funbook-pk Chapter 56: Washing Machines Selling Like Hotcakes
Chapter 56: Washing Machines Selling Like Hotcakes
the next morning.
Today marks the launch and sale of washing machines by Lijiagang Electrical Appliances Company.
He woke up early; he needed to make his rounds at the store.
He gently kissed the sleeping beauty beside him, then got up to wash up.
"Brother Hong, why are you up so early?"
Despite his best efforts, he still woke Chen Wenyu up.
Hearing the voice, he smiled indulgently and replied, "The product is going on sale today, I have to go out and check on things." He walked back and hugged Chen Wenyu, "It's still early, you can continue."
"Hmm!" Chen Wenyu hummed lazily.
Li Jiagang got up again to wash up.
But just as he went downstairs to have breakfast, Li Junjie handed him a newspaper: "Young Master, today's news about the product launch has been overshadowed by your personal affairs."
Li Jiagang smiled calmly upon hearing this. He knew what Li Junjie was referring to; it must be that the reporters had leaked his affair with Chen Wenyu.
He simply didn't want to pay attention to it.
He won't let outsiders, not even the media, affect his personal life.
He can be with whomever he likes, and he won't secretly date just because he's worried about being discovered by reporters.
"Ignore them."
"Have you arranged what I asked you to do?"
"Yes! I've already sent people out to investigate, and I'll be following up on it."
"Can those people be trusted?"
"Don't worry, young master, they're professionals."
Seeing Li Junjie's confidence, Li Jiagang didn't say anything more. He knew Li Junjie's character; although he was usually unreliable, he was very dependable when he got serious about his work.
"Let's have breakfast first, and then we can go for a walk around the various stores," Li Jiagang said, changing the subject.
"Yes, young master."
At around 9:10 a.m., Li Jiagang left his home and his first stop was "Apliu Street", which is not far from his home.
Meanwhile, rumors were circulating throughout Hong Kong that he had spent the night at a hotel with former Miss Hong Kong, Chan Man-yuk.
Li Jiagang ignored the news.
Entering Yaliao Street, you'll find the area with the highest concentration of various electrical appliance brands.
It began to flourish in the 1950s and 60s. Initially, various electrical appliances were sold in the form of street stalls, but at that time, the trend was mainly about reselling second-hand and old electrical appliances.
After entering the 1970s...
As Apliu Street gradually became more standardized, more and more shops began to operate as retail stores, and the electronic products sold were no longer limited to second-hand appliances; various latest electronic and electrical products, as well as spare parts, became the main products.
His family also owns two shops on Apliu Street, and his uncle owns even more, at least six or seven shops there.
Entering Apliu Street, even though it's only a little past 9 a.m., the street is still crowded with people, and the sounds of vendors and customers bargaining can be heard everywhere, making the scene very lively.
This is also Li Jiagang's first time here.
Looking at the bustling crowds and the numerous customers browsing in each shop, Li Jiagang was amazed by the prosperity of the place.
"Young master, please take a look at our shop."
Just then, Li Junjie's excited voice rang in my ears. Looking in the direction he pointed, I saw "Legendary Electrical Appliances Store," which was the flagship store for his company's electrical appliances.
From a distance, the store was packed with people, and Li Jiagang's eyes widened in surprise.
"Let's go take a look."
Although every appliance store on this street had many customers, his store clearly had more, with a large crowd even gathered at the entrance.
However, the shops here are generally not very big; the small ones may be only a few square meters, and the large ones are at most a hundred or so square meters.
His company's shop on Apliu Street is neither too big nor too small, only about 40 square meters.
Although the shop wasn't big, customers lined up at the door and couldn't squeeze in at all, which shows how many customers it had.
Li Jiagang walked over quickly...
"Please don't crowd. We have plenty of washing machines in stock. If you're sure you want to buy one, come over, place your order, and pay first. We'll deliver it to your door around noon."
"Everyone, please don't push..."
"I want this one. Give me a receipt first, then where do I enter the prize draw?"
"I want one too! Don't push! Ouch... my foot! Who stepped on my foot?"
"If you're not buying, move aside. Don't block my way from paying. Move aside..."
Upon seeing this, Li Jiagang felt excited, but his brows were also furrowed.
He then immediately shouted to Li Junjie, "Go contact Gao Fuhai of the electronics company and have him arrange all the company's spare staff to help out at the various stores. Also, have him disperse the security personnel."
"Yes, young master."
While Li Junjie ran to make the call.
Li Jiagang continued walking into the street, wanting to see if his uncle's appliance store was in the same situation.
If it's always like this...
He himself couldn't even imagine how many washing machines his family would sell today.
This situation was completely unexpected.
Although the washing machine exhibition caused a sensation, with thousands of people crowding around each booth, it seems that in Lijiagang, most of the visitors were simply curious locals who wanted to take a look.
But now that he sees so many customers actually wanting to buy, and so many that they can't even squeeze in, he has to take it seriously.
He arrived at his uncle's shop.
They found that the restaurant was almost always packed with customers.
Li Jiagang immediately jogged off to find his uncle's other shops on this street.
The entire Apliu Street is nearly 1000 meters long, which is a full kilometer. Li Jiagang didn't know how long he had been running, but he was having a great time and found that all the shops on the street were packed with customers.
At that moment, he was certain of one thing: his company's washing machine products were indeed a hit.
Moreover, it was a massive fire.
He finally couldn't sit still any longer, so he went over to the phone booth next door and made the call himself.
Meanwhile.
On the Legendary Appliances Company side.
Hutchison Electrical Company.
Even though Li Jiagang didn't notify them, their company's phone lines were already ringing off the hook.
Li Yongsen and Gao Fuhai have both received the news and are each arranging manpower to help.
Ring ring ring!!
In Gao Fuhai's office.
"Hello, this is the general manager's office at Legendary Electronics Company. Who is looking for me?"
"This is Li Jiagang. Where is General Manager Gao?"
"Hello Chairman, we just received calls from various shops informing us that the scene is very busy, and General Manager Gao is arranging for people to go out and help."
Hearing that Gao Fuhai was already arranging manpower, he didn't say anything more and felt relieved.
"Okay, I understand."
Li Jiagang didn't go into the shop to disturb their work, nor did he walk back to his car. After all, it was nearly 1 kilometer back, and he was too lazy to walk that far, so he simply hailed a taxi on the roadside.
"Hello, where are you going?"
"Go to Canton Road first, where there are Hutchison Electrical Appliances and Legend Electrical Appliances."
"Oh, you're also going to buy the Legend washing machine made by Mr. Li's company? You have good taste."
Upon hearing the driver's words, Li Jiagang immediately became interested: "Oh, so you've picked up a lot of customers like this today?"
The driver chuckled and said, "Yes, I've already brought my eighth customer to Apliu Street this morning. Isn't that a lot?"
Hearing the driver's words, Li Jiagang felt as sweet as if he had drunk honey.
"Huh!! You're Mr. Li Jiagang?" The driver only then noticed Li Jiagang's identity through the rearview mirror.
"Okay, driver, I need to hire your car later. Let's start from Canton Road, then Tai Kok Tsui, Portland Street, Jordan Road, Nathan Road, just follow the direction to where there are Hutchison and Legend Electrical Appliances stores."
"I'll settle the bill all at once then."
Upon hearing Li Jiagang's words, the driver was so excited that he was speechless.
"Alright, alright, Mr. Li, sit tight."
From Apliu Street to Canton Road, Tai Kok Tsui, and then turning into other areas of Mong Kok, Portland Street, Yau Ma Tei, Nathan Road, Temple Street, etc., almost all the shops along the way are just as bustling as those on Apliu Street.
Even though the shops here are much bigger, they're still packed with customers, which shows there are more people here.
Then Li Jiagang directly asked the driver to go to Hong Kong Island. The taxi he was in happened to be red, so he was able to go directly to Hong Kong Island.
"Alright, Mr. Li, sit tight."
The taxi driver was very understanding, knowing that Lijiagang was very busy and that he was inspecting various stores, so he cooperated and sped off as long as it was safe to do so.
Although he didn't understand why someone like Li Jiagang, who had his own car, would take a taxi to visit shops instead, he wasn't foolish enough to ask him.
When we arrived at the Causeway Bay store on Hong Kong Island.
The situation here was even more bustling than in Kowloon, and at this moment, Li Jiagang could only manage a wry smile.
He gave a wry smile because he had miscalculated.
I have too little confidence in my washing machine.
Given the current booming sales at each store, Lijiagang originally planned to sell 5 units in seven days, and potentially far more than 2 units in a month. The thought that his factory only had a few thousand washing machines left, even with daily overtime, meant he could only produce 600 units, which wasn't enough.
At this moment, he was experiencing both pain and pleasure.