The store was quite busy when the two arrived, with many customers showing interest after seeing the styles. However, after inquiring about the prices, they all began to pout.
"The shop next door has similar styles and quality to yours, and it's a dollar cheaper for one item."
The salesperson patiently explained, "Comrade, our clothing styles are exclusively designed by renowned designers, and you definitely won't find them elsewhere. I guarantee there isn't a second shop selling them."
"What's so special or not special? I just think the style looks good. Clothes are for wearing, not for a beauty pageant. To be honest, I've set my sights on this piece. If you can match the price of the shop next door, I'll buy it."
The salesperson looked very troubled but insisted, "Comrade, the price you're quoting is too low. We are a chain store, and our prices are all the same. We really don't negotiate."
"Then never mind, let's go to the shop next door." The woman handed the clothes back to the salesperson and, pulling her companion along, left without looking back.
The salesperson had no choice but to hang the clothes back on the rack. Turning around, she saw Chen Lishu and immediately said, "President Chen."
Chen Lishu nodded and asked, "Has it always been like this?"
The salesperson replied, "Not entirely. Some people who like our store's styles pay directly. But a portion of them look at the clothing in the shop next door and then come to negotiate prices."
"Some of them speak very rudely, saying that your company's items are the most expensive for the same thing, calling us wicked capitalists," another salesperson chimed in.
Chen Lishu said, "Let them say whatever they want. It's best not to argue with customers."
The two salespersons nodded quickly, "President Chen, we understand."
The store manager was also attending to customers. After Chen Lishu saw her send off a customer, she called the manager over.
"When you finish work today, if it's convenient, please tell the staff to stay a bit late at the store. Arrange all the merchandise on the shelves into two sections based on price: a new arrivals section and a discount section. Also, set up a display area for special offer items, with prices not exceeding ten yuan. I will arrange for someone to come and stock these within the next two days."
"Remember, no matter which section customers are in, treat them equally. As long as they enter the store, we must greet them with a smile."
The store manager nodded, "I understand, President Chen."
"Keep a record of the overtime hours, and submit it with the payroll."
After Chen Lishu finished speaking, she, along with Zhao Xingwang, visited two other stores. The situation was largely the same as the first store, and Chen Lishu made the same arrangements.
"This situation indicates that Xin Xin Apparel is clearly targeting us. A blind price war will only benefit the consumers. By dividing our clothing into high, medium, and low tiers, it will be easier to clear out end-of-season and excess inventory. Since they want to engage in a price war, let's bring out our lowest-end products. This way, the prices of our high-end products will remain unchanged, creating a buzz and naturally attracting more customers."
The cost of each product varied, whether in style, quality, or shipping. Consumers, naturally, would not consider these factors; they only focused on price, going wherever was cheaper.
Indeed, as soon as the Shu Se Clothing store introduced the special offer section, it immediately attracted a large number of customers to snap up the goods.
While the special offer items didn't generate much profit, they certainly didn't incur losses. On the contrary, they could drive some customers' desire to purchase new products.
Because the special offer items attracted customers, some of them would also look at the new arrivals section, greatly increasing the probability of selling new items.
Xin Xin Apparel, however, initially failed to grasp Chen Lishu's intention of separating the price zones. They only focused on the discount and special offer sections, assuming that the stores were slashing prices at all costs.
After a period of blindly following the price reductions, Xin Xin Apparel finally realized something was amiss. By the time they reported it to Yang Lili, it was already too late.
By relentlessly lowering prices, they had caused both their stores to completely lose the mid-to-high-end market.
Once the market perceived them as a mid-to-low-end clothing brand, it would be very difficult to reverse that impression.
"I told you long ago that this method wouldn't work," Zhou Qing said, looking at the consolidated monthly sales report. The turnover of the two stores was less than that of a small shop in the south.
"The market is vast; we don't need to focus solely on Shu Se. This makes it easy to incur losses rather than gains."
Yang Lili wore a professional fake smile and said, "Manager Zhou, I understand what you mean, but both of us are serving President Zhang. All decisions must be made by President Zhang."
Zhou Qing knew she was using President Zhang to pressure him again. His face turned a mixture of blue and white, and in the end, he said nothing and turned to leave.
After exiting Yang Lili's office, remembering some invoices that had been sent to the finance department for reimbursement, Zhou Qing changed direction and went to the finance department.
"Accountant Jiang, can the reimbursement forms I submitted last time be processed?"
Jiang Yuwei lowered her head, rummaged for a moment, then looked up and said apologetically, "Manager Zhou, I'm truly sorry, but the leadership is very busy recently and hasn't had time to sign them."
Zhou Qing was confused. "Leadership signature? Didn't President Zhang go abroad long ago? I've already signed them; you can just process my reimbursement."
Jiang Yuwei replied, "President Zhang mentioned before leaving that any fund movement would require both your and Manager Yang's signatures to be effective. Manager Yang has been quite busy these past two days, so perhaps you could wait another couple of days."
He had never been put in such a difficult position by a junior accountant before, and a surge of anger rose within him, but he suppressed it due to his pride.
He had known about Jiang Yuwei's relationship with Yang Lili from the start. As he was an outsider, it would take time to adapt, but he hadn't expected Yang Lili to act so brazenly.
However, having to personally approach Yang Lili for such a minor matter felt demeaning, so he finally just left with the words, "Then please remember to get Manager Yang's signature."
With that, he turned and left.
...
With the matters in Kyoto mostly settled, Chen Lishu, along with Zhao Xingwang and another employee from the branch office, Han Dongdong, traveled to Shanghai.
Having visited twice before, and having heard of familiar business districts in her previous life, she quickly selected locations for two store premises.
Zhao Xingwang and Han Dongdong were responsible for the renovations, while Chen Lishu began external recruitment and interviews.
After a week, she successfully hired two store managers and four salespersons.
Following another week of training, just as the store renovations were nearing completion, and after the merchandise was transferred from Kyoto, the employees officially began their duties.
As Chen Lishu was preparing to take a direct train back to the provincial capital from Shanghai, she suddenly received a call from Li Lang.
"Little sister, it's quite difficult to find you. I had to take several detours, but I finally found the location of your branch office here and learned you went to Shanghai. Not bad, your business is developing quite well."