Beijing Boyce

I went to Mutianyu Great Wall with my friends Kraft-D and Alpha Veda during the October holiday. We took the ski lift up and the slide down, and hiked on the wall in between. Those un-refurbished, tree-filled sections in the distance stir the imagination. Strangely enough, the trip’s highlight had nothing to do with the scenery and everything to do with the hour we spent talking marketing strategy with the four Chinese who tote cans, bottles, biscuits and ice to the wall’s farthest section to sell each day. The fearless foursome gave us insights into their sales strategies, product flow and logistics network. We, in turn, suggested how to boost turnover and profitability. For example, rather than yell out to tourists, we recommended erecting a price board, as some visitors are new to China and/or shy about negotiating and need some reference point with which to start. We also suggested getting some plastic wine glasses and drinking boxes of Great Wall wine and selling it, at a substantial markup, to honeymooners (”Look, baby duck, here’s the photo of us drinking Great Wall on the Great Wall!“) And ice coffee – you need cold, caffeinated drinks in the summer. Veda kindly wrote everything in English and Chinese and got their contact info so we can follow up. I’ll keep you posted.

(From Beijing Boyce III, first emailed on November 3, 2005)