I have been busy with production these past two days. I thought I was sure of winning, but I didn't expect Chen Lishu to be quite able to handle it.
But it doesn't matter, she can guarantee that the cost of her underwear is definitely much lower than that of Chen Lishu.
All the way to Director Zhou's office, Liu Xiaoting briefly explained what she heard, and then said: "Director, if this is true, what should we do? Should we continue to reduce the price or give a discount like her?"
Director Zhou frowned and thought for a long time before saying, "I think a price reduction is not as cost-effective as a discount."
After all, it is difficult to define how much the discount is. If the discount is too small and unattractive, people will definitely choose three items with a 15% discount. If the discount is really large, the commission to the supply and marketing cooperative will be deducted, and the remaining profits will be greatly shortened.
Still a little unwilling.
"Why don't we have the same discount as them? She's 15% off and we'll be giving 15% off too. Anyway, Section Chief Li has already spoken. As long as our factory continues to receive his fabrics, we can ask for any other fabrics we want."
The original price was two yuan and eighty cents, but the 15% discount was just over two yuan and thirty cents. The difference was several cents, and Director Zhou was a little reluctant.
Liu Xiaoting wanted to bring down Chen Lishu. Seeing that Director Zhou disagreed, Liu Xiaoting felt a little anxious: "Director, temporary gains and losses are nothing at all. Think about it, as long as we bring down Chen Lishu, everyone will only buy our family's underwear.
Whether we sell it for three yuan or five yuan, we have the final say on the price."
Director Zhou nodded after hearing her words: "Yes, then I'll do as you say."
After listening to Director Zhou's words, Liu Xiaoting couldn't wait to go to the supply and marketing cooperative.
…
"In addition to delivering goods today, let's do some market research on the way." Lin Qi came over early in the morning, and Chen Lishu told him her plans.
"Market research?"
Not only Lin Qi, but Gu Xingping also came over curiously: "Sister-in-law, what is market research?"
Chen Lishu couldn't explain the specific term clearly, so she could only explain it to the two of them in her own vernacular.
"Through inquiry or observation, we can have a deeper understanding and understanding of the quality, trademark, appearance, price, promotion methods and sales channels of our products, etc., so as to grasp market trends more quickly and effectively."
Seeing that the two of them still didn't understand, Chen Lishu thought for a while and said: "Just like our underwear, it was priced at three yuan at the beginning because the fabric was rare and the style was quite unique. It kept selling for three yuan and some people bought it, but
Since our production volume is not large due to various restrictions, we have always maintained a balance between supply and demand."
Lin Qi thought for a moment and said, "Sister Chen, do you mean that if we increase production to a certain point, it may become unsalable?"
Chen Lishu nodded: "Yes, by then, without other competition, we will find ways to reduce prices ourselves, so we need to understand the market. An underwear worth two yuan is still a luxury item for most people, and because conditions are limited
, they must wear it carefully for a long time before buying one. When everyone who can buy it has bought it, then the discount may not be able to seduce them, unless we go to the next level to stimulate their consumption."
Chen Lishu said with a smile: "After all, we have to consider the cost, and we can't sacrifice the good and the bad."
After her explanation, both Lin Qi and Gu Xingping suddenly understood, especially Lin Qi, who had a flexible mind and understood something after listening to Chen Lishu's words.
They have been selling underwear for more than half a year. The entire county is so big and there are only so many people who can afford to buy underwear. The price cuts and discounts in the past few days have only accelerated the consumption of these people.
This is like a piece of cake. It may take a day to eat slowly, but now it is just eaten in an hour.
"Sister Chen, what should we do next?"
"I'll write a few simple questions about our underwear in a while. After the goods are delivered, you can take our underwear and ride a bicycle to the countryside below. You don't have to go to the village to avoid wasting time. I will take a sampling method and record it.
I followed Xingping to launch targeted investigations at several supply and marketing cooperatives."
"What investigation are you talking about?" The three of them were talking when Ding Chen suddenly walked in.
When she was short of manpower, Chen Lishu simply asked him to be a strong man. She briefly told him what to do, and then said, "Why don't you and Lin Qi go downstairs together?"
Ding Chen happened to have nothing to do, so he readily agreed after hearing Chen Lishu's words.
After Chen Lishu wrote down the questions to be investigated, the four of them locked the courtyard door and set off.
It was not until evening that Chen Liyuan finished her exam and even prepared meals, and the four people came back one after another.
"Don't be in a hurry to go back, just have a quick bite here." Chen Lishu said.
Lin Qi and Ding Chen were too tired to move, so the five of them had dinner together.
After dinner, Chen Liyuan cleaned up the kitchen, and the four of them went back to the house to share the results of their investigations.
"The situation is not good. I traveled to three villages. According to Sister Chen's wishes, all the girls I asked were young girls. Some were unwilling to cooperate. There were only about 30 people who were willing to cooperate. I also showed them their underwear.
Everyone said they wanted to buy it because of the quality, but more than 20 people said it was too expensive." Lin Qi was the first to speak.
The countryside is no different than the city. You can eat food and get a monthly salary.
Ding Chen nodded: "My situation is similar to yours. I want to buy it, but I think the price is too high. I said if it costs around RMB 50, I might be able to accept it."
"One dollar and a half?" Gu Xingping chuckled: "It still costs this much to make a plain cloth breast wrap."
Chen Lishu said: "When we went over today, we found that Liu Xiaoting was also imitating our discount. Although it was also a 15% discount for three items, her original price was only 2.8 yuan, so after the discount, it was more than 20 cents cheaper than us.
"
Chen Lishu paused as she spoke: "But the effect is not very obvious. Xingping and I spent nearly an hour in various supply and marketing cooperatives and found that the sales were not nearly as fast as the first two days."
After all, people nowadays don't pay much attention to underwear hygiene. Even if a piece of underwear is not worn out, it will be worn for at least two or three years.
"Sister Chen, they have lowered the price again, what should we do?" Lin Qi asked.
Chen Lishu smiled: "Let's take a look at the situation first and then talk."
Through this investigation, she has already made some considerations in her mind. If her guess is correct, even if Liu Xiaoting and others follow the trend and implement discounts, the sales volume will definitely not be very good.
Seeing that the sky was getting darker, Lin Qi and Ding Chen left the courtyard together.
The next afternoon, after Chen Liyuan finished her exam, the three of them locked the courtyard door, took the cloth and returned to Qingshan Village together.