Livestream sessions boost sales, confidence

Yuan Jing, 45, from Guiyang, Guizhou province

In June, I started to drive my Audi Q7, about 10 years old, on the street and set up a stall out of trunk to vend iced drinks I made at home for people to cool off in the summer. I set myself the goal of earning 10,000 yuan ($1,380) in the first month and 20,000 yuan in the second month. I succeeded.

The idea came to me when I accidentally saw other people selling handmade drinks in this way in a video on Douyin, so I thought I could sell bayberry and mung bean soup which I often make for my family.

I only invested a few hundred yuan, which includes raw materials, things to decorate my trunk and drink cups. Because I used to have a milk tea shop, I already have some drink containers.

Six yuan for one cup and 10 yuan for two. I sell for three to five hours every day in the daytime until I sell out the whole bucket, which is dozens of cups.

A bigger part of my income comes from selling video tutorials I filmed on how to make the soups through Douyin. Every day when I set up my stall, I would shoot a video and post it on the platform. People watched them because they were curious about how I could achieve my moneymaking goals.

After obtaining some followers on Douyin, I started to livestream the process of me selling the soups on the street by putting a frame behind the stall with my phone filming on it. When there are no customers, I talk to viewers online about the business.

It's an important source of exposure. Many viewers in the city come here out of curiosity, which helps me sell faster and attracts more viewers online.

After seeing this, many viewers who want to follow my model will buy my tutorials on the platform, which only cost a few yuan. I answer their questions in chat groups and also share with tutorial-buyers my experience on where and when to set up a stall, customer psychology, and the difficulties they may encounter.

Most buyers are mothers aged 30 to 40 who haven't had incomes for a long time, just like how I was several months earlier. Before the business, I tried many things to improve my family's situation but all failed. I felt frustrated as when I was younger I ran a clothes shop.

I stayed at home without income for half a year. I felt abandoned by society in my middle age. I lived in self-denial and even wanted to see a therapist.

Everything magically changed for the better when I started selling on the street and sharing on Douyin. I feel positive and satisfied now not just because I can make a profit, but also because I can help other people like me earn money and improve their lives.

Yuan Jing spoke with Zhang Yi.