BIZCHINA / Biz Who

Being your own boss is just clicks away
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-05-04 06:32

Being your own boss is becoming much easier these days, at least in the cyber world. And a growing number of urban Chinese are starting businesses on the Internet.

Lured by almost free entry into the market and the prospect of earning money while working at home, the number of online merchants is growing fast. And many don't even care if their ventures succeed.

These business owners especially women are finding their online shops in this digital age open up a world of freedom that they would not have in the normal working world. A few of them are succeeding so much so that they are faced with making a painful choice between a career in the real world and one in the virtual world.

Liu Li, who runs an online women's accessory shop, said she was encouraged by the success of one of her friends, who recently decided to quit her regular job as an accountant to become a full-time online entrepreneur.


As an accountant, Liu's friend receives a decent salary a little more than 3,000 yuan (US$370) a month. But by selling cosmetics and winter clothes online in her spare time, she earns more than 30,000 yuan (US$3,700) every month.

Liu works full time at her shop, called "True Colours," at Taobao.com. She decided to try her luck in cyberspace last May, as she was looking for a job.

She was already a veteran online shopper. She started shopping online for accessories, cosmetics and clothes in 2001.

First Liu registered her shop at www.taobao.com, one of the Chinese websites where merchants can register for free. Then she uploaded information about her goods for sale, which included photos, product descriptions and prices.

"It is of utmost importance to find sources to purchase my goods," said Liu, who found them mainly at wholesale websites such as www.alibaba.com.

In an effort to find good suppliers, online shop owners sometimes form small alliances. Liu gave a few other shop owners whom she trusts links to her suppliers, and they share theirs with her.

"One needs friends to succeed in cyberspace," she said. "One should be clever, but not selfish."

Besides finding suppliers, an online shop owner should also be skilled in pricing goods. The price has to be attractive with room for bargaining.

A potential buyer can contact the shop owner with the help of an online chatting tool supplied by the website, such as Skype.

If both sides agree on a deal, the buyer will send the money to a bank account assigned by the website, and the seller will have the goods delivered, usually by an express delivery service.
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