"Mr. Wu, the first quarter sales report is out. After February, our sales skyrocketed, increasing by 150% in two months. The collaboration with Tang Long has been a massive success!"
The manager excitedly burst into Wu Rongzhao's office, holding the first-quarter sales data for Hongxing Erke.
Frankly, when he first took over the company, the old guard of entrepreneurs hadn't held much hope for him. Now, those old fellows were being proven spectacularly wrong.
With the release of the first-quarter sales figures, the veterans were stunned, and the old guard and the younger generation alike gained genuine respect for Mr. Wu.
"Have the finance department tally the data. Take 10% of the profit from the models endorsed by Tang Long. From now on, for any models endorsed by Tang Long or other celebrities, 10% of the profit from those endorsed items will go to the celebrity endorser."
"This?" the manager hesitated, looking at his boss with a pained expression. "Boss, won't that be a bit too much? That's 10%! The collaborative models alone in the first quarter are over a billion in sales. Even after deducting costs and taxes, we're talking about distributing over thirty million in profit!"
This money didn't need to be spent, yet the boss's word alone meant giving a portion of this profit to celebrity endorsers. It felt like a wasteful endeavor, when the money could have stayed within the company.
"Don't wince, and don't fixate on such a small sum. Aside from the NBA collaboration, sales for all other models have increased by at least 50% in the first quarter!"
"Mr. Wu, you're right, but..." the manager still sounded reluctant. "It still seems like too much. How about 5%?"
"Petty!" Old Wu glared at the manager exasperatedly. "Just do as I say. Also, put in a word with the R&D department to design a few championship shoes for the Finals in advance. If the Cavaliers win this year's championship, we'll release the new models immediately, and they're sure to sell out again!"
"Boss, although Tang Long is our endorser, the Cavaliers winning the championship seems a bit unlikely. According to statistics from American media, the Cavaliers' chances of beating the Celtics are only around 30%!"
The manager didn't seem optimistic about the Cavaliers winning the championship this year.
So, he added, "Besides, the Lakers have strengthened their frontcourt this year, and they are terrifying on both offense and defense. I'm not trying to inflate their ego or dampen the Cavaliers' spirits, but I don't think the Cavaliers can beat the Lakers."
His opinion aligned with the general consensus.
Even if the Cavaliers could get past the Celtics, they likely wouldn't be able to defeat the Lakers.
The Lakers, with Kobe Bryant and now Pau Gasol, had a slightly superior roster to the Cavaliers in terms of frontcourt, backcourt, and bench depth.
"One should have some dreams. Perhaps the Cavaliers can really create a miracle!"
Wu Rongzhao recalled his first impression of Tang Long – his fighting spirit, basketball IQ, and his ability to rally his teammates on the court. These qualities deeply impressed him!
He was a player who could energize the entire team, possessing extraordinary charisma.
Such players always inspired unwavering confidence.
The manager nodded, then sighed again. "It's a shame, the Olympic sponsors have already been decided. If our products could be seen at the Olympics on home soil, our brand recognition domestically would skyrocket overnight!"
Wu Rongzhao's eyes lit up. "Interesting. You've reminded me. This year, our Olympic basketball team has Tang Long and Yao Ming, and players like Wang Dazhi, Zhu Fangyu, and Sun Yue are all very strong. Perhaps our big ball projects can also achieve results this year, which would be a golden opportunity for exposure!"
"Mr. Wu, the Olympic Committee's sponsors are all set. Besides, with our current scale, entering now would be more of a loss than a gain, and it might even cripple us."
"Think bigger! Who says we have to become an Olympic sponsor? We can sign players. Besides, Tang Long is already our brand ambassador, and he's participating in the Olympics."
The manager's lips immediately curved into a smile. "Mr. Wu, I understand. With some clever work on the advertising slogans, the effect might be no less than that of a sponsor."
...
CK also clearly recognized the benefits of Tang Long's endorsement, and their men's line was very popular this year.
The brand's first-quarter financial report was also stellar, prompting them to decide on a grand banquet to invite all their contracted celebrities.
When Bill Duffy handed the invitation to Tang Long, he mysteriously hinted that a heavenly queen of American pop music would also be attending the banquet.
Simultaneously, Bill Duffy brought another piece of gossip: the winners of this year's championship would be invited to visit the White House!
As long as Tang Long could win the championship, not only would his endorsements increase, but his reputation would also be enhanced.
Tang Long, however, was not particularly interested in these matters. Every day, besides training, he was engrossed in studying Qingfeng Dahui's template.
In the previous game against the Celtics, facing double-teams, his scoring options had noticeably diminished.
The Celtics would undoubtedly focus on him in the upcoming games, so he needed to develop new offensive capabilities.
Furthermore, the Olympics were fast approaching, and he would need to make adjustments then. If he didn't get familiar with them quickly, changing positions might prevent him from performing at his best.
Time flew by as the days were packed with activity. Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
The second game between the two teams was once again played in Cleveland!
This time, the Celtics were well-prepared. Just as Tang Long had predicted, he was heavily guarded from the moment the game started.
Simultaneously, the Celtics made some adjustments to their starting lineup, with Sam Cassell starting and Rajon Rondo on the bench.
Clearly, Doc Rivers had seen how Sam Cassell had propelled the team with his individual ability after coming off the bench in the previous game, which led him to deploy him from the start in the first quarter.
However, Doc Rivers had only considered the advantages for himself and overlooked the disadvantages.
In the first game, Sam Cassell's outstanding isolation plays had sapped some of the Cavaliers' energy, and coupled with the unfamiliarity with Sam Cassell's playing style, he had been able to exploit opportunities.
Tonight, the Cavaliers had full energy, and their defenders were more focused, which reduced the effectiveness of Sam Cassell's offense.
Moreover, Sam Cassell, being only 1.9 meters tall, had difficulty defending taller players, which also provided opportunities for perimeter players to shoot.
At the end of the first quarter, the Cavaliers led 32-23, a nine-point advantage, with Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes combining for twenty points.
In the second quarter, Rajon Rondo returned to the court, and the Celtics intensified their defense.
The second quarter was a fierce battle, and thanks to the outstanding performances of Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen, the Celtics scored twenty points in the second quarter!