Chapter 5: 5. Selected Trading Items
Jason Liu kept in mind that if demand grew in the future, he could connect with Dr. Victor contacts in the pharmaceutical industry for potential business. After leaving Victor clinic, he returned home with a stash of penicillin and settled in with some takeaway food. Picking up A Song of Ice and Fire, he found himself drawn back into the story once more.
He was also waiting for some online orders to arrive, which included protective stab vests, batons, travel backpacks, and hiking boots. With some free time, Jason started to brainstorm what kinds of goods would sell well in the world of Game of Thrones. He needed items that were abundant and inexpensive in the modern world but scarce or entirely unavailable in Westeros.
After all, his recent purchases had left him with just over 26,000 yuan from his 30,000 yuan savings. He had to focus on affordable items for now.
Thinking it over, Jason realized there were plenty of cheap, high-demand products that would thrive in the Game of Thrones world. Common items like paper, gel pens, soap, shampoo, salt, plastic bowls, plastic spoons, and affordable clothing and shoes came to mind. Additionally, the medications he'd already purchased had the potential for a lucrative trade.
Paper and Gel Pens: In Westeros, people used parchment and quills, which were both costly and cumbersome. Most couldn't even afford them. Modern paper and gel pens, by contrast, were cheap and easy to use, potentially replacing parchment entirely. The market for these supplies seemed vast.
Jason made a mental note to stock up on paper and gel pens in bulk. This seemed like a solid foundation for his business venture.
Soap and Shampoo: Common hygiene products like soap and shampoo had strong cleaning properties far superior to anything in Game of Thrones. Their effectiveness and affordability would likely make them bestsellers.
Salt: Salt was an essential resource, in demand across all kingdoms. However, purchasing it in bulk could be tricky, and the profit margins weren't that high. He decided to set salt aside as a secondary option for now.
Plastic Bowls and Spoons: These might not be as durable as metal utensils, but they were lightweight and could be produced at low cost. Once he established a foothold in the market, he could expect decent returns from selling these as affordable alternatives.
Affordable Clothing and Shoes: Thanks to mass production, clothes and shoes were extraordinarily cheap in the modern world. Introducing these products in Game of Thrones could revolutionize the local clothing industry. Modern synthetic materials were not only more durable than traditional Westerosi fabrics but also offered better comfort, color, and style. He saw great profit potential here.
Medicine: Jason knew that effective medicine would be a game-changer. Not only could he make a lot of money, but he could also establish himself as an invaluable figure. A doctor with access to advanced treatments would be respected and possibly revered, offering Jason a safe foothold in Westeros.
Looking over his notes, Jason decided to start with the basics: paper and gel pens. These were inexpensive, didn't take up much space, and could be easily transported. Although he could travel back and forth between worlds, he preferred not to do so too frequently to avoid raising suspicions. He needed to stock up on essential supplies in advance.
He couldn't help but think about the danger of being discovered. His ability to travel between worlds was unusual, and in a medieval society, it could lead to accusations of witchcraft or worse. People feared the unknown, and Game of Thrones was a world still steeped in superstition. Keeping a low profile was essential for survival.
With his plans in mind, Jason began reaching out to various online sellers, negotiating prices. He first contacted a soap supplier.
Jason messaged the soap vendor: "Hi, if I buy more soap, can I get a discount?"
The sales representative from Soap Factory was initially uninterested, scrolling on her phone until she noticed his inquiry. Jason's interest in bulk orders piqued her curiosity, hoping it might be a large sale.
"We already offer factory-direct prices, which are quite low," she replied.
Jason pushed back: "If the price is right, I'll buy a lot!"
The representative, intrigued by the mention of a large order, asked for a specific quantity to work out a discount. Jason decided to start small: "How about 1,000 yuan worth to start? If it goes well, I'll place bigger orders in the future."
A thousand yuan? That was indeed a substantial order. She responded, "For 1,000 yuan, I can give you a rate of 1.5 yuan per bar, which is 0.5 yuan less than the usual price. Does that work for you?"
Seeing the reduction, Jason considered pushing further: "Can we go any lower?"
She held firm at first, but then added: "If you buy 5,000 yuan worth, I can reduce it to 1 yuan per bar."
Jason was encouraged by the price drop. However, with limited storage space, he'd have to stick with a smaller order for now. He agreed to buy 1,000 bars at the 1.5 yuan rate, splitting the order between 100 bathing soaps and 900 general-purpose bars, totaling 1,500 yuan.
He figured that even the general-purpose soap would serve well enough for bathing in Westeros, while the fragrant soap could be marketed to the nobles at a premium price. He could already envision the high demand among lords and ladies for these luxuries.
Next, Jason found an A4 paper supplier on a small online platform. The factory, which specialized in bulk orders, offered substantial savings.
A standard sheet of A4 paper was around 21 cm by 29.7 cm and weighed about 4.4 grams. Buying in large quantities allowed Jason to get each sheet for just 0.05 yuan if he ordered over 10,000 sheets.
Without hesitation, he ordered 10,000 sheets of A4 paper, costing him only 500 yuan.
Jason then turned his attention to gel pens. He sourced 1,000 black gel pens from a small manufacturer, each costing 1 yuan, and also bought 10,000 refills at 0.05 yuan each. This set him back another 1,500 yuan.
In total, Jason had spent an additional 3,500 yuan on supplies.
With his initial stock of paper, gel pens, and soap secured, Jason felt confident in his plan. He was laying the groundwork for a business venture that could flourish in Westeros.
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