amaotonovel Chapter 1000 The industry landscape is changing
Chapter 1000 The industry landscape is changing
Chapter 1000 The industry landscape is changing
In the three months after graduation, Xie Qiao and Xu Lin went from being full of ambition and complacency to suffering from the harsh treatment of society and becoming isolated in their search for jobs.
It was another fruitless day, and the two of them made an appointment to meet at the Dingjian pancake headquarters in Qinchuan.
Just as the two were comforting each other, Qin Chuan came over with a mean look on his face.
"How are you two? Have you found a job?"
Xie Qiao and Xu Lin both rolled their eyes at him.
"Why are you so annoying?"
"That's right, if you can't speak, you don't have to say anything."
Seeing Xie Qiao was angry, Qin Chuan quickly tried to please her: "That's not what I meant. Didn't I say before that if you really can't find a job, come to our Dingjianjianbing shop. I guarantee that the salary is no less than outside, and it's also easy."
"Come on, after all, we both graduated from Peking University and Tsinghua University. If we tell others about this, people will laugh at us to death." Xu Lin complained.
Qin Chuan was unhappy when he heard this: "What's wrong with a pancake shop? Besides, this is not an ordinary pancake shop. We already have nearly 50 chain stores. According to Lao Qin, I will open a chain when we have 100 stores. Maybe we can even go public by then."
Seeing Qin Chuan getting anxious, Xie Qiao comforted him, "Qin Chuan, Xu Lin doesn't mean to look down on pancake shops. The key is that our majors are not related to yours. If we go to work for you, what can we do for you? Making pancakes is something that anyone can do, and you have to pay us a high salary. That's not appropriate."
"Yeah, Qin Chuan, I didn't mean that. It's just that I can't get over it in my heart." Xu Lin first apologized to Qin Chuan, then sighed.
"You said that Xie Qiao and I graduated from prestigious universities. When we were doing internships, we thought that companies would not hire us because we had no work experience and the term of employment was short. We thought that we would be fine after graduation. But what happened? When we entered the job market, we found that prestigious universities also have different majors. For our literature department, there are very few suitable positions, and the requirements are very high."
Xie Qiao agreed: "That's right. I've been looking for a job for three months. I go out early and come back late every day. I've spent thousands of yuan on public transportation. I've been to 20 to 30 job fairs, big and small, but I haven't found a suitable job. Reliable big companies look down on me, and I look down on unreliable small companies. It's a vicious cycle."
Xu Lin said dejectedly: "I might as well go to Qianxi. Last time she said the company was short of people."
"Ah? This isn't a good idea." Xie Qiao always felt that it was too awkward for her classmates, who had been close friends for so many years, to suddenly become boss and employee.
Xu Lin said helplessly: "I can't help it. I'm different from you. After all, you are a native of Beijing, and you have parents to support you at home. I have to spend money on food, clothing, housing and transportation here. I really can't bear it anymore."
Seeing this, Qin Chuan regained hope: "Why don't you Xie Qiao be my assistant?"
"Thank you." Xie Qiao rolled her eyes at Qin Chuan and said, "Forget it. I'll just go to the magazine my dad found and be an editor. It's a stable job after all."
Qin Chuan couldn't help but complain: "In the end, you still look down on my pancake shop. If Lao Qin asked you to be an assistant, you would definitely agree immediately."
Xu Lin patted Qin Chuan on the shoulder and said jokingly, "Don't be so unconvinced. Qin Chuan's company is a high-tech enterprise, an Internet unicorn. It just completed its B round of financing two days ago. Do you know how much its valuation is? 58 billion US dollars. Even Baidu, which just went public, is not as valuable as its valuation. It has been in the news so many times. Can you compare with it?"
Qin Chuan was silent. Seeing that he was a little depressed, Xie Qiao comforted him, "Actually, there is no need for you to compare yourself with Lao Qin. As far as people of the same age are concerned, who can achieve what Lao Qin has achieved? Just compare yourself with ordinary people like us. You are already amazing. You are so young and your net worth is about to exceed 10 million. Your father didn't have that much money when he was your age, right?"
After hearing what Xie Qiao said, Qin Chuan immediately came to life: "That's right, I'm stupid, why would I compare myself with Lao Qin? This guy is not an ordinary person."
……
After Xu Lin and Xie Qiao parted at the pancake shop, they called Xiao Qianxi directly. After a round of greetings, Xiao Qianxi took the initiative to propose.
"If you are free now, come over. We haven't seen each other for a long time. I have a book signing event in Beijing tomorrow. I'll send you the address later."
In the hotel room, Xu Lin saw a group of people busying around and thought he had entered a film set.
Xiao Qianxi saw Xu Lin coming in the makeup mirror and quickly waved to her.
"Xu Lin, please sit down for a while. I'll be done with my makeup soon."
"Qianxi, this is a bit too much."
Xu Lin's voice was a little weak. At first, she thought that Qianxi Entertainment had just been established and was probably a makeshift team. She should be able to have a place here. But today's scene was more grand than she had seen with many Hong Kong and Taiwan stars, and this was just a book signing event.
Xiao Qianxi smiled and said, "It's mainly because of the release of my first new album. The sales volume will determine my future status in the music industry, so I must be more fully prepared. These are the teams in Hong Kong, and we spent a lot of effort to invite them."
In 05, the commercialization of the mainland entertainment market was still far behind that of Hong Kong, especially in terms of artist packaging, the mainland was basically still at the makeshift stage.
Xu Lin was even more shocked when he heard this: "This must cost a lot of money, right?"
Xiao Qianxi saw Xu Lin's uneasiness, so she didn't tell her that Qianxi Entertainment had burned more than 20 million from its establishment to the release of her first album.
"By the way, have you found a job recently?"
Xu Lin hesitated for a moment: "Qianxi, actually I came here this time just to ask if your company is still short of people. Salary doesn't matter..."
"Yes, we are still in need of a promotional person who is responsible for fan operations, that is, responsible for managing the forum and fan QQ groups. You will definitely be able to do this easily."
As he was speaking, Xiao Qianxi had already finished her makeup.
It was at this moment that Xu Lin realized that Xiao Qianxi's temperament was completely different from before. If the previous Xiao Qianxi was still a budding narcissus, reserved and gentle, now she was like a rose blooming in the wilderness, intellectual and mature.
"What's wrong? I don't know you anymore?"
Xu Lin smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Your change is a bit too big, I can't react for a while."
"I can't help it. This is the design of the team, and it fits the theme of my album better." Xiao Qianxi said, holding Xu Lin's hand: "How about it, have you thought about it, do you want to help me?"
"Of course, no problem. When do I go to work?"
"Why are you in such a hurry? You haven't even discussed the benefits yet."
"Hey, you still can't trick me..."
After taking the final makeup photos, the styling team also left Xiao Qianxi's room.
Xu Lin looked at the cold and deserted room that had been bustling with activity ten minutes ago but was now occupied by only her and Xiao Qianxi, and felt a little emotional.
"How about it? Do you feel a little lonely?"
Xiao Qianxi handed Xu Lin a bottle of beer and opened one for himself.
Xu Lin nodded: "Yes, there is a little gap."
"This is the real situation of celebrities. Even though they look so dazzling on the stage, there is actually no one who can speak behind them." Xiao Qianxi said as he touched Xu Lin.
"So, I'm really happy that you can come. We can still talk together after work."
Xu Lin hesitated for a while, then asked cautiously: "You and Lao Qin..."
Xiao Qianxi chuckled: "Look at what you're thinking about. Although he and I have been busy recently, we still spend a few days together every month and have a very good relationship."
"You scared me. You looked like you had seen through the world and it made me nervous." Xu Lin patted his chest.
The next day, Xiao Qianxi's autograph session was held at a music and video store on Wangfujing Commercial Street. Many fans came to the event, most of whom were fans she had accumulated through "Happy Girls".
Xu Lin offered to help maintain order at the scene, and by the time the signing session was over, he was completely exhausted.
"Qianxi, I am completely convinced. How did you manage to sign so many albums and still keep smiling?"
Xiao Qianxi shook his sore wrists: "These fans spend money and time to support me, I must show my best side to them."
After that, Xiao Qianxi snapped his fingers at Xu Lin and said, "Let's go. I'll take you somewhere."
The nanny car drove out of the hotel's underground garage and headed all the way to Xicheng District.
Finally it stopped in front of a villa.
After getting off the car, Xu Lin swallowed his saliva: "Qianxi, you are not going to tell me that this villa is yours?"
"He bought it. It's pretty good, isn't it?"
"It's not just good, it's simply heroic!" After Xu Lin walked into the villa, she had a feeling of unreality. She had just said it casually at the beginning and didn't take it to heart at all. As a result, Qin Hao had put it into action so quickly, just like her buying cabbage in the supermarket.
Is this the world of rich people?
"My goodness, such a big villa with front and back gardens and a swimming pool, how much would it cost to buy it?"
"About 20 million." Xiao Qianxi suddenly said to Xu Lin mysteriously, "Do you know who the previous owner of this villa was?"
"Who? Do I know him?"
"of course."
Xu Lin frowned and thought for a long time: "Could it be Yang Cheng's family?"
"You are so smart. You guessed it right. This villa is from Yang Cheng's family and was auctioned off. Otherwise, a villa in such a good location would be worth more than this price."
Xu Lin's eyes widened: "I just made a random guess, is it true?"
"So, Yang Cheng's family has absolutely no chance of turning things around?"
Xiao Qianxi said noncommittally, "It's probably hopeless. I heard him say a while ago that Yang Cheng lost more than two million yuan in starting his own business, and the apartment he bought before was also seized. Now he and his mother rent a house near the Fourth Ring Road, and he still has a lot of debts."
"So miserable?" Xu Lin was surprised.
"Okay, you've been tired all day. I'll take you to choose a room, take a shower and rest early."
"okay."
Early the next morning, Xu Lin borrowed a car from Xiao Qianxi and did not return until noon. When he first entered the house, Xiao Qianxi almost did not recognize him.
"Xu Lin, what's wrong with you?"
Xu Lin scratched his head and said, "I'm about to go to work at your company, so we're bound to have contact. If I dress like a man, it'll be easy for people to misunderstand me."
"Actually, you don't need to do this. Just let the company issue a statement..."
"It's not necessary. I can solve the problem by changing my appearance. Why waste company resources?"
……
In the blink of an eye, New Year's Day 2006 arrived, and the landscape of the mainland's Internet industry was quietly changing.
Before 2000, most Internet users were not very good at surfing the Internet, and it was really difficult for them to remember complicated domain names and URLs. As a result, the three major portals came into being and soon became the mainstream of the market.
However, after 2000, with the emergence of various Chinese search plug-ins, especially Baidu, the three major portals no longer have their previous dominant position.
Moreover, as the number of Internet users in the mainland has exceeded 1.4 million, their needs have gradually diversified: entertainment, consumption, and instant messaging have gradually become the mainstream of the market.
Among them, entertainment is mainly online games, and the leader is undoubtedly Shanda, followed by NetEase.
As for instant messaging, it is naturally the world of penguins.
In the consumer sector, Yigoo and Taobao have left their competitors far behind, creating a situation of two tigers fighting each other.
Yigoo's advantage lies in its mature business model, having achieved profitability for three consecutive years, and having built warehousing and logistics centers in twelve important hub cities.
Taobao's advantage lies in its rich and comprehensive product offerings, and its asset-light model allows Taobao to maintain rapid development without having to consider supporting issues such as warehousing and logistics. Of course, this has also been criticized by netizens for problems such as the massive amount of counterfeit threats and long delivery times.
Since receiving US$11.6 billion in Series B financing last year, Qin Hao has once again accelerated the pace of building warehousing and logistics centers, while actively exploring third- and fourth-tier markets.
Initially, the newly developed third- and fourth-tier markets did not perform well. On the one hand, their economic base was not as good as that of first- and second-tier cities, and those who owned a computer were considered high-income families. On the other hand, the road construction between third- and fourth-tier markets was not as good as that of first- and second-tier cities, and the logistics transportation time was greatly increased.
Many investors advised Qin Hao to wait. After all, the markets in first- and second-tier cities have not been fully developed. He can wait until the supporting facilities in third- and fourth-tier cities are built before investing.
However, Qin Hao's attitude was firm.
“If you wait until all conditions are met before investing, you will end up with nothing but leftovers.”
"What's more, what we need to do now is not only to develop the market, but more importantly, to grab users. In this regard, Taobao is already ahead of Yigoo. Once we are left behind by it, we will have to pay ten or even a hundred times the price to catch up in the future."
“The Internet is a winner-takes-all world, and one step slow means more slow steps.”
In the end, Qin Hao overruled many objections and invested another $5 million to build a warehousing and logistics center.
With the second batch of warehousing and logistics centers coming into use, Yigoo’s sales in third- and fourth-tier cities have skyrocketed and costs have been greatly reduced.
On the contrary, Taobao originally had no competitors in third- and fourth-tier cities. After Yigoo entered the market, its sales volume plummeted like an avalanche.
Jack Ma is helpless about this because Taobao's light asset model means they cannot set up offices in every city, while Yigoo's offline stores can build a bridge of communication with users.
At the beginning, Jack Ma also tried to learn from Yigoo's model of setting up offline stores, but he soon found that Taobao could not learn this model. In addition to burning money, the reason why Yigoo's offline store model is so effective is that Yigoo purchases from manufacturers first and then sells it to users. Once there is any quality problem with the product, Yigoo can trace it directly back to the manufacturer.
But Taobao is not like that. To put it bluntly, it doesn't sell goods at all. It is just a shopping mall. Users buy things directly from the merchants. If users are not satisfied with the products, they can only communicate with the merchants. They have no decision-making power at all.
Setting up offline stores but being unable to solve problems for users will not only fail to bring profits to Taobao, but will instead cause dissatisfaction among users. So, after I’ve complained to you for such a long time, you simply don’t have the ability to help me solve the after-sales problem?
Severely punish merchants? Come on, Taobao is begging merchants to open online stores now. If you punish merchants, aren't you driving the God of Wealth away?