Hello friends. ☺
I want to vent for a while before focus on the main topic.
I am very grateful for my online store orders, which a few days ago had piled up. And thank God. Finally, I could resolve all.
In my opinion, managing an online store is much more troublesome than handling an offline store.
For the offline store, I gave trust to my wife and employees to manage it. The transaction process in the offline store is relatively easy and fast. So after the buyer finds the toy product that he wants (for example a doll), then, then my employee tests the toy (turns on or not). After that, the buyer pays the total amount of purchases. Then the doll was wrapped in a plastic bag, and the buyer brought home the toy he had bought. Finish!
It's very different from online stores. If I can leave the offline store to my wife (to manage it), then I have to manage the online store by myself. For example; for customer service and packaging parts. Both parts are only me who can take care of it.
What is the cause?
Because,,,
In the customer service section, only I can answer every question of the prospective buyer (correctly). Because I am the only one who knows in detail about the specifications of toy products that I sell.
The other part is the packaging.
Packaging includes hard work, so it can only be done optimally by men while my offline shop employees are all women.
Hmmm,,, maybe you thought; "there is your wife sir!" ☺
Hhhhhh,,,,, Ordered my wife to do that work? Oww ... ow ... ow ... I can't do that!
I am not the type like that.
Moreover, such an attitude (only relying on women) can tarnish my dignity and self-esteem as a man, who should protect a woman! ☺☺☺ (just intermezzo).
Now let's focus on the topic!
In the article The Story Of My Business Journey - Part #3 (Go to Jakarta) that I had told you before, that finally, I decided to move from the Pandeglang (West Java) to Jakarta.
After struggling to find a stall, and at a moment when I was resting at a stop, I met with one of my best friends. He had experience trading at the night market. The name is Iwan.
Iwan is my best friend and mentor. He was the one who taught me how to trade at the night market.
If in the past, I only trade in one place (which is in the alley of the market entrance), well when a trade on the market tonight I always move. So besides being trading, we (me and Iwan) also as if we were going on an adventure ☺.
Fyi; The night market is a type of market that opens at night. In this market, besides containing merchants, it also includes various kinds of entertainment such as carousel (see photo illustration), the attraction 'flywheel', 'wave' rides, fish-fishing game (in a rubber pool of water), etc.
This night market is usually in the form of groups. Around 50 traders generally follow each group. Each trader pays a fee (rent a booth) to the night market manager. The price of each merchant's booth varies according to the size of the booth used. The bigger the size of the booth, the higher the rent that must be paid by the merchant.
It is the owners and group leaders who tasked with finding land or vacant fields in an area. Then pay the rent of the place during the event, and take care of the permit to the local government (village administrator). Well, later the group leader will calculate all costs. Then set the rent that must be paid by each member trader in the night market.
For large booth owners such as clothing merchants (using tents), the cost of the place set per meter. The bigger the tent, the more expensive the merchant must pay.
At that time I was not wearing a tent. I am only enough to find empty land and not occupied by other traders. Usually, I try to take the most strategic place (many people pass by, and the road access is easy) about 3 x 1 meter. Then the ground is layered using a sheet of a tarp. After that, I spread and arranged all the DVDs on above that tarpaulin.
I was only obliged to pay for cleaning and electricity. The total rent for the booth per night was quite cheap, which was 15,000 rupiah. (Note: about 1.5 US Dollars - according to the 2003 rupiah exchange rate against the dollar).
I am very grateful to have been met by my friend (Iwan). He was the one who helped introduce me to the leader of the night market event group so that I am more easy to get a booth.
What is the cause?
Because this night market event always moves from one area to another. Even if significant days such as the fasting month and Eid al-Fitr, this event will be held at the provincial level. I have participated in various important night market events in the city of Cirebon, Lampung city and the queen port area.
Besides that, I also met with various traders. From different backgrounds and various types of merchandise. That's where I learned from them about how to negotiate, how to lobby and strategies in facing competition.
For your information, competition in the night market is tight and more intriguing than the Pandeglang market (that I have told you in the article; The business journey record, part #3).
The difference is ...; on this night market, I have not 'geeky' anymore (like when the first I was a career as a trader, in the Pandeglang market). Because over time, and various bitter events that I have experienced so that my experience and business skills continue to honed naturally.
I also continued to practice and always learn about the intrigues and strategies of the traders I met (in every of the night market event). Even I learned intrigue and cheating methods ('playing behind') in that night market.
One example of this cunning strategy is like; 'Shifting' the stalls of other people (who crowded by buyers) with money politics tricks (bribing group leaders). So traders who have substantial business capital give the lure of higher rent to the night market administrators, so that crowded stalls are given to them.
One of the best ways to counteract this crafty trick is; we have to get to know the administrators and leaders of the night market group more closely. What is the reason? Because if you already know closely, even close friends with the management/leader of the night market group, then there won't be any other traders who dare to 'shift' your stall.
What's more, my best friend (i.e. Iwan) was also a close friend of the night market group administrator so that my position becomes more secure to trade on that night market.
That's the above which is called 'lobbying tricks' (adaptable smart). This knowledge I have not had when at the beginning of the business career in the Pandeglang market first.
I want to vent for a while before focus on the main topic.
I am very grateful for my online store orders, which a few days ago had piled up. And thank God. Finally, I could resolve all.
In my opinion, managing an online store is much more troublesome than handling an offline store.
I have an offline store (physical store) with the name 'RC Toys', and an online store that I named 'BangIzalToys'.
For the offline store, I gave trust to my wife and employees to manage it. The transaction process in the offline store is relatively easy and fast. So after the buyer finds the toy product that he wants (for example a doll), then, then my employee tests the toy (turns on or not). After that, the buyer pays the total amount of purchases. Then the doll was wrapped in a plastic bag, and the buyer brought home the toy he had bought. Finish!
Other exciting Articles: The Story Of My Business Journey - Part #1 (Becoming a Tailor)
It's very different from online stores. If I can leave the offline store to my wife (to manage it), then I have to manage the online store by myself. For example; for customer service and packaging parts. Both parts are only me who can take care of it.
What is the cause?
Because,,,
In the customer service section, only I can answer every question of the prospective buyer (correctly). Because I am the only one who knows in detail about the specifications of toy products that I sell.
The other part is the packaging.
Packaging includes hard work, so it can only be done optimally by men while my offline shop employees are all women.
Hmmm,,, maybe you thought; "there is your wife sir!" ☺
Hhhhhh,,,,, Ordered my wife to do that work? Oww ... ow ... ow ... I can't do that!
I am not the type like that.
Moreover, such an attitude (only relying on women) can tarnish my dignity and self-esteem as a man, who should protect a woman! ☺☺☺ (just intermezzo).
Now let's focus on the topic!
Start trading at the night market. (2003 - 2005).
In the article The Story Of My Business Journey - Part #3 (Go to Jakarta) that I had told you before, that finally, I decided to move from the Pandeglang (West Java) to Jakarta.
After struggling to find a stall, and at a moment when I was resting at a stop, I met with one of my best friends. He had experience trading at the night market. The name is Iwan.
Iwan is my best friend and mentor. He was the one who taught me how to trade at the night market.
If in the past, I only trade in one place (which is in the alley of the market entrance), well when a trade on the market tonight I always move. So besides being trading, we (me and Iwan) also as if we were going on an adventure ☺.
Fyi; The night market is a type of market that opens at night. In this market, besides containing merchants, it also includes various kinds of entertainment such as carousel (see photo illustration), the attraction 'flywheel', 'wave' rides, fish-fishing game (in a rubber pool of water), etc.
This night market is usually in the form of groups. Around 50 traders generally follow each group. Each trader pays a fee (rent a booth) to the night market manager. The price of each merchant's booth varies according to the size of the booth used. The bigger the size of the booth, the higher the rent that must be paid by the merchant.
At that time the night market group I attended was named 'Mustika Jaya.'
It is the owners and group leaders who tasked with finding land or vacant fields in an area. Then pay the rent of the place during the event, and take care of the permit to the local government (village administrator). Well, later the group leader will calculate all costs. Then set the rent that must be paid by each member trader in the night market.
For large booth owners such as clothing merchants (using tents), the cost of the place set per meter. The bigger the tent, the more expensive the merchant must pay.
At that time I was not wearing a tent. I am only enough to find empty land and not occupied by other traders. Usually, I try to take the most strategic place (many people pass by, and the road access is easy) about 3 x 1 meter. Then the ground is layered using a sheet of a tarp. After that, I spread and arranged all the DVDs on above that tarpaulin.
I was only obliged to pay for cleaning and electricity. The total rent for the booth per night was quite cheap, which was 15,000 rupiah. (Note: about 1.5 US Dollars - according to the 2003 rupiah exchange rate against the dollar).
I am very grateful to have been met by my friend (Iwan). He was the one who helped introduce me to the leader of the night market event group so that I am more easy to get a booth.
Other exciting Articles: The Story Of My Business Journey - Part #2 (Selling DVDs in Banten, West Java)
Since on the night market, has been a significant change in my self. The skill and sharpness of my business intuition are increasing.
What is the cause?
Because this night market event always moves from one area to another. Even if significant days such as the fasting month and Eid al-Fitr, this event will be held at the provincial level. I have participated in various important night market events in the city of Cirebon, Lampung city and the queen port area.
It is this 'adventure' that makes my mindset and skills more is increasing. ☺
Besides that, I also met with various traders. From different backgrounds and various types of merchandise. That's where I learned from them about how to negotiate, how to lobby and strategies in facing competition.
For your information, competition in the night market is tight and more intriguing than the Pandeglang market (that I have told you in the article; The business journey record, part #3).
The difference is ...; on this night market, I have not 'geeky' anymore (like when the first I was a career as a trader, in the Pandeglang market). Because over time, and various bitter events that I have experienced so that my experience and business skills continue to honed naturally.
I also continued to practice and always learn about the intrigues and strategies of the traders I met (in every of the night market event). Even I learned intrigue and cheating methods ('playing behind') in that night market.
Other exciting Articles: You Want to Succeed? Try To Go Wander!
However, I don't imitate that dirty strategy. My goal to learn it was; if I had understood their unclean ways, so, if one day I were subjected to their cunning plan, then I already had a way to counter them.
One example of this cunning strategy is like; 'Shifting' the stalls of other people (who crowded by buyers) with money politics tricks (bribing group leaders). So traders who have substantial business capital give the lure of higher rent to the night market administrators, so that crowded stalls are given to them.
What's more, my best friend (i.e. Iwan) was also a close friend of the night market group administrator so that my position becomes more secure to trade on that night market.
That's the above which is called 'lobbying tricks' (adaptable smart). This knowledge I have not had when at the beginning of the business career in the Pandeglang market first.
Other exciting Articles:Wandering To The City Of Padang (My Story)
The happy times during I trading in the night market.
(I want to tell you about a happy first. In the next series of articles, I will share the sad part story).☺
The first-night market event I attended located not far from my physical store now (RC. Toys Shop). That night market event took place in a field. Sixteen years ago the ground was still wide open, not yet filled with bushes like now. Now, that field in the Kalisari East Jakarta area has been on given a concrete fence around it.
Do you still remember? About the story of the beginning of my meeting with Iwan? (For you who don't know, please read the third part of this article). As I told you in the last chapter of that article, that the iwan is an experienced trader at the night market.
When in the peak of my efforts to find a kiosk, God suddenly brought meet me together with Iwan. Iwan then invited me to trade at the night market. Without much thought, the next day I went straight to the night market.
As I told you above, at that time the night market event took place in a field in the Kalisari area.
Do you know what happened there?
It turns out my turnover is 'exploding!' Unexpectedly, it turned out that the sale of my DVD was sold well at that time!
On the first day of the night market trading at Kalisari, I still remember selling around 90 pieces of DVDs (turnover of about 300,000 rupiahs). This is a very striking difference when compared to when I traded at the Pandeglang market first. When in the Pandeglang market, I can only sell a maximum of 20 DVDs per day.
Since then, my 'new spirit' immediately rose! I continued to join that night market group, together with my good friend, Iwan.
In addition to the Kalisari, the most crowded night market event that I have ever participated is in the Jababeka Cikarang industrial area. It was a big event at the moment of the fasting month and Eid. In Cikarang, this event runs for one month. I am starting from the second week of fasting month until the event ends in the second week after Eid.
So you could say; I 'celebrate' Eid al-Fitr at the night market event!
Holidays are only one day after Eid al-Fitr. Because I have to go home to meet the parents' in the house. The next morning I immediately left again there (the night market). You know, I hunting target, the money! hehe ☺
During this night market event in Jababeka Cikarang, I got a gross turnover of around 10 million rupiahs. (Note: In 2003 the exchange rate of 1 Dollar = 9,000 Rupiah).
If all operational costs reduce it during the event (including food and transportation costs), I still get a net profit of around 4 million rupiahs at that time.
There must be among you who say; Not bad the results are bro! Because for the size of the rupiah value in 2003, the net profit of Rp. 4 million was quite large! "
Yes!! In that era the DVD's trade was still good because the price was still reasonable; not many people drop their prices.
But the beautiful times only lasted until the end of 2003, entering 2004 the situation began to be difficult because many traders dropped prices.
From the initial market price of 10,000 for every three pieces of DVD, in 2004 it began to shift to 4 pieces of 10,000 rupiahs. Even in 2005 more free fall into three pieces of DVD sold at 5,000 rupiahs!
What are my stories and stories during entering and facing difficult times? I will inform you later in article part #5.
Alright, friend. I will write the next story as soon as possible.
Good luck always for you.
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