"Yang Ge, this is Director Liao from the department store. Director Liao has already sent someone to contact the public security comrades."
A man in a Zhongshan suit followed behind Zhang Weiyang. Chen Yang glanced at his four pockets.
The newcomer didn't greet them, giving off a condescending air.
"Hello Director Liao, I'm Chen Yang, the owner of Meng Hui Radios."
Since the other party wasn't enthusiastic, Chen Yang didn't try to curry favor. He introduced himself casually.
"Yes, Boss Chen, I've already sent someone to notify the public security. You can speak directly to them if you have any issues."
"Director Zhao from the Bureau of Commerce and Industry has instructed that the shop and staff are all arranged. If you have any requirements, you can state them, and I will consider them."
Chen Yang could tell that Liao Youren was speaking in officialese.
It was clear that he looked down on Meng Hui Radios. His words implied that he was only showing them respect because of Director Zhao from the Bureau of Commerce and Industry.
"I've given you the shop and sent the staff. Don't bother me if there's nothing else. I'm very busy, and you're not qualified to make me spend more effort."
"Director Liao, you're busy. We'll handle it ourselves."
Since Liao Youren wasn't friendly, Chen Yang couldn't be bothered to pretend.
He didn't need to argue about Liao Youren's disdain for Meng Hui Radios. When Chen Yang made the Meng Hui brand famous, Liao Youren would probably grovel for his favor.
"Boss Chen, Boss Zhang, I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
After Liao Youren left, Meng Xiaofei was on the verge of tears. She knew that she had embarrassed Chen Yang and Zhang Weiyang.
At first, when they sold over thirty radios that day, Director Liao and the leaders from the Bureau of Commerce and Industry had stood by and helped.
Later, when they only sold a few units each day, he stopped coming.
In his eyes, the "first privately owned business in the country" was probably nothing special.
The electronics stall in the department store sold dozens of radios a day, and people had to line up with ration coupons to buy them. They were limited to thirty units per day, and no more after that.
With Meng Hui's sales volume, it was probably only equivalent to two or three days of sales for his department store's electronics stall per month. He had every reason not to take them seriously.
"It's alright. It's normal for them to look down on us if we don't have much business."
"We just need to build up the business."
Chen Yang waved his hand. He had seen many people like Liao Youren. This was normal.
As long as you were successful enough, leaders like Liao Youren would eventually beg you for help.
Just look at Jack Ma in later life; how many leaders pleaded with him to invest.
And Wang Jianlin of Wanda, he even dared to curse at leaders, though that was a bit too arrogant.
Chen Yang wasn't that arrogant, but he didn't want to be treated coldly.
"Brother, I didn't expect that customers in Fei City still don't trust us much. I even put up an advertisement at the train station. I thought sales wouldn't be a problem."
Things had gone too smoothly in Qinghe City, so Zhang Weiyang never imagined that their tried-and-true methods wouldn't work in Fei City.
"Weiyang, this is all normal. In business, things can't always go smoothly. Challenges are normal."
"The reason we did so well in Qinghe City was that we seized the opportunity of being on the street, arranged for actors, and combined that with our promises and price advantages."
"Were all these factors present here? Also, before, we were opposite the state-run department store, and people could see us at a glance."
"But now, we're inside. Customers who enter the department store are looking for their specific needs. This inherently reduces the number of customers we can attract."
"Even those who want to buy radios will go to the electronics stall first, and only come to us for a look if they can't buy one there."
"From the beginning, our competitive advantage was suppressed by the department store, unlike in Qinghe, where we competed on an equal footing with the state-run department store."
Chen Yang immediately saw the problem. Zhang Weiyang had only focused on leveraging the department store to increase credibility.
But he completely failed to notice that this severely limited Meng Hui Radios' price advantage in attracting customers.
"Brother, I really didn't notice these things."
Zhang Weiyang mused. There were hardly any businessmen at this time, so Zhang Weiyang naturally lacked such keen business acumen.
"Listen carefully, learn well, and watch how I do it."
Chen Yang smiled faintly. Didn't Liao Youren look down on Meng Hui Radios? Today, he would show Liao Youren that his daily sales of thirty units were nothing compared to his Meng Hui Radios.
"Comrade Meng, how much inventory do we have in the store right now?"
The second-hand radios in Fei City were also arranged by Zhang Weiyang. Chen Yang was not sure. This time, he planned to hold a grand event, and he needed sufficient inventory.
"We have over two hundred units left, all of which Zhang Boss has been delivering continuously."
The radios in Fei City were still being transported from Qinghe City, which was very inconvenient. This time, Chen Yang and Zhang Weiyang not only wanted to open up sales channels but also to arrange for the acquisition of old radios and repairs here.
Not enough manpower!
To arrange this, someone had to be in charge. Chen Yang and Zhang Weiyang certainly wouldn't have time to stay here. Lei Baoguo had to stay to protect them and the money, so he wouldn't have time either.
The little cousin could do it. Didn't that kid want to get married? Let him earn money.
Chen Yang suddenly thought of his aunt's younger cousin. That kid was seventeen this year and could be brought over to help out.
It wasn't that Chen Yang favored relatives. In business these days, besides relatives, it was really difficult to directly trust strangers.
Of course, when he returned, Chen Yang planned to ask Zheng Weiguo or Liu Maosheng if they were willing. He could trust these two, but they were wholeheartedly focused on returning to the city and might not be willing.
"Over two hundred units is enough."
"Weiyang, let's make some banners and set up a stage outside. We'll do some promotion today and a sales event tomorrow."
Chen Yang thought of how people in later generations would queue overnight to buy eggs during supermarket promotions. He wondered if they could create a sales miracle for Meng Hui Radios tomorrow.
"Brother, what is a sales event, and how do we do it?"
Zhang Weiyang was a bit confused. Yang Ge was using terms he had never heard of.
"A sales event means promoting customer consumption."
"We'll do the same as before. First, we'll promote our flagship product, radios starting from 30 yuan. Then, we'll put out our slogan for Meng Hui Radios: cheap, no coupons needed, practical, and guaranteed."
"We'll also do group purchases. If two people buy together, we'll give them a 10% discount, so a 30 yuan radio will be 27 yuan, and a 60 yuan one will be 54 yuan."
"If five people buy together, we'll give them a 20% discount. The more people, the bigger the discount, only for tomorrow."
Chen Yang adopted the promotional tactics of later-day businesses. In an era where goods could only be bought with ration coupons, he didn't believe that discounts couldn't stimulate people's inherent love for getting a good deal.