In the rural areas of Huaiyuan, Anhui, when the elderly are idle, they often do things like tiger head shoes, tiger heads, purses, embroidered insoles and so on.

This tradition has lasted for thousands of years, and no one ever thought that these "money things" without money could generate wealth.

The 32 year old Anhui guy Gao Yong is relying on these "local things" to find business opportunities in Nanjing city.

Foreigners bring wealth inspiration

In the busy Hunan Road Lion King's Folk Culture Festival, the reporter met Gao Yong.

During the Spring Festival this year, the continuous fine weather made his business very good, especially the Olympic Games tiger head shoes with new Olympic logo.

4 years ago, Gao Yong left his hometown for the first time and came to Nanjing to work in a garment factory.

When he returned to the factory after the Spring Festival, he brought some small things such as purse and tiger shoes to his friend.

The foreigner put up 6 pairs of tiger shoes, and insisted on giving Gao Yong 300 yuan.

"I don't think they are worth a half month's salary in Nanjing."

Gao Yong said that from that time on, he sprouted the idea of selling in Nanjing.

Soon, every night at the night market in Ma Tai Street, Hunan Road, there was a stand for the sale of folk customs.

After a while, Gao Yong resigned his work in the factory. Business was good. He had no time to work for anyone else.

Although the night market of Ma Tai Street was banned in 2005, Gao Yong had already secured a foothold in Nanjing.

With unique folk characteristics, he became a frequent visitor to Nanjing's major tourism festivals.

Last year, he had a fixed booth in the Folk Museum of Gan's courtyard, where he was there to see the guests everywhere, and became the best publicity window.

Reporters saw on his shelf that in addition to traditional items such as tiger shoes, tiger caps and purse, according to the needs of consumers, he also developed various kinds of new products, such as mobile lanyard, automobile pendants, family decoration pendants, children's shawls and so on.

Pricing is a difficult problem for Gao Yong.

For example, it is best to sell tiger shoes, the cost of raw materials is not high, the key is manual work Kung Fu, long time.

Although many people like it, but the price is high, still no one bought, low and I am sorry.

"I finally went to the Beijing shoe shop to see the price. It usually sold 68 yuan for one pair, and I sold 58."

This is a very clever move to solve the pricing problem.

Gao Yong told reporters that now his parents, brothers, and so on, a total of more than 10 people came to Nanjing to do specialized work, and relatives in their hometown will all start to produce.

The industrial mode of production, supply and marketing has been initially established.

No matter where, the most striking position of the high Yong booth is hanging a wooden card, which says "Six Dynasties handicraft workshop".

"Since I started training at Ma Tai Street, I have always wanted to make my embroidery skills into a chain industry. The brand is called the" Six Dynasties handicraft workshop ".

Gao Yong said.

But now he faces challenges.

Because folk goods are more and more popular in Nanjing market. Since last year, a number of local businessmen in Nanjing have imported a large number of folk goods from Shaanxi, Ningxia and other northwest regions.

Although both have different regional characteristics in patterns and colors, ordinary consumers will not distinguish them.

On the other hand, the cost of simple trafficking is lower than the cost of Gao Yong's home supply and sale of one dragon, so the commodity from the northwest is more advantageous in the price, which has brought Gao Yong a little impact.

But he is still very confident.

"Perhaps, for the time being, the craftsmen are hard to stop businessmen."

Gao Yong said, "but as long as skills are in place, my business has roots."