Chapter 625: Beyond Expectations
Chapter 625: Beyond Expectations
By the afternoon, even more people had flocked to the garment factory to buy clothes. It seemed that the morning shoppers had spread the word, and soon the factory was swarmed with eager customers. The tables were moved inside to avoid obstructing the road, making it easier for people to browse and purchase.
Jiang Xia walked over to tally the sales. They had sold over eight hundred sets of summer outfits, more than five hundred sets of spring and autumn outfits, about three hundred winter coats, and nearly a hundred military overcoats. It was a fantastic result, far exceeding her expectations.
Zhou Fu had been mentally calculating the profits all day. With each sale, he imagined the sound of gold coins clinking into his coffers. It was even more thrilling than fishing. He knew exactly how much profit each item brought in. Summer outfits were sold in sets of three—shirt, vest, and pants—and each set earned three yuan. Spring and autumn outfits with thin padding brought in five yuan per set, as did the thick winter coats. The military overcoats, however, didn't make any profit, but there were only a couple of hundred of them. The local winters weren't particularly harsh, with only a few cold days, so the military overcoats were mostly bought by people who worked in cold environments or by older folks.
By the end of the day, only a dozen or so military overcoats remained, and they were a great deal. Each of these overcoats also came with a fur collar, which was worth two or three yuan on its own. There were also a few other styles, but in smaller quantities, ranging from a dozen to a few dozen. Jiang Xia left the pricing to the factory manager and didn't mark them up.
The items she did mark up were the ones in larger quantities.
Zhao Cheng Lei arrived with a tractor, ready to transport five thousand pieces of clothing to the train station for shipment to the capital city. A fast train to the capital was scheduled to depart at five in the afternoon.
At four, Jiang Xia went home to feed the children and play with them for about an hour. She returned to the factory at half past five, just as another wave of customers arrived. The workers kept busy until six, when they needed to finish up for the day. She asked everyone to come back the next day.
Once all the customers had left, Jiang Xia addressed the workers, "Today's sales surpassed my expectations. We sold over two thousand sets. Thank you all for your hard work."
The factory manager was equally surprised. "Your methods are truly effective", he said with a smile. However, even selling two thousand sets a day, they would only manage to sell six thousand in three days, leaving them with thirty thousand sets. The situation was still far from optimistic. Could the capital city absorb thirty thousand pieces of clothing? The manager had his doubts.
Jiang Xia distributed the wages, "Thank you all for your efforts today. To show my appreciation, I'll give you a bonus of one yuan for every thousand sets sold. Today, we sold over two thousand five hundred sets, so I'll give everyone two and a half yuan."
The workers' eyes lit up, and their fatigue vanished. Many regretted not working a bit longer. If they had, they could have sold enough to reach three thousand sets and earn five yuan.
They could have worked until eight instead of seven, but it was too late now. They hoped the people who had just left would return the next day.
Jiang Xia handed out the bonuses and wages, and everyone expressed their gratitude. As she distributed the money, she said, "The factory manager told me you're all model workers, and today I saw just how capable you are. You stood there all day selling clothes without a single complaint! We'll need your continued hard work tomorrow and the day after. There will still be bonuses, and they'll be even better. I plan to change the reward system. For every set sold, each of you will receive ten cents."
Someone quickly did the math and their eyes widened in disbelief: "So, selling ten sets gets you a one-yuan bonus? Right? I didn't miscalculate, did I?"
Jiang Xia nodded: "Yes, selling ten sets earns you one yuan, and selling a hundred sets earns you ten yuan. The more you sell, the more you earn. Your base salary remains the same, and even if you sell less, you still get the minimum of two yuan. Everyone, remember how many sets you sell, and then check with the finance department at the end of the day."
Everyone's blood was suddenly on fire!
Today, they would definitely sell more than a hundred sets each!
The factory manager smiled and said, "Be diligent tomorrow and try to earn more money."
Everyone chimed in, "Of course!"
After distributing the wages, Jiang Xia added, "It's getting late, everyone go home early! The finance department staff, please stay behind."
So, everyone happily went home with their four and a half yuan.
There were two people responsible for collecting the money, and Jiang Xia told them, "You've worked hard today. Tomorrow, please keep track of how many sets everyone sells, and I'll give you a big red envelope."
Initially, they thought this reward system would be unfair to them, as those selling clothes would get bonuses while they wouldn't. But hearing this, their faces instantly lit up with smiles. "Thank you, Xia."
Jiang Xia then taught them a more convenient way to keep track of the sales.
After that, she discussed with the factory manager how to sell and distribute the clothes.
Once done, she was about to leave when Tian Caifua pulled her aside. "Xia, I want to take some clothes to sell in the market. I'll go to the market!"
Jiang Xia replied, "Sure! You can take them tomorrow. Sell as much as you can, and if you don't sell everything, as long as they're not damaged or dirty, you can return them to me."
Jiang Xia thought selling in the market was a good idea and was waiting for employees with business acumen to suggest it.
Tian Caifua was particularly delighted, "Great! I'll take fifty sets of each type to sell in the market tomorrow. It happens to be market day."
Jiang Xia was such a good person!
She would welcome more cousins like her.
If only Zhou Chengsen would marry her cousin!
Her cousin was very diligent and had always listened to her and been close to her.
She wondered what kind of wife Zhou Chengsen would end up with!
Tian Caifua even hoped he wouldn't marry anyone, thinking that Zhou Chengsen would certainly choose someone educated.
Most educated people are high-minded! If he married someone educated, like Li Xiuxian, who wouldn't do any farm work, it would be a headache.
Of course, if he married someone educated like Xia, that would be no problem!
Jiang Xia gave her advice, "You can take more. Take a hundred sets of summer clothes, a hundred sets of spring and autumn clothes, and fifty sets of winter clothes. If you don't sell everything, just return them to me."
"Okay, I'll follow your advice. I'll come to the factory early tomorrow to pick up the clothes and have your brother drive the tractor to bring them back."
Zhou Father was very pleased, "Selling clothes is more profitable than fishing!"
He had counted money all day and was still in a state of excitement.
Zhou Mu also nodded in agreement, "Selling clothes is good. Going out to sea is risky, but selling clothes has no risk. Once the factory starts producing clothes, it will be even more profitable, right?"
(End of Chapter)
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