Taiwan's silicone doll king earns 30 million yuan a year

When the interviewers came to the inconspicuous factory according to the appointment, it was hard to imagine that the largest physical doll factory in Taiwan was hidden inside. Outside the guard room, a man came out to check. It was Ke Mingxun, the general manager. He was tall and thin in his fifties, and had a cheerful laugh. "Let me show you around first. This is a place where furniture is made. The physical doll is behind."

 

There are many idle places in the huge factory building. When you come to the back of the office in a dim view, when the door is opened, the shelves, curtains, and white beds look like a clinic, which is the inspection area for dolls.

 

"Recently, two new products have just been introduced". Ke Mingxun opened one of them, carefully took out the head, concave and convex body shape, and assembled it in pairs. "This is made in the mainland, with thermostatic and pronunciation functions." The five features of the doll are lifelike. Although it is not like the touch of human skin, it is soft and delicate. With temperature, it is no longer cold. There is feedback, which is really humanized.

 

Brilliant export sales, frustrated after taking over

 

More than 40 years ago, Ke Mingxun's father used to be a steel enterprise. Later, he borrowed money to start his business. He sold iron wire to the United States to make money. He built a factory of more than 3000 square meters. Later, Japanese businessmen invited him to develop furniture and decided to change careers. "Despite the objection of my uncle, my father persevered in the end. The fact proved that the orders in the United States declined. At the beginning, he sent samples to Japan to support his business for three years before making money." After he was discharged from the army, he was called back to help. In his heyday, the factory worked on three shifts and earned NT $100 million a month.

 

Ke Mingxun started with a punch press and found out how to make furniture. With the rise of the mainland manufacturing industry and the accidental death of his father, he inherited the factory in Taiwan, which had a bad start. "I tried my best to develop new products for export. I applied for more than 40 patents a year, but still couldn't get orders, lost millions, and sold three houses at home. My English was poor. I must rely on business. If I couldn't meet the business, the employees left and took away the guests."

 

As the export market is in the dark, he has to turn to domestic sales to play the brand and fight the world with a patented telescopic wardrobe frame. Finally, he has gone out of his father's way and become the largest supplier in Taiwan.

 

Acting doll, starting "sideline"

 

Entering the physical doll industry is also a fork in the road of destiny. At first, everyone only knew about inflatable dolls. American traders asked him if Taiwan sold physical dolls? Only then did he know that there were silicone dolls that were close to real people, and each one was asking for $7000 or $8000. At that time, only Japan could do it in Asia. He asked foreign businessmen all over the world, "Most of them ignored me. They looked at me as a furniture maker and didn't trust me. Only a few of them responded. I took my translator to visit several times, bought three dolls once to show their sincerity, and finally signed three exclusive agents."

 

It's a pity that he sold to an American merchant and soon ran out of orders. He thought that since he had spent so much effort, it would be a pity not to sell, he would simply take the lead in introducing Taiwan to test the water, but he was not sure that he would sell. "I publicized and built a website according to the method of selling by foreign friends, and it was only two months after I went online. The number one guest wanted to pay in person for fear of fraud. The people who came here were in their early 30s, quite handsome. Always remember that when I received more than 200000 cash, my hands were shaking!"

 

Since Taiwan independence became the king of silicone dolls, more than 400 have been sold on the official website. Ke Mingxun is generous, regardless of whether the media visit or relatives and friends visit. Some people are curious. Does everyone at home agree? "In business, we must get the support of our family! She doesn't object, but she asked me to use it myself." Now that he sells dolls, has he ever tried them? "I'm a seller. I'm not interested!" He laughed wildly and stopped the conversation.

 

Now, he is responsible for business, inspection, customer service and repair. After the artist runs away, he can also take photos! "The customer service doesn't consider girls for the time being, because they need to teach the usage and adjustment methods. If they need to repair, there is also a special person to teach them. The connection is often damaged. For hair transplantation, ask female employees to help." He said.

 

The interviewer asked about the hair transplant process, and the female furniture staff came in wearing masks, "It needs people with good eyes." As she spoke, she skillfully picked up hair and needles and implanted them one by one. She is an employee of a furniture factory and also works as a hair transplant. "At first, she was a little shy, but it was not difficult to grasp the tips." She works according to the order requirements. If someone wants to work more densely, it is better. It can be finished in about half an hour.

 

"You can't imagine that I can sell up to 30 million a year!" Ke Mingxun said frankly that in the past, Japanese dolls were a blue ocean market, with annual revenue of 30 million at the peak. In recent years, a Chinese doll of 50 to 60 thousand Taiwan dollars opened the closed market, and there were competing sellers; Although Chinese dolls don't live as long as Japanese dolls, but only a few years, some people buy them cheaply.

 

Now he sells both Chinese and Japanese dolls. He sells more dolls than before, but his annual income is less than ten million yuan; However, he was optimistic because it was a "sideline". For this reason, he also learned from others how to repair unique skills, provided exclusive services for after-sales and consignment of second-hand dolls, and tried to protect his position as king.




--Reprinted from the public account: Entity doll combat experience