A Divine Farmer

Chapter 278 - Don't be Afraid of Being Unable to Sell It!

After a two-month advertising blitz, followed by a flood of praise on WeChat, Eyebrow Dragon Ointment catapulted into the spotlight as a star pharmaceutical product. Despite being twice as expensive as some of its competitors, its effectiveness was the selling point that mattered most to consumers. Savvy shoppers understood that it was wiser to invest in a pricier, effective remedy than waste money on a cheaper, ineffective one. No one would be foolish enough to make such an error in judgment.

Eyebrow Dragon Ointment quickly became synonymous with scar removal. Now, when the topic of scar treatments arises, the name Eyebrow Dragon Ointment is on everyone's lips. Whether they've purchased it or not, if you ask someone for a good scar removal solution, they'll likely recommend Eyebrow Dragon Ointment without hesitation.

The product's success has attracted a steady stream of customers, some of whom even stock up on the ointment to ensure they have it on hand when needed. Observing the favorable turn of events, Su Mei finally allowed herself a smile of relief.

While there might be whispers of the Su family's influence, Su Mei, as the heir to the Su family, had always been expected to receive such support. It was only natural, and she had indeed devoted a significant amount of effort to this endeavor. Her campaign was also a challenge to Yang Jingjing, as Su Mei aimed to show Zhang Xiaolong that she was far more formidable than her rival.

The outcome was clear: Su Mei's victory was nearly absolute. Meanwhile, Yang Jingjing's cosmetics line, which had seen some initial interest, likely had few orders by now. The reason was simple: no advertising, no celebrity endorsements, and a price tag of two thousand yuan for a set of two bottles of a relatively unknown brand of cosmetics was far beyond the reach of the average wage earner.

“Jingjing, might this be too pricey? At these rates, sales could be challenging,” Zhou Li expressed her concern.

“It does seem a bit on the expensive side,” Yang Jingjing acknowledged with a slight nod.

Zhou Li couldn't help but smile wryly to herself, thinking, ‘A bit expensive' is an understatement—it's incredibly expensive!

What's the average salary in Qingyang City? Two thousand yuan for a set of cosmetics is taking more than half of these young women's monthly earnings. If they don't eat or drink all month, they can barely afford it. Who would be willing to do that?

“Should we consider lowering our prices?” Zhou Li hesitated before deciding to raise the question.

As expected, Yang Jingjing shook her head decisively. “Essence Dragon only raises prices, never lowers them. Su Mei priced the Eyebrow Dragon Ointment over a thousand, and people are still eager to buy it. Our products are just as good. Selling for two thousand is easy.”

“Jingjing, I'm afraid that's not quite the right comparison,” Zhou Li said, pausing to gather her thoughts. “The Eyebrow Dragon Ointment may also be over a thousand, but it's marketed as a medicine, a rare scar treatment at that. It's not something people use regularly. Typically, someone will buy it once and not need it again for a long time. If someone has a scar, they might splurge once, even on a tight budget, because it's a one-time purchase. But our cosmetics are different; they're used daily and are consumable. It feels like they're literally applying money to their faces every day…”

Jingjing couldn't help but laugh, yet her stance remained unchanged. “Ms Zhou, consider this: the Eyebrow Dragon Ointment uses the same herb as we do, but they use the leaves, while we use the fruit—the essence of the entire plant. Our yield can't compare to that of the leaves. Selling at two thousand is actually somewhat of a bargain, and I've been contemplating a price increase.”

“But all of this is insider knowledge; the public doesn't see it that way,” Zhou Li replied with urgency. “We can't exactly go around announcing that the Eyebrow Dragon Ointment is made from the same herb as our products. That's a major secret we can't disclose. So how do we get them to accept our cosmetics?”

“Relax, Ms Zhou,” Yang Jingjing said, her smile unwavering in the face of Zhou Li's concern. “I understand your worry. The Eyebrow Dragon Ointment is flying off the shelves while our sales are slow. But that's not on you. I've intentionally held back on the advertising we should be doing.”

Zhou Li felt a pang of urgency. She had been specifically recruited for this role, eager to excel and demonstrate her capabilities. Yet despite having a good product, the launch had been lukewarm at best.

“I actually did it intentionally,” Yang Jingjing clarified, seeing the confusion linger. “You have to understand that people's attention is finite. The Eyebrow Dragon Ointment had already put so much into its promotion. If we were to do the same, we'd essentially be burning the same amount of money for half the impact. It would be one thing if we were up against a rival, but both companies belong to Xiaolong. It would be absurd to waste his money like that, wouldn't it?”

Zhou Li finally grasped the strategy behind the lack of advertising. “But if we keep this up, we'll be completely overshadowed by Su Mei. I'm not sure about the nature of your relationship, but to me, it certainly looks like you're competitors. Su Mei seems intent on outshining you.”

“I'm not interested in competing with her,” Yang Jingjing responded nonchalantly. “She's vying for appearances, but I have to be accountable for Xiaolong's finances. I can't justify squandering a single penny. Moreover, it's only a matter of time. The money we save is no small sum. Why create conflict within our own company?”

“Okay,” Zhou Li conceded, albeit reluctantly. She recognized that Chen Yaru was Zhang Xiaolong's official wife, yet Yang Jingjing always seemed to have his best interests at heart, leaving no room for criticism. “But our prices are quite steep. Is there room for adjustment?”

She was making a last-ditch effort, hoping to leverage existing conditions to secure a brighter future for the company and avoid a decline.

“Our prices aren't excessively high,” Yang Jingjing maintained firmly. “A two-thousand-yuan set may seem pricey for just two bottles, but they last three to four months. That breaks down to a monthly expense of five to seven hundred yuan. Considering the average salary in Qingyang City is around three thousand yuan, it's quite manageable. Take a survey, and you'll find that most women spend several hundred yuan a month on nails, hair, makeup, and handbags. Once they experience our products, they'll see that no manicure, hairstyle, makeup, or handbag enhances their beauty quite like our cosmetics.”

“You're right,” Zhang Xiaolong said, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. “I came here specifically to reassure Ms. Zhou—there's no need to feel pressured. Essence Dragon will have to endure a bit longer, but it's not a reflection of your capabilities.”

Upon his arrival, the two stunning women quickly stood up.

“I just feel like I haven't really been much help,” Zhou Li admitted, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“Stabilizing the situation is a huge help to me,” Zhang Xiaolong replied with a smile. “Essence Dragon's products are designed for long-term results. We're not worried if they don't sell immediately.”