Chapter 40 Chapter 8 From imitation to innovation - imitation is a shortcut, innovation is fundamental

"Imitation is not the best path for enterprise development, but it plays an extraordinary role in the early stage of entrepreneurship. It doesn't matter, the key is that you can imitate and learn." In 1985, there was a sudden trend of "giving lighters" in Wenzhou.At that time, many people who lived and worked overseas liked to bring some high-end foreign-made lighters to their family and friends after returning to their hometowns.These exquisite lighters, which emit blue flames in a dozen, sold for hundreds of yuan at that time.Some nimble Wenzhou people started to have the idea of ​​imitating lighters: Since they are so popular, can we imitate them?In this way, Wenzhou lighter industry began to emerge.

In the Spring Festival of 1990, Wenzhou youth Li Jian got a Japanese windproof lighter by chance.It has obvious technical differences from the largest imitation "cat's eye" lighter in Wenzhou at that time.Facing the new product, Li Jian's heart moved.After several weeks of research, he found that the shell of "Wang Zhong Wang" was made of "zinc alloy" through die-casting, so he hurriedly bought related equipment and materials for imitation. The hard work paid off, and a few months later, a Chinese-made "Japanese windproof lighter" that no longer emits an open flame appeared.Li Jian named it the "King of Kings" windproof lighter and put it into production immediately.As soon as the product was put into the market, it immediately caused a sensation and received rave reviews for a while.The most surprising thing is that the price of Li Jian's "King of Kings" is only 92 yuan, which is nearly two-thirds lower than the price of Japanese-made windproof lighters.Relying on this blockbuster product, Li Jian broke into the international market in one fell swoop.

Later, when Li Jian, the president of the Smoking Accessories Association, talked about his "imitation" fortune, he still had a look of emotion. "Imitation" has always been a controversial term.Some people think that imitation is a shameful act, at least it will not have a good future.In this era of endless new things, only innovation is the most eye-catching business model that can make you stand out.Wenzhou people have a different understanding of this. Looking back carefully at the history of Wenzhou's economic development, you will find that buttons, leather shoes, clothing and lighters, which were once the four pillar products of Wenzhou, all came from imitation at first.Above we have introduced in detail the start and development of Wenzhou lighter industry.In its heyday, the annual output value of Wenzhou's lighter industry reached 1.6 billion yuan, accounting for 90% of China's lighter market share and 70% of the world's lighter market share.Now, although Wenzhou's lighter industry has shrunk due to the economic crisis and technical barriers, it is still the world's well-deserved "big boss".And all this comes from "imitation".

In the eyes of Wenzhou people, imitation is not shameful, but another way of learning.If a large group company with strong strength can only imitate but cannot innovate, then people will definitely not be optimistic about its development prospects.But for start-up companies, entrepreneurs who need funds but no funds, and entrepreneurs who need technology but no technology, imitation has become the best way to develop.In fact, not only entrepreneurs, but also imitation is the best start for development when faced with new products and things that have never been touched before. In 1986, Chen Yunfeng, who was less than 20 years old, used 300 yuan to buy fabrics, copied 4 sets of women's clothing that were more popular at the time, and made 64 yuan by changing hands. Since then, he has embarked on the road of clothing production.Now the Zhejiang Gaobang Clothing Group Co., Ltd. he founded has assets of more than 1 billion yuan.

In November 2009, Xie Bingkuai Seafood City opened grandly in Yiwu, and he made his first pot of gold by "imitation".At the beginning, after graduating from junior high school, he came to Fujian from Wenzhou to work and lived in a friend's house.His friend is very good at making marshmallows. He walks around the streets every day, shouting and shaking the rattle in his hand.Later, Xie Bingkuai discovered that many children were not only interested in the cotton candy in his hand, but also in the rattle.So he thought, why not go and buy this alone?So he made a copy of this toy, and it became a bestseller.In the end, he simply invested in the establishment of a small workshop for making rattle drums.

... There are many more examples like this!Imitation is the first stage of everyone's life, and the same is true for joining the business world.Through imitation, Wenzhou people have established their own understanding, and through imitation, they have entered a brand new world.Although imitation cannot bring them real success, as a necessary stage of development, imitation is a learning method that they can never ignore. Copy—Learn—Master—Innovate.This is a learning process from scratch.Whether it is capital, technology, management or anything else, successful entrepreneurs will slowly accumulate and develop along this process.Therefore, imitation, a crucial step, cannot be ignored, let alone discriminated against.

If you go to interview businessmen in Wenzhou, you will find that no one will think that imitation is an act that should be abandoned.Innovation is the foundation of development, but without imitation, innovation is out of the question. Give a simple example.You want to create a new style of furniture. If you have no experience in making ordinary furniture, or even know what is spray paint and what is baked paint, will you make a satisfactory result?Therefore, before innovating, smart Wenzhou people will strengthen their understanding through imitation and create innovations through understanding.If there is no previous stage, but only want to innovate, it is tantamount to ambitious.

Before starting a business and investing in it, you might as well imitate it like the Wenzhou people.After you have an understanding of the industry, and even reach the level of proficiency, your innovative inspiration will continuously appear in your mind. People in Wenzhou have high spirits.As long as it is the industry they want to do, then they must be the most advanced!Maybe their products are not the best, but their vision will never lag behind the forefront of the industry. There was such a report on the Internet: Whenever an important clothing festival is held abroad, Wenzhou people often entrust foreign friends to buy it at a high price, take it back to Wenzhou by plane, organize professionals to conduct analysis and research overnight, and then quickly imitate it and invest in it. market.

What do you see in it?Wenzhou people not only know how to imitate, but what they imitate are the latest products.Walk in the forefront of the times and society, so as not to lag behind others.If all the imitations are products that are to be eliminated, what's the point? Therefore, if you also want to imitate like Wenzhou people, you should also keep an eye on the forefront of the industry.This is true whether it is the product or the way it is sold. A person who has his own opinion is an independent person.In the same way, enterprises with their own original products will have a better development prospect.Imitation is a means, not an end!Therefore, while imitating, you must have a sense of innovation.Even if you don't have the ability to innovate now, you must not ignore thinking about innovation.

The most valuable thing about Wenzhou businessmen is that they are not only good at imitating others, but also dare to give up everything they imitate.Just like Chen Yunfeng we mentioned above, he started by imitating high-end clothing. His products mainly focus on suits, dresses, women’s clothing, etc., but his real success is that he gave up the production of suits and turned to the development of casual clothing. superior.Through imitation, he accumulated capital and experience, and broadened his vision; and through giving up and innovation, he got better development!This is the thinking of a successful Wenzhou businessman.

◎Imitation is a shameful act——imitation is not shameful, what is shameful is imitating without learning or thinking about innovation. ◎Always imitate the best, and your product is the best - imitation is never the best.Because you are always following behind others!To imitate the best, only if you know the direction of development and have done certain accumulation activities, the transcendence on this basis will make you truly stand at the forefront of the industry!