Chapter 102

Before the sale began, Yan Buji had already spread the news. Although it wasn't a large trading fair, for some wandering cultivators who needed spiritual materials, it didn't matter if few spiritual stones came to look.

How can you guarantee that the wandering cultivators who come will spend money to buy these rare spiritual herbs? You know most wandering cultivators don't have much wealth; for a sale like this where high prices are obtained, unless it's something they must have, they won't hesitate to buy it. Wei Zifeng asked.

Yan Buji chuckled: "Simple, I will set the highest price at 110 spiritual stones."

Ah? Then how do we earn more?

Sometimes doing business requires understanding concessions; now I estimate many wandering cultivators want rare spiritual materials but don't want to get caught up in endless auctions. We directly set a maximum price—whoever shouts first gets it. Boss, you say if someone really dares to shout a price of 110 spiritual stones, what would others think when they see the spiritual material in his hand?

Yan Buji's words instantly made Wei Zifeng understand his meaning.

The price of rare spiritual materials is usually around a few dozen spiritual stones, but if we set a maximum price, those who want to buy can close the deal at a fixed price without spending extra money worrying about shills, and instead are willing to pay that price.

This also eliminates those wandering cultivators who want to cause trouble by shouting random prices; thus, anyone who wants to buy spiritual materials will, in this atmosphere, actively spend money to purchase, since a fixed-price transaction is better than haggling with petty vendors.

Although it's slightly above market price, who made it rare?

Past this village, there may not be such a shop.

Besides, wasn't the purpose of Yan Buji holding the sale precisely for those wandering cultivators who need rare spiritual materials?

If they had that much time and luck to find better spiritual materials, why would they bother coming here?

Once the target customers are identified, the rest of the matters naturally become simple.

On the day of the sale.

As Yan Buji had anticipated, when the rare spiritual materials throughout the venue could be bought at a fixed price of 110 spiritual stones, not a few wandering cultivators with some means immediately widened their eyes and shouted out prices.

The rare spiritual materials sold out completely, which also proved that Yan Buji's business approach had no problems.

Wei Zifeng laughed while counting the spiritual stones, after all, picking up over a thousand spiritual stones for free is far better than racking his brains every day to attract customers.

After the sale, the reputation of the Hundred Treasures Shop was also formally established.

Boss, there's still a deficit of five hundred spiritual stones, right? Yan Buji asked lightly.

Wei Zifeng looked at Yan Buji's appearance, puzzled: Setting aside the revenue you mentioned, do you still have a way to make up the five-hundred-spiritual-stone deficit now?

Of course, these are spiritual stones; please take a look.

Yan Buji smiled, took out a large bag filled to the brim with spiritual stones.

Wei Zifeng raised his eyebrows, released his divine sense to scan, and exactly five hundred spiritual stones were in the bag, which shocked him greatly.

Where did you get so many spiritual stones?!

Hehe, boss, in business we seek broad income and far-reaching connections. Although I just arrived and don't have many connections yet, the Hundred Treasures Shop is famous, so that's different.

Yan Buji took out several agreements and handed them to Wei Zifeng: These are three-year advertising contracts I signed with several nearby pharmacies and bookstores. Please review the service terms we need to provide; if there's no problem, sign your name and we can start preparing the renovation.

Huh? What does that mean? Advertising?

To broadly inform is advertising. Our Hundred Treasures Shop has made a name for itself, and these past days we've earned many spiritual stones, so naturally people will be envious. Therefore I want to use this advantage to conduct business promotion for those three shops inside the Hundred Treasures Shop, as well as partial product display and sales; the revenue we gain from sales only needs to be paid to them at cost price.

Then how do they make money? Placing cost-price goods here, aren't you afraid the wandering cultivators will find it troublesome to buy only from us and not from them? Wei Zifeng questioned doubtfully, not understanding some of Yan Buji's business concepts.

Yan Buji chuckled: So we are only selling part of their products, with single function and limited to a few uses. First, if the other party's product quality is reliable, wandering cultivators will flow to them through our channel; second, we sell their products at a price slightly above cost, which indirectly gives them a price list, so they will naturally go to other stores for comparison. As for whether those few bosses can stabilize their businesses through this opportunity and thus have rolling wealth like us, it depends on how much profit they can concede.

Wei Zifeng pondered for a moment, then nodded: I see, you're making money by relying on reputation!

Hehehe, boss, a good businessman disdains using lowly means to exploit lower-level producers, arbitrarily suppress competitors, and defraud consumers. On the contrary, he will proactively offer concessions to seize the market first; once the market is in hand, he gains pricing power, which is far better than earning that bit of black-hearted money! And if one wants to expand the market, it's just this kind of operation step by step, cycling until occupying the business empire territory you hope to see.

Wei Zifeng looked at Yan Buji, feeling somewhat moved by his words, but still needed to think carefully.

What you said is not bad; it seems the deficit problem you've already solved, and even the subsequent revenue issues are basically readily resolved.

So, I'm still your errand boy. Yan Buji bowed with a smile.

Good, good, good. Since you're willing to help me manage the Hundred Treasures Shop and do it so well, I have no reason not to trust you. But I want to ask why you chose this place; with your ability, wouldn't starting at a better shop be higher?

Yan Buji sighed: Boss, it's not that I'm disparaging you; better to be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail. Those who can make a business big and strong are naturally shrewd businessmen; these tricks of mine can only be used to turn around ordinary shops' business, but I can't add embellishments to something already fine.

Wei Zifeng darkened his face, as if saying he just doesn't know how to do business?

Alas!

Indeed, I originally came here just to open a shop for fun, and never expected to see the Hundred Treasures Shop grow big and strong today. So what do you plan to do next?

Let's maintain it for a while; once the revenue comes in, we'll consider other matters. Besides, boss, I also need to cultivate.

You? You'd be better off helping me manage the shop. Like this, if you willingly manage the shop for a year, I'll give you black snake fodder—how about that?

Yan Buji raised his eyebrows: One year... okay, but in my spare time I'll also find time to train an errand boy to help; as for wages, let's see how you want to discuss it.

You handle it. Wei Zifeng waved his hand, handing over full authority to Yan Buji.

These past few days I'll be going out for a while; I probably won't be back soon, so I'll leave you a thousand spiritual stones and a Storage Accumulation Device—should that be enough? Wei Zifeng said.

Yan Buji exclaimed in surprise: Boss, aren't you afraid I'll sweep away your shop's belongings and run off?

Hmph, following me in work, you'll surely get benefits. This Storage Accumulation Device—I don't care how you use it, I consider it a gift to you. Wei Zifeng snorted and tossed out a stone ring.

Yan Buji hurriedly took it and examined it carefully.

How much can it hold?

It's just the lowest-level Storage Accumulation Device, roughly the space of a wooden crate.

Oh, that's really thanks, boss.

Wei Zifeng walked over, patted Yan Buji on the shoulder: Do your job well; perhaps someday you'll rise straight to the heavens!