Not only to be able to “live”, but also to “live better”.

Editor’s note: This article is from WeChat public account “ Operation Research Institute ” (ID: U_quan), author: routine editorial department. The original title “How did the company that almost” hang up “in SARS in 2003” practise self-help “in the face of pneumonia? 》

Everyone starts work today (at home), right? Here I wish you all a good start!

However, in the past two days, I saw a lot of netizens in the circle of friends and Weibo who drew up the “Plan for the First Quarter of 2020”.

Little friends in the tourism industry, “requesting meals …”

Indeed, many industries are facing a “cold winter” under the epidemic.

In a poll initiated by @ 虎 闻, many netizens thought that the epidemic would have a great impact on the catering and tourism industries.

New Oriental, JD.com, Haidilao ... How did you

In fact, in SARS 17 years ago, many companies and the industries behind them almost “hang up” under the influence of the epidemic.

Some of them survived the hardship; some of them survived unexpectedly …

What happened to them that year? How are they living today, 17 years later? Could it be better than that year?

Today’s article, let’s talk about the “self-help” actions of those companies that nearly “died from SARS” that year.

The history of New Oriental’s growth when it was “lost property” and now “no pain and no itch”

Before 2003, New Oriental had just completed the copyright battle for ETS (American Educational Testing Service Center), and the company entered a high-speed development channel, and everyone was confident.

The rapid spread of atypical pneumonia has undoubtedly hit the high-speed developing company.

Overnight, the number of applicants dropped sharply, and a huge 20 million cash flow broke the chain. Then, in order to control the epidemic, the government asked schools to suspend classes, which also meant that students’ tuition fees were refunded.

Yu Minhong recalls:

I still remember the long line of refund students, from our fourth-floor office all the way downstairs … but the bank restricts New Oriental to only withdraw 500,000 cash a day.

I raised the limit by personally finding a bank leader. I also borrowed more than 20 million from my friends …

The student’s refund is resolved, but the cost must be paid. At the most critical time, New Oriental ’s cash flow was about a week away.

Yu Minhong rushed around, borrowed another 7 million, and temporarily supported it. During this period, New Oriental’s hearts did not disperse, and all employees did not stop working.

At that time, many small and medium-sized training institutions in the country closed down. Four months later, the epidemic was lifted, school classes resumed, and students flocked in, and was completely accepted by New Oriental employees who had been accumulating energy for a long time.

In the same month, Yu Minhong paid off the arrears, and New Oriental continued to develop at a high speed, and the income in that year was not lower than that in 2002.

This year, New Orient spent the SARS period by borrowing money. But this battle also made New Oriental, which almost broke its cash flow, realize the importance of capital intervention.

Compared to 2003’s surprise, in this epidemic, New Oriental, which has a wealth of wealth and experience in dealing with it, is obviously more stable and responds more quickly.

On January 22, New Oriental established emergency teams for schools and institutions, disinfecting, measuring body temperature, and distributing medical masks and other materials every day, a wave of parental favors:

New Oriental, JD.com, Haidilao ... How did you

With the spread of the epidemic, on the 25th, New Oriental, which has begun to distribute various online courses, has begun to gradually move the courses in various campuses online.

It avoids virus transmission and does not delay class. The user feedback of this operation is also quite good:

New Oriental, JD.com, Haidilao ... How did you

If SARS in 2003 was a catastrophic disaster for New Oriental, this epidemic is just a minor allergy that does not hurt.

So, not only did New Oriental not borrow money everywhere, it also donated 2000w backhand. (Unfortunately donated to a 10, crying)

On January 27, New Oriental announced that it will provide 1 million live broadcasts of spring classes to elementary and middle school students nationwide for free, as well as the “New Oriental Elementary and Middle School Winter Vacation Courses” (online) for children of medical staff in multiple cities.

New Oriental, JD.com, Haidilao ... How did you

Not only really helped those medical staff with children at home, but also added a wave of “social responsibility” to BUFF, and it may even be new …

With this move, the panic-free New Oriental went quite calmly.

The e-commerce business that was “forced” by SARS, JD.com was saved after 17 years

In 2003, JD.com at that time was also called “JD.com”, and its business was offline retail of IT products.

The outbreak of SARS has hit the retail industry, which is extremely dependent on passenger traffic, and JD Multimedia is no exception. Fearing that employees could be infected with SARS, Liu Qiangdong closed all JD multimedia counters.

In just 21 days, JD.com lost more than 8 million yuan, leaving the company with only 20-30 million yuan. In other words, after another two or three months, the company may be dead …

In a discussion, someone “creatively” suggested that Customers can’t trade in person, can they trade through the Internet?

So, Jingdong Multimedia’s employees began to post on the Internet to sell CDs, gradually opening up the market. Liu Qiangdong himself will reply to the post himself, and even deliver the orders to the surrounding personally.

This allows JD Multimedia to take the opportunity to clean up its losses and open up the market.

I have to say that the employee who made the suggestion was really prescient!

Liu Qiangdong also became very interested in the Internet. In 2004, he even built an independent website “Jingdong Multimedia Website” to sell products. In 2007, Jingdong Multimedia changed its name to Jingdong Mall and no longer just sells IT products.

At the Jingdong Annual Conference in 2013, Liu Qiangdong himself mentioned, “In 2003, we entered the e-commerce field because of SARS.”

After 17 years, Liu Qiangdong doesn’t need to worry about JD. For those who cannot go out, we can only rely on e-commerce for many things.

The e-commerce company that was “forced” by SARS saved JD.com at the time, and now JD.com.

Not only that, but JD now has the ability to take responsibility for the outbreak.

At the beginning of the outbreak, JD.com emergencyly linked a large number of suppliers to ensure the supply of protective supplies such as masks and alcohol.

New Oriental, JD.com, Haidilao ... How did you

Also donated 1 million medical masks and 60,000 medical supplies.

New Oriental, JD.com, Haidilao ... How did you

In the past ten years of development, JD.com has already extended a large number of industries, such as JD. Finance, JD. Health, etc. During the epidemic, JD Health opened a free consultation channel to guide users in self-protection and preliminary treatment.

New Oriental, JD.com, Haidilao ... How did you

Ctrip was “attacked” twice by the epidemic, Can you spend this year calmly

Compared to New Oriental and JD.com, Ctrip and the tourism industry behind it are not so lucky.

In 2003, the growth rate of domestic tourists plummeted from 11.99% in 2002 to -0.91%; the growth rate of total domestic tourism spending also showed negative growth.