After years of dealing with distributors, how much do you really know about them? How far is the real situation of distributors from what you imagine? Where does the current state of distributors differ from your feelings? Today, let's step into the world of distributors, and see what the reality of distribution is like. It's a bit scary! I am a distributor boss. Friends say: Delivering full truckloads and collecting money in bulk may seem glamorous, but in reality, we're broke! Parents say: Running around all day, networking, finding customers, never coming home—it's truly exhausting! Wife says: Either coming home late or drunk, you never give me the tenderness I want! Kids say: You leave early and return late; by the time you're home, I'm already asleep. Weekends and holidays are even sadder, with no dad to play with. Everyone says doing trading is not easy. So what exactly is the difference between before and after starting a trading company? Difference 1: Alcohol tolerance Before: I barely drank, and if I did, I'd be down after three cups. People nicknamed me "Three-Cup Down." After: Selling goods often requires drinking. Half a jin (about half a bottle) at the dinner table is just right. My nickname changed to "Tumbler." Difference 2: Social circle Before: Not many social needs; my circle was just relatives, friends, and classmates. After: Every day I deal with all kinds of bosses and customers: Boss Zhang, Boss Li, President Wang, President Huang, and all sorts of relatives—"Do you need any food products?" Difference 3: Understanding of alcohol Before: My understanding of alcohol was limited to: What brand? How much? What proof? Does it look good? After: I realized that selling alcohol requires pricing, promotions, relationship building... Difference 4: Body shape changes Before: Life was relatively stable and regular—punctual work hours, regular meals. I was slim. After: Busy with social engagements, tending the store, phone on 24/7, delivering alcohol to customers at any time, rain or shine. When busy, I skip meals; at banquets, I eat rich foods. Over time, my body shape gradually changes. Difference 5: Holiday arrangements Before: Monday to Friday were workdays, with weekends off. After: When others rest, I'm busy; when others are busy, I'm even busier. From Monday to Sunday, month start to month end, year start to year end, I can't stop for a living. Difference 6: Time with family Before: After work, I had more time to spend with family. After: The store is my home. With various purchase orders and delivery orders, I close late and return home late at night, rarely having time for family. Difference 7: Sleep time Before: After dinner, I'd read a book and rest around 10 PM. After: I think about customers, stock, promotions... Sometimes I lie awake until dawn over certain issues. Difference 8: Temperament Before: I didn't pamper or indulge anyone. I did whatever I wanted. When my temper flared, no one could stop me. After: For sales, I gradually learn to listen to customers' complaints and grumbles. "Customers abuse me a thousand times, I treat them as my first love." My temper slowly becomes gentler. Difference 9: Life habits Before: When shopping at the supermarket, the first thing I noticed was the dazzling array of products on the shelves. After: When shopping, I habitually look at the food on the shelves: how it's displayed, what brands, how many display faces, etc. In the eyes of friends, we are like this:
In the eyes of retailers, we are like this:
Everyone thinks our life is like this:
But after money turns into goods, our life is like this:
When factory reps come to push stock, we are like this:
Terminal merchants think we are like this:
But facing soaring costs, our pockets are like this:
When inventory is full, we are like this:
If we can sell it without losing money, it's like this:
Misinformed retailers think we make huge profits
Actually, I just want to honestly sell genuine products, but some people always suspect I'm selling fakes
Labor, rent, and even utilities are rising, but retailers keep pressing prices down
What else can we do?! In this heat, we have to desperately visit customers:
Wages are rising, rent is rising, and the cost of living is rising!
But the selling price of products doesn't rise!
You're not easy, I'm not easy, everyone is not easy!
In this not-so-easy world, I'm delivering goods under the scorching heat!
Brothers and sisters, please keep more stock... Distributors are not easy. Cherish every distributor around you, because those who can persist until now have paid more than you can imagine!!! Before understanding, it always seemed so easy. After understanding, I can't help feeling that my life is fake. This is the life of a food industry person. All the leisure, ease, and simplicity are illusions!!! Only the inner bitterness and physical exhaustion are real!!! Cherish every distributor around you, because those who can persist until now have paid more than you can imagine!!! Through wind and rain, under the scorching sun, in the cold wind, they keep persisting. Loading, transporting, selling on credit, taking on stock... they never back down. Body tired, heart weary, not earning but losing money, they still keep trying. This is the distributor—the most real life of a distribution person. It's bloody, but even more real.