Reborn in 08, Public Enemy of Competitors

June 8, Hangzhou.

Huang Zheng stood at the gate of Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, the autumn wind blowing, his mood complicated.

He left Google last year and founded Ouku.com, a website specializing in consumer electronics.

With the support of Duan Yongping and Ding Lei, Ouku.com secured online distribution rights for brands such as BBK and OPPO, achieving annual sales exceeding ten million yuan.

I thought it was an impressive achievement, but compared to YiTao GO, it's nothing.

The thought that YiTaoGO's monthly sales easily exceeded ten million, and the thought of Shen Mo's shrewd tactics, made Huang Zheng even more curious.

Shen Mo is just a junior in college, how did he manage to do all this?

Upon arriving at the third floor of the startup park, Huang Zheng and his group finally met Shen Mo, who had been stirring up the internet scene recently.

"Mr. Shen, it's a pleasure to meet you here."

"Mr. Huang, you are most welcome."

Shen Mo looked Huang Zheng up and down, a man many people would love to chop up.

Huang Zheng couldn't help but exclaim, "I never expected that President Shen, such a prominent figure in the internet world, would be so young."

"Not at all, I'm far from being as good as Mr. Huang."

Shen Mo said, "Not everyone can win the favor of Duan Yongping and Ding Lei, let alone have lunch with Mr. Buffett."

"Actually, I just benefited from Brother Duan's influence."

Huang Zheng waved his hand. In 06, Duan Yongping paid a high price to win a charity lunch with Buffett.

According to regulations, he could bring 6 people, and he was fortunate enough to become one of them while he was studying in the United States at the time.

"Mr. Huang, please don't take offense at my gossip, I'm just curious, what did you gain from having dinner with the stock market guru?"

Shen Mo said with a smile.

"There's nothing wrong with saying this."

Huang Zheng frankly said, "The most important thing I realized from having dinner with the stock market guru is that entrepreneurship is not about running faster on someone else's track, but about finding a track that is completely your own. Just like you, Mr. Shen, you obviously chose the right track, which is why you have achieved what you have today."

"It's just a minor achievement."

The two exchanged a smile, instantly closing the psychological distance between them, and then got down to business.

Huang Zheng said, "Mr. Shen, our Ouku.com has also cooperated with shopping guide websites before, and the commission range is generally between 1% and 2%."

Shen Mo shook his head. "YiTao GO is different from the shopping guide platforms you've worked with before. We have hundreds of thousands of daily active users and millions of registered users. The value we can create for OuKu.com far exceeds that of ordinary websites."

A glint of light flashed in Huang Zheng's eyes. "I also took that into consideration, so I'm willing to offer 3.5% as commission."

"I'm afraid that's not enough."

Shen Mo still shook his head.

"Mr. Shen should know that the average order value of 3C digital products is very high. Even an extra 1% commission is not a small amount."

Huang Zheng raised an eyebrow: "I wonder what we'll get from YiTaoGO after we increase the commission?"

"If Ouku.com is willing to sign an exclusive cooperation agreement, I can place Ouku.com's entry point in a prominent position on our homepage, just like Vancl, Letao, and Amazon China, to strongly promote traffic, and also tailor a series of shopping guide activities..."

Shen Mo took a sip of water and slowly began to speak.

"Exclusive collaboration, of course."

Huang Zheng didn't agree immediately. "However, can President Shen guarantee that the daily traffic redirected to Ouku.com will be no less than 10?"

"Mr. Huang, you're underestimating our YiTaoGO."

Shen Mo chuckled lightly, "However, I can give you 10, or even 30 or 50 views, but can Mr. Huang guarantee that it will bring corresponding returns to YiTaoGO every day?"

Huang Zheng was taken aback, not expecting this young man to be so experienced at the negotiating table.

"Giving Ouku.com more resources is already our greatest show of sincerity."

Shen Mo didn't give him much time to think. "Also, there's something else I need to explain in advance."

"I hope that Ouku.com can provide a batch of products, such as OPPO mobile phones and BBK e-readers, as prizes for the shopping guide activities. This will not only increase Ouku.com's user traffic but also boost transaction volume."

"Okay, that's negotiable."

Huang Zheng pondered for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table a few times.

Over the next period of time, the two discussed the commission rates for each product category and the details of the promotion one by one.

Shen Mo proceeded cautiously, while Huang Zheng also bargained until all the terms were finalized.

"I wonder to what extent this collaboration can take Ouku.com."

Huang Zheng's tone carried a hint of expectation.

"I promise I won't let Mr. Huang down."

Shen Mo smiled and said, "If Ouku.com can expand to all categories in the future, it may be able to become the third largest online retailer after Taobao and Jingdong."

"Why did you say that, Mr. Shen?"

Huang Zheng frowned: "I can understand being ranked below Taobao, but Jingdong..."

Shen Mo stated directly, "Because Jingdong has advantages that Ouku.com currently lacks."

"Mr. Shen, are you referring to logistics?"

Huang Zheng chuckled: "As far as I know, because Liu Qiangdong wants to build his own logistics, the entire Jingdong has already fallen into a state of capital shortage. Now, with the subprime mortgage crisis, financing channels have been completely narrowed. I'm afraid he won't be able to hold on for long."

"What if he pulls through?"

Upon hearing Shen Mo's words, Huang Zheng was momentarily speechless.

Jingdong and Ouku.com both operate in the 3C digital product sector, unlike Taobao, they sell high-value items with an average order value of over a thousand yuan.

If you don't build your own logistics system, it's easy for problems to arise in delivery and after-sales service, such as lost packages, package swapping, rough handling, and rough loading and unloading.

The most critical issue is the lack of clear responsibilities. Once a mobile phone or computer screen is broken or cannot be turned on, the seller will say, "It was fine when it was shipped," while the courier company will say, "The outer packaging was intact, so it's not our problem," leading to disputes between them.

Ultimately, it is the e-commerce platform's reputation that suffers.

Therefore, Liu Qiangdong spared no expense to build his own logistics network, precisely because he saw it as the lifeline and moat of Jingdong.

If it weren't for the Yangli incident in my past life, I would still have gone to Pinduoduo for cheaper items and Jingdong for more expensive ones.

"this……"

Huang Zheng's expression changed. Ouku.com had only been established for a year, and he obviously hadn't thought of this aspect.

"Given the barriers that Jingdong has built in its self-operated logistics and supply chain, should Ouku.com follow suit or not?"

Shen Mo's voice was like a hammer, striking his heart.

"A single conversation with you is worth more than ten years of study."

Huang Zheng smiled wryly and said, "Indeed, if Ouku.com wants to grow bigger and stronger, it must build its own logistics system like Jingdong."

Shen Mo pressed further, "I wonder if Mr. Huang is confident in surpassing Jingdong?"

"If Jingdong can successfully raise funds this time and resolve the crisis, then things will be a bit difficult."

"If you fall behind at the beginning, you'll fall behind at every step. Ouku.com has already lost at the starting line. Even if it starts to catch up now, it will probably be very difficult to overtake it."

Huang Zheng sighed softly.

"Yes, two tigers cannot share one mountain. In the current B2C electronics industry, only Jingdong and General Manager Huang are in the running."

Shen Mo's tone turned serious: "If nothing unexpected happens, you need to be prepared to fight Jingdong head-on for a long time to come."

Huang Zheng felt a heavy weight in his heart. Was he really going to risk everything, his life, to fight Liu Qiangdong with bayonets?

"Mr. Shen, what are my chances of winning if I were to go head-to-head with Jingdong?"

"That's hard to say."

Shen Mo said, "If Ouku.com partners with YiTaoGO, and Jingdong doesn't, the odds might be 50/50. But if Jingdong also partners with YiTaoGO... then the odds will be 70/30."

Huang Zheng's heart sank suddenly, and the expressions of the other entourage members also changed drastically, becoming increasingly solemn.

"Since Ouku.com has chosen the path of 3C digital products, it is destined that one day it will meet Jingdong at the top."

Shen Mo crossed his arms and asked, "Mr. Huang, what are your plans then?"

Huang Zheng slowly spoke: "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. I need to meet with Liu Qiangdong to determine if I have a chance of winning."

"What if there isn't one?"

Shen Mo cast a meaningful glance at him.

"If I really can't win this war, is it even worth fighting?"

Huang Zheng chuckled self-deprecatingly, "That proves this track isn't for me, I need to switch tracks."

Shen Mo extended his hand, "If we really have to change tracks, I hope to have the opportunity to have a deeper collaboration with Mr. Huang."

"must!"

Huang Zheng grasped his hand and said, "I also learned something from that lunch with the stock market guru: after finding your own path, you also need to find the right model and choose excellent partners."

Shen Mo grinned. If nothing unexpected happened, Huang Zheng would eventually give up on Ouku.com.

However, I need to speed up this process!

In his previous life, Song Jiang caused the destruction of families and the deaths of people in order to get Lu Junyi and Qin Ming to join Liangshan, and he himself became a rebel.

Of course, I wouldn't be so wicked as to commit such a heinous act. At most, I would strengthen my cooperation with Jingdong and severely squeeze Ouku.com's living space.

A fierce general like Huang Zheng must be recruited to our mountain!