[Explanation] In recent years, with the increasing popularity of mobile phones and other electronic products, the traditional calendar market has become increasingly deserted, and it is difficult to find a trace in many places.
On January 6, outside an electrical grocery store on Huapu Road, Jinniu District, Chengdu, Sichuan, the owner Qiu Yong and his wife, who sold calendars for 24 years, placed the calendars at the door for the public to buy them.
Those with rich and honorable flowers, those with Chinese zodiac tigers, and those with green mountains and green waters... At the door of Qiu Yong's small store, there are all kinds of calendars.
Qiu Yong introduced that he started selling calendars when he was 24 years old. He has been selling calendars in Chengdu for 24 years and is also called "Qiu calendars."
[Concurrent] Qiu Yong, owner of calendar shop
(Previously) There were too many varieties of wall calendars. In the past, there were orchids, various flowers, characters, celebrities, and some bonsai, calligraphy and painting, as well as Chinese zodiac. There were too many varieties.
In the past, from the National Day to the New Year, the most sold was nearly 200,000 yuan.
It's not so good now, it's pretty bad, and I can only sell a few thousand copies a year.
[Explanation] Qiu Yong said with emotion that with the popularity of mobile phones and e-commerce, fewer and fewer people go to physical stores to buy calendars, and most of the customers who buy calendars are middle-aged and elderly people.
[Concurrent] Qiu Yong, owner of calendar shop
The main reason for the decrease in sales is that there are many (calendars) on mobile phones. Young people basically look at mobile phones. Only the elderly have bad eyesight, or they are unwilling to look at the mobile phones. The elderly watch more, because the elderly All like this traditional way.
[Explanation] This year is the Year of the Tiger. Qiu Yong said that they have also bought many calendars with tigers printed on them, but the best-selling calendars are those with the word "Fu".
Ouyang, 72 years old, came here to buy calendars from home.
She chose Qiu Yong's shop for a long time, and finally chose a gilded wall calendar with the word "Fu", ready to hang in the living room at home.
[Concurrent] Customer Ouyang
I mainly came here to buy wall calendars today, because I have been buying them here. I think the (wall calendars) here are more exquisite. You must buy this one with bronzing and it looks good.
[Explanation] Nowadays, although fewer and fewer people buy calendars, Qiu Yong has been selling calendars for the sake of these regular customers.
Speaking of the future, 48-year-old Qiu Yong said that the wall calendar not only represents "Farewell to the old and welcome the new", but also a cultural heritage. For this heritage, his calendar shop will continue to open.
[Concurrent] Qiu Yong, owner of calendar shop
My wish is to pass on this calendar as much as possible, because after all, there are elderly people in every household and retro style is now more popular. I hope that my calendar will gradually become popular, and I will continue to do it.
He Meikun reports from Chengdu, Sichuan
Editor in charge: [Li Ji]