks and firecrackers, this small matter naturally could not affect people like Yang Anbang. If they couldn’t even cope with this, they might as well have lived these years in vain.
For the grand opening, Nie Zhenbang specially asked Xiao Yali to borrow a company of soldiers from her second uncle in the army. They all took off their military uniforms, put on security uniforms, and temporarily acted as the security forces for Wal-Mart Supermarket. In this era, working in a private enterprise was the last resort. Even in Jingcheng, it would be difficult to find so many security guards in such a short time.
With the opening of the doors, the crowd rushed in. At each entrance, there was a girl with an excellent image and temperament, smiling and guiding customers to deposit their bags at the main service desk. The supermarket industry is a completely new industry in the country. These ordinary people were like unmarried girls getting married, experiencing everything for the first time. They naturally needed guidance.
Inside the supermarket, a dazzling array of merchandise fills the shelves — from trend-setting clothing from Yuedong Province, consumer electronics and bicycles manufactured by large state-owned factories to food from all over the country. Nutritional malt drinks, powdered milk, various electronic products from Hong Kong and Yuedong; shoes, sweaters, suits, socks, and much more. You don’t need any ration coupons — as long as you have money, you can buy whatever you want. Even better, by cutting out the middleman wholesaler, Wal-Mart Supermarket achieves a lower cost base than wholesale distributors anywhere else. After all, wholesalers procure goods in small volumes resulting in higher transportation costs, far exceeding those incurred by Wal-Mart Supermarket.
“Old Chen, look, this bicycle only costs a hundred and sixty bucks. It’s a brand model from Hucheng Phoenix. Last time I checked at the Jingdong Mall, it was over sixty bucks pricier. Our son has been wanting one of these for a while, hasn’t he? Why not buy it for him today while it’s cheap, we may not have this opportunity again.” A middle-aged woman, pushing a shopping cart, somewhat fascinated, said to the man beside her.
The middle-aged man examined the bicycle — the quality and craftsmanship were outstanding. It was clearly not a counterfeit. He nodded and replied, “I am going to withdraw some money. Please wait for me here.”
Such scenes continued to play out in every corner of the supermarket. The average price of goods in the supermarket was 30 to 35 percent cheaper than outside. This was a genuine bargain that no one was willing to miss.
Throughout the day, news of Wal-Mart Supermarket’s low prices spread throughout Jingcheng City. The supermarket’s slogan “Every Day Low Price” also circulated with it, gradually making its meaning apparent to Jingcheng citizens.
From opening at eight in the morning to closing at ten at night, the store was always overflowing with customers. The supermarket’s sixty cashiers worked in shifts but by closing time, they were all close to exhaustion.
At this point, representatives from factories nationwide occupied every available office space within the two-story office building of Wal-Mart Supermarket.’
Nie Zhenbang took a look, then stood up and said, “Looks like this meeting room can’t fit everyone. How about we go down to the supermarket and wait for the sales results there?”
Outside the exit of the supermarket’s cash registers, tables and chairs were brought out. The group of people, like a rural village meeting, sat together. Half an hour later, Xiao Yali, the overjoyed chief of finance at Wal-Mart
Supermarket, waved a report in her hand and said to Nie Zhenbang and Yang Anbang, “The total daily revenue has been counted. It exceeded one million and reached a total of one million eight thousand three hundred sixty-five Yuan and six cents.”
Nie Zhenbang, though he was prepared, didn’t show any surprised expression. Yang Anbang, however, was left dumbfounded. A million in a day, assuming the supermarket’s gross profit at about twenty percent, implied a profit of two hundred thousand in a day. Opening a supermarket was like printing money.
Nie Zhenbang laughed and said: “Brother, this is just the first day. Many people overspent. In the future, the income won’t be as substantial as it was today. But I estimate that about three hundred thousand a day would be normal. You can’t expect customers to buy televisions and bicycles every day.”
At that moment, all the factory representatives received the sales details of their products. The bicycle factory alone had sold around two hundred bicycles in just one day. With such booming business, all of them felt reassured that their investment in Wal-Mart Supermarket would pay off. Sole distributorship contracts were enough to assuage their concerns. Just think, this was only the first store. What will happen if they had ten, or a hundred stores? The thought left them breathless.
Nie Zhenbang calculated approximately in his mind. With over a hundred suppliers combined, they had paid about three hundred thousand in admission fees. This was pure income for the supermarket. After deducting the annual rent, there was two hundred and seventy thousand left. Added to today’s revenue, it was enough for Wal-Mart Supermarket to begin expanding.
Subsequently, Nie Zhenbang stood up and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, factory representatives, I’d suggest you return home and ramp up production after today’s celebration. Soon, we will be opening new supermarkets in West City, Dongcheng, Beicheng and Nancheng. The business area of each will be no less than our current supermarket. To show our appreciation and trust, the entry fee will be halved for those interested. All other terms remain the same, with monthly settlements. What do you think?”
The first supermarket had just opened and was planning to expand fourfold. Everyone was taken aback by the rapid development speed of Wal-Mart Supermarket.
PS: Just finished writing two chapters, and it’s 11:20 PM. Guess I shouldn’t wait until midnight. I am sure my readers understand. Four chapters for today, four for tomorrow. Pretty much the same as three chapters today and five chapters tomorrow. I’ve been excited and touched all night. Your support fuels my passion.
I want to thank brother kuei cabinet for his generous reward and brother
OpenHeartEverydaY11 for the 1888 Qidian Coins. Thanks to Miss Bian Xiuling. I’m not sure how to address you. It might be inappropriate to call you “sister”. I don’t want to make you feel old. I will stick with “MM”. You are a new friend of mine. Thank you for your 1888 Qidian Coins. I will work harder to deliver more exciting content for my readers..