Storekeeping in Cyberspace.docVIP

Storekeeping in Cyberspace 　　Hongbo and Chenchen decided to try running a retail business online. This 20-something couple currently live in Beijing; Hongbo has a stable job at a public foundation and his wife Chenchen is doing market promotion for a private company. They enjoy a happy marriage, but there has always been a thorn in Hongbo’s side, “Neither of us are native to the city, so our life is unsettled here. The soaring housing prices and our wish to start a family place heavy financial pressure on us.” Hongbo was born in a rural area of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hubei Province and his family is not financially comfortable. His wife was also born into an ordinary workers’ family, so economic support cannot be counted on. “We had to figure it out ourselves,” says Hongbo candidly. 　　To add a source of income, the couple opened an e-store last year in China’s famous e-shopping mall Taobao and named it “Forest Love Care Store.” “Our online business enables us to skip the costs of shop rental, storage space and staffing; it also saves our time as we don’t need to stand beside counters and wait on customers. Overhead is almost nothing,” Hongbo points out. 　　The advent of the e-store option has been a heaven-sent solution for those without enough money to fund a startup, or for those who want to make extra money to supplement their day job. And running an e-store has become a way for people to show their wit, creativity and discerning eye. 　　 　　Check Out Rivals and Grab the Spotlight 　　 　　The rapid development of the e-market in China indicates more and more urban dwellers are getting used to trusting online shops or service providers. This trend, compared with patronizing traditional large-and-mid-scale brick-and-mortar stores, is on the rise because it is providing customers with convenience and competitive prices. 　　But to run an e-store well, one needs to find its selling point and run it whole-heartedly. “Before we decided to ope