I sorted out my scattered thoughts on this promotion plan in my mind and then said to Circle, “For this promotion plan, we can think outside the box. My idea is that, except for the eight international first-tier brands, we can still use the previous promotion methods for other ordinary brands, such as simple discounts and free gifts. We don’t need to spend too much effort on this, and time doesn’t allow us to be too distracted.”
Circle nodded and said, “I understand your point, and I agree with your idea. The main focus of this promotion activity should still be on highlighting the image of our top department store. So, let’s talk about how you plan to integrate these eight first-tier brands for this promotion plan.”
After thinking for a moment, I said, “Our Bao Li department store includes almost all categories of daily necessities among these eight first-tier brands, such as clothing, bags, watches, jewelry… This inclusiveness is our advantage and also facilitates our matching promotions.”
“What kind of matching?”
“First, we need to create enough subjective motivation for consumers. Of course, promotions are an important means to stimulate buying motivation, but that’s not enough. We also need to further stimulate their desire to purchase at the psychological level.”
“Go on.”
“First, we need to segment the market. Those who can afford luxury brands are definitely high-end individuals, but there are also differences in professions and wealth among high-end individuals.”
Circle nodded and said, “Yes, purchasing luxury brands is mainly done by women. These women are either top elites in companies or rich girls, or…”
“Or mistresses!” I replaced Circle and said. Having worked in the department store industry for many years, we already have a specific system for targeting consumer groups. Ironically, we have studied the consumption structure of luxury brands in Bao Li department store. Company executives account for about 20%, second-generation rich account for about 30%, and the remaining 50% are basically abnormal purchases. So, it is common to see young and beautiful women with successful-looking men entering luxury brand stores in high-end shopping places. Of course, this is just an internal investigation we conducted and does not have official or authoritative status, but it is enough to illustrate the problem.
“So, are you planning to use this as an entry point?” Circle asked directly.
I nodded and said, “Yes, you know these women. They have long-term lack of security in their emotions, and they need a kind of reliance. Even if this reliance is false, they will still find comfort in it.”
“So, what is your promotion theme?”
“Love is not extravagant… During the event, we will give discounts as we should, and as long as they purchase products in luxury brand stores as lovers, we will give them a commemorative version of our department store’s membership card. In the second year of the event, if these couples are still together and purchase luxury products in our department store, we will refund them in their commemorative membership card. The refund will be 10% of their shopping amount in the second year, increasing to 15% in the third year, and 20% in the fourth year. By doing this, we can enhance the continuity of consumption and provide these consumers with both psychological and material compensation. Actually, those women don’t really care about the so-called cash refund. What they care about is a kind of psychological comfort. They also hope for love and hope that love can last.”
Circle pondered the feasibility of this idea in silence for a while and then said to me, “I basically agree with this promotion idea, but whether it can be implemented or not, we still need to have another meeting for collective discussion.”
I nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll listen to your arrangement.”
Circle joked, “Zhao Yang, it seems like you have a deep understanding of women’s thoughts. If your judgment about those women is correct, then this promotion strategy against Zhuo Mei will definitely be a great success.”
I didn’t say anything, but my understanding of those women was gained from years of nightclub experience. As for whether their psychological characteristics can be used as a basis for business behavior, I don’t know for sure. If I am fortunate enough to have the company adopt it, then the market will ultimately verify it.
…
Busy for a whole day, finally, it was time to get off work. Colleagues in the office had already left one after another, and the surroundings gradually became quiet. I lay back in my office chair, closed my eyes to rest, but my mind couldn’t calm down.
Another ringtone from my phone brought me back to reality. I wiped my face heavily and picked up the phone from the desk. I looked at the number and was surprised to find that it was Mr. Ban calling. I was a little puzzled because in the years I’ve been away from home, I was the one who usually called him. He hardly ever contacted me. Sometimes I even wondered if he had forgotten about me, his son who was wandering outside. But I knew he hadn’t forgotten, so every time he passed by Suzhou on a business trip, he would come to see me. He just wasn’t good at expressing emotions.
Out of habit, I lit a cigarette before answering the call and said, “Mr. Ban.”
“Hmm, have you eaten?”
“I haven’t finished work yet. The company has been busy lately.”
“Oh.”
“Do you have something to tell me?”
“I don’t have time to go to Suzhou recently. I sent the rice and flour we talked about last time through express delivery. Please pay attention to receiving it these days.”
“Oh.” I replied weakly.
Mr. Ban fell silent for a moment but didn’t mention hanging up the phone. His unusual behavior surprised me, but I still patiently waited.
“Zhao Yang, how are you and that girl doing?”
I knew Mr. Ban was referring to Mi Cai, but I pretended to be ignorant and asked, “Which girl?”
“The girl who lives with you. By the way, your mother knitted two scarves this time. She also knitted one for her. Remember to give it to her. Also, you have a bad temper, don’t get angry with her, be nice to her, and don’t argue when living together.”
As Mr. Ban spoke, I counted in my mind how many words he had said in this sentence. To my surprise, it was a total of 64 words. It seemed like he had never said so many words in a single sentence since I consciously started counting. I suddenly felt that this world is truly unpredictable, even Mr. Ban has changed, becoming talkative!
“You don’t even know her name, but you’re so enthusiastic. You even knitted scarves for her. Do you think it’s appropriate?” I said helplessly.
Mr. Ban continued with a sentence that made me want to spit blood, “It’s you who’s going to live with her, why do we need to know her name?”
After a while, I helplessly said to Mr. Ban, “You’re right, I’ll do as you say.”
“Treat her well, she’s a good girl.”
Mr. Ban’s repeated emphasis left me helpless, but I didn’t dare to rudely hang up on him. Once again, I said helplessly, “My dear father, you’ve only met her twice, how can you tell if she’s a good girl? Is she naive, or are you cunning?”
Mr. Ban ignored my teasing and repeated, “Treat her well,” before hanging up the phone.
Listening to the “beep beep” of the hang-up tone, I didn’t know what to feel. I couldn’t help but ask myself: How should I treat her well? Right now, I feel like a powerless bystander watching her uncle, Mi Zhongde, raising a cruel knife against her.
I put my phone back on the table, leaned heavily against the chair, slapped my face with my hand, closed my eyes, and thought of her long hair hanging over her shoulders, yet she looked so lonely. It felt as if the blood vessel connected to my heart had been torn apart, and a suffocating pain surged up all at once.
The phone rang again, this time it was Mi Cai. I then remembered that she had promised me in the morning that she would help me move when she had time. She must have finished work now, so she took the initiative to contact me. She really is a woman who keeps her word.
—————-
I’ve been updating twice a day recently, so don’t worry. Because on the 22nd, I’ll participate in the website’s mass update week. By then, you can just sit back and wait for the rich and handsome guys to go crazy. Also, we’re now number one on the new book list, thank you all for your support.