Walking in the streets, the most easily overlooked thing is the hardware store on the street.
The facade is small and the furnishings are simple. There are wires, screws, faucets, tools and accessories piled at the door. There is no decoration or publicity. No one takes the initiative to enter except for urgent needs. Many people even think that this is a “small business to make small money” and cannot be promoted at all.
But who would have thought that such an inconspicuous industry could be turned into a large industry worth hundreds of billions by a group of Zhejiang businessmen, making a fortune in such a low-key manner that it is hard to believe.
Many people’s impression of the hardware business is still that of a “mom-and-pop shop, selling groceries, and low profits.”
In fact, Zhejiang businessmen are behind most of the large and small hardware stores, processing plants, and supply chains across the country.
Starting from hardware towns such as Yongkang, Wenzhou and Yiwu in Zhejiang, Zhejiang merchants’ hardware business has already spread all over the country and even overseas, becoming a business territory invisible to ordinary people.
Why is it that Zhejiang businessmen have taken the most ordinary hardware business to the extreme?
In fact, there are no mysterious routines, they are all the most down-to-earth and practical business tips.
The first characteristic of Zhejiang merchants who make hardware is that they are willing to endure hardship and are not picky.
In the early years, many bosses in Zhejiang started making hardware by setting up stalls, going to markets, and carrying samples. They traveled to various cities to find customers and factories, regardless of whether the business was small or the profits were low.
A screw, a joint, a wrench, as long as there is demand, they are willing to make it, slowly accumulate customers, and slowly expand channels.
Unlike many people who start businesses now, who only want to chase trends, do Internet celebrity projects, and make quick money, Zhejiang businessmen who make hardware focus on what is needed, long-term, and stable.
Home decoration, water and electricity maintenance, factory production, and property maintenance are all inseparable from hardware accessories. This is a demand that will never disappear.
Even if you only earn a few dollars per order, you can’t sustain the large usage and high repurchase. Over time, your income is very stable.
The second characteristic is to do business as a team.
The most powerful thing about Zhejiang merchants is that they don’t fight alone.
It is difficult for one person to open a store, but it is easy for a group of people to open an industry chain.
Some people are responsible for production, some are responsible for wholesale, some are responsible for running stores, and some are responsible for distribution. Everyone guides and helps each other. The price is lower, the supply is more abundant, and the channels are wider. Gradually, it forms an advantage that is difficult for others to replace.
The hardware markets in many cities across the country are almost all run by Zhejiang people.
They rely on word of mouth, integrity and real prices to retain long-term customers such as decoration teams, maintenance shops, factories and property companies. They don’t have to spend a lot of money on advertising. Old customers bring new customers, and the business becomes more stable.
The third characteristic is that we are not greedy for big money, not seeking speed, and are practical and long-term.
The hardware business is not a huge profit, nor can it make you rich overnight, but it has low risks and good cash flow.
Zhejiang merchants are well aware of this, and do not expand blindly or make random investments. They stick to their own business, make complete products, provide good services, and keep prices realistic. A small store can operate stably for more than ten or decades.
Compared with the frequently closed milk tea shops, clothing stores, and Internet celebrity shops, these seemingly rustic and inconspicuous hardware stores are actually the most prosperous.
Many people look down on small businesses, thinking they are shameless and not high-end, but they don’t know that the most inconspicuous industries often hide the most solid wealth.
Nowadays, the hardware business of Zhejiang merchants is no longer just a small street shop.
From production and manufacturing to brand sales, from offline stores to online e-commerce, from the domestic market to overseas exports, a complete industrial chain has long been formed, with a scale reaching hundreds of billions.
Many of the hardware tools, home accessories, door and window locks we use daily come from factories of Zhejiang merchants.
In fact, entrepreneurship is not so high-end. The ones that can really make money are often these small businesses that are close to life, meet rigid needs, and are durable.
Zhejiang merchants have spent decades proving that there is no industry that is not profitable, only people who are not working hard and are not practical.
We always complain about the difficulty of making money, but often ignore the simplest opportunities around us.
Let go of impetuosity, calm down and do a small thing accurately, carefully and for a long time. Ordinary people can also carve out their own world.
Is there a hardware store near your home that has been open for many years?
Do you think humble small businesses are more profitable?
Welcome to chat together in the comment area.
