Chapter 217: 217: The Big Shot Calls
Opening a self-operated store involves a significant investment.
Rent, labor, water, and electricity are very substantial expenses.
Franchising, on the other hand, can save on these costs and even bring in franchise fees.
It also allows a brand to quickly spread across major cities nationwide in a short period.
But there's a downside to choosing franchising.
That is, the brand has very little control over franchisees.
If franchisees, for their own benefit, disregard the interests of the brand and do something undesirable, the brand's image will be damaged.
If you open self-operated stores, however, this problem can be avoided. Discover the mystery at m,vl_em|p_yr
Haidilao adopts the self-operated store model.
Self-operated stores allow for control over all major outlets.
Haidilao became popular because of its extreme customer service.
If franchising were used, the service provided by franchise stores would be hard to guarantee.
Once the service declines, it ultimately affects Haidilao.
The second option is to enter large-scale supermarkets.
Supermarkets inherently have traffic, and it's significant traffic at that.
Many beauty brands like to cooperate with supermarkets.
The more famous the supermarket, the more popular it is with beauty brands.
Being able to enter a well-known supermarket signifies the strength of a brand.
It not only has the effect of advertising but also enhances the brand image.
Yonghui Supermarket is a leader in the retail industry, and countless beauty brands want to partner with Yonghui Supermarket.
"Director Zhang, just apply for it. Like I said, I don't manage the company's operations," said Xu Yang.
"President Xu, as you know, our Qianjiao Company is at most a second-tier beauty brand. Although the quality is assured, and I can guarantee that, our visibility isn't high enough. Yonghui Supermarket is very strict about the beauty brands it admits; our chances are slim," Zhang Qiuxue explained.
"So, your call is..." Xu Yang was somewhat confused about Zhang Qiuxue's intentions.
Zhang Qiuxue said joining the supermarket would be beneficial for the company, but now she also mentioned that the opportunity to do so was slim.
Xu Yang really didn't understand why Zhang Qiuxue was telling him all this.
"President Xu, I know you have extensive connections. Even Wang Xiaocong is on brotherly terms with you. Just yesterday, someone saw you together with the wealthy Wang and Zhang Yimin. I was wondering if you know the head of Yonghui Supermarket, Zhang Songxuan? If you do, could you help us get Qianjiao Company an opportunity there?" Zhang Qiuxue finally got to the point.
Pictures of Xu Yang having a lively conversation with the wealthy Wang and Zhang Yimin were taken yesterday and uploaded online, causing quite a stir.
Many people were curious as to who Xu Yang was.
Zhang Qiuxue saw this news today.
If before, when Xu Yang and Wang Xiaocong were close, Zhang Qiuxue didn't consider asking Xu Yang for help.
After all, no matter how you put it, Wang Xiaocong was just a junior, and the gap between him and a tycoon like the boss of Yonghui Supermarket was too significant.
It was highly unlikely for Xu Yang to know the head of Yonghui Supermarket.
But having seen the news of Xu Yang chatting happily with the wealthy Wang Zhang Yimin, Zhang Qiuxue thought it might be possible for Xu Yang to know the head of Yonghui Supermarket.
So, she made the call to ask.
"Director Zhang, I don't know the head of Yonghui Supermarket and cannot help you," Xu Yang said with a wry smile.
"You don't know him, huh." Zhang Qiuxue sounded somewhat disappointed.
Not knowing him, she didn't have much confidence in securing the eligibility to enter Yonghui Supermarket.
"Director Zhang, I'll ask Wang Xiaocong and see if he knows him. If he does, I'll see if he can communicate with the head of Yonghui Supermarket to help us out. Although I met and had dinner with the wealthy Wang and others yesterday, approaching someone like him directly for help still seems a bit inappropriate."
After all, since Qianjiao Company is a business I've invested in and own a twenty percent stake in, I hope to see it thrive. Offering a helping hand where appropriate isn't a problem.
After all, the better Qianjiao Company does, the higher my return will be in the future.
"Thank you, President Xu," Zhang Qiuxue expressed her gratitude.
"No need to be so formal; I don't even know if I can be of any help. If I can't, I hope you'll understand, President Zhang."
Xu Yang had given Zhang Qiuxue a heads-up to prevent her from getting her hopes up too high, lest she be utterly disappointed if he couldn't be of any assistance, which would not be good for either of them.
"President Xu, I understand. There's no question of understanding or not. I'm already very grateful that you can help," said Zhang Qiuxue.
"Alright, I'll make some contacts now and get back to you with any news, good or bad," Xu Yang said.
"Okay, thank you, President Xu," Zhang Qiuxue thanked once again.
After ending the call, Xu Yang thought for a moment and was about to call Wang Xiaocong.
But before he could dial out, his phone started ringing with a call from an unfamiliar number.
"Hello," Xu Yang answered the phone.
"Hello, President Xu, this is Zhang Songxuan from Yonghui Superstore," the caller introduced himself.
Zhang Songxuan!
He had just been discussing Zhang Songxuan with Zhang Qiuxue and was planning to call Wang Xiaocong to see if she knew Zhang Songxuan.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Songxuan himself had phoned him.
What could Zhang Songxuan want from him?
With this thought, Xu Yang asked with a smile, "President Zhang, I've heard of your great name. May I know why you're calling me?"
Zhang Songxuan said, "President Xu, I'm actually a resident of Century Garden as well. I was abroad during the last homeowner's gathering and couldn't attend. I heard about you from the property manager and wanted to meet you in person, to get acquainted. I wondered if you might be free for dinner tonight?"
Xu Yang laughed and replied, "If President Zhang is inviting me to dinner, even if I don't have the time, I'll have to make time."
It was natural to show courtesy when someone of Zhang Songxuan's stature extends an invitation to dinner.
Especially now, with the Qianjiao Company matter at hand, he had to accept.
This would be a good opportunity to meet and talk with the magnate directly.
Zhang Songxuan chuckled, "Then, President Xu, I'll send you the details of our meeting time and place later."
"That's fine by me; I'll be there on time," Xu Yang said.
After ending the call,
Xu Yang stroked his chin and couldn't help but smile.
He hadn't expected Zhang Songxuan to be a resident of Century Garden.
And even less so that such a big-shot would reach out to him for a meal.
Of course, Xu Yang didn't believe that the invitation was just to get acquainted. Hardly ever would such a tycoon invite someone to dinner for such a simple reason.
There must be something else.
As for what it could be, Xu Yang couldn't guess.
No matter, having something to discuss was better; it would be the perfect chance to bring up the suggestion of Qianjiao Company moving into the Yonghui Superstore.
Soon enough, he received a message from Zhang Songxuan.
It was the time and place for dinner.
The time was set for six-thirty in the evening.
The venue was familiar to Xu Yang; it was the same Exquisite Private Kitchen where he had dined with the tycoons just yesterday.
It seemed that this private kitchen must be a favorite among the tycoons.
He wondered if it was Shen Wanpeng who had recommended it.
A whimsical thought suddenly crossed Xu Yang's mind.
Shaking his head, Xu Yang dismissed the unrelated thoughts and dialed Zhang Qiuxue's number.
The call connected quickly.
"President Xu, how did it go?" Zhang Qiuxue's voice was filled with anticipation.