Reborn in 08, Public Enemy of Competitors

After dropping Du Zhou and his group off at a hotel near the Xiasha University Town, Du Manqing stayed behind.

Shen Mo waved goodbye, then got into the car. "Let's go back."

"Brother Mo, he's still Sister-in-law... Manqing's father."

Lu Wenbin stepped on the gas, "You're asking for 70% right off the bat, that's really ruthless."

Shen Mo slowly said, "In the business world, there are no fathers and sons; in love, there are no brothers; in officialdom, there are no friends; and at the card table, there are no young or old."

Lu Wenbin said, "But a 70% commission is equivalent to a 3% discount on all products."

"This is already a friendly price because I'm offering it to our brand's first group-buying customer."

Shen Mo placed his hand on the car window. "I originally wanted 80%!"

Lu Wenbin gasped: "Do you think Uncle Du would agree?"

Shen Mo said, "Any smart person would agree."

Lu Wenbin nodded: "That's true. Clothes piled up in the warehouse are just unwanted junk. It's better to sell them and get some money."

"What does money matter!"

Shen Mo said, "If they really want to clear out this inventory, there are plenty of ways. There's no need for them to cooperate with us."

Lu Wenbin was extremely curious: "What method?"

"That depends on whether Uncle Du wants money or his reputation!"

Shen Mo grinned mischievously: "If you're shameless, sell them to small vendors at a low price, then make up some brainwashing lyrics and have the loudspeakers play them on repeat."

Then, clearing his throat, he began to imitate perfectly: "Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, the Jiangnan Leather Factory has gone bankrupt!"

"That bastard boss Huang He gambled and drank, racked up debts of 3.5 million yuan, and ran off with his mistress..."

「原价100多、200多、300多的钱包，现在全部卖20块，统统只要20块。」

"Haha, Brother Mo, that's so mean!"

Lu Wenbin laughed so hard he almost dropped the steering wheel. "Don't even mention Uncle Du, even I wouldn't dare to be this shameless."

"Therefore, he has no choice but to cooperate with us."

Shen Mo held up one finger. "And this is an opportunity. By shifting from export to domestic sales and expanding our Taobao store, we might be able to escape the fate of continuing as OEM manufacturers and transform into a brand. Uncle Du will have to thank us then!"

Lu Wenbin said, "Yes! Absolutely right!"

"By making Uncle Du a model of brand building, we at YiTaoGO have truly opened up new opportunities."

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. "After all, there are plenty of brands that have had a tough time doing business because of the subprime crisis in the future."

………………

Back in the startup park, Shen Mo immediately gathered Zhong Xue, Wang Yun'an, and others together.

"Brand group? Theme group?"

The group exchanged thoughtful glances.

"Thematic groups focus primarily on specific themes."

Shen Mo explained, "For example, for the upcoming National Day, we could have a theme of 'Celebrating the Nation and the Family'."

Zhong Xue suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "If that's the case, then could we make themed tours for the start of the school year and the Olympics?"

"That's right! As for the brand group..."

Shen Mo took a sip of water.

Brand group buying and themed group buying were first launched by Ali's Juhuasuan, mainly to help merchants deal with leftover stock and accumulated inventory.

But now, it belongs to YiTaoGO!

How can a businessman's business be considered plagiarism?

"It sounds like a clearance sale at a street stall."

Wang Yun'an scratched his head.

"So tacky! It's so tacky!"

"This isn't a clearance sale, it's a limited-time offer!"

Shen Mo corrected, "The brand group isn't selling leftover stock, but rather benefits. It's 'factory direct supply,' it's 'export to domestic sales,' and we want consumers to feel like they've gotten a bargain and even benefited from it."

For a moment, everyone was speechless. Could it really be like this?

Zhong Xue adjusted her glasses. "Boss, how much will we charge for these two group-buying options?"

"That's a good question!"

Shen Mo said, "Themed tours mainly involve a deposit plus a technical service fee, which is equivalent to an entry fee. Brand tours, on the other hand, come in two types: the first is a deposit plus a fixed slot fee, and the second is pure commission, which is deeply tied to the merchant, sharing risks and profits."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and said, "Now, let's go with the second option."

Zhong Xue seemed to be deep in thought when she suddenly noticed that Shen Mo's gaze was fixed on her.

"Zhong Xue!"

"Boss, what is it?"

"Draft a business plan for attracting investment. It doesn't need to be too complicated. Focus on highlighting the brand group and theme group models of YiTaoGO."

Shen Mo smiled and said, "The themed group can help brands gain exposure, while the brand group can help them clear inventory. There are two options; choose whichever you prefer."

"Okay, boss!"

Zhong Xue readily agreed.

Shen Mo then changed the subject, "After the one-yuan flash sales and group-buying activities were launched, how was the customer service response time? Could they handle it?"

Zhong Xue replied, "We're a bit overwhelmed during the peak hours at noon and in the evening, but we can manage during the off-peak periods."

"You should coordinate with Chen Bo and put the most frequently asked questions and standard answers from users on the access interface."

Shen Mo instructed, "This will reduce the workload of customer service. Also, post a job advertisement and hire two more part-time customer service staff."

Zhong Xue was slightly taken aback. "Hire two more customer service representatives?"

"It's good to be prepared."

"The brand group and themed group are not even launched yet, and the customer service is already this busy. Once they are launched, they will be overwhelmed."

Shen Mo picked up the cup of tea, which had already cooled slightly, and took a small sip.

While his competitors were still figuring out discounts and promotions, he had already started offering rebates. By the time his competitors were scrambling to catch up, he had already launched free shipping specials. By the time other businesses started copying him, he had already created branded and themed group buys to elevate the platform's image.

Always stay one step ahead of others, so that even if others want to catch up, they won't have the chance!

………………

As night falls, the autumn breeze in Hangzhou carries a cool and refreshing feel.

Du Zhou let Xiao Li act alone, while he and Du Manqing sat in the restaurant, chatting about everyday things.

"This Shen Mo is really as cunning as you described on the phone!"

Du Zhou picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks.

"Right!"

Du Manqing smiled, her eyes crinkling, "So, what's your decision? Are you going to cooperate with Shen Mo?"

"His brand team is indeed very attractive."

Du Zhou's expression turned serious. "After this experience, I've come to realize that contract manufacturing has no future. We must build our own brands and move online. E-commerce might just be our opportunity to transform."

"Dad, that's what I think too."

Du Manqing nodded happily: "Look at my Taobao store, it's up and running now, isn't it? I can sell nearly ten thousand items a month!"

"Neither your mother nor I understand the internet or e-commerce."

Du Zhou's eyes showed a hint of relief. "You'll have to help out a lot with our family's Taobao store from now on."

"No problem, leave it to me!"

Du Manqing raised her chin slightly, then asked tentatively, "Would you agree to this 70% commission...?"

"He's not even your boyfriend yet, and you're already siding with outsiders?"

Du Zhou felt that his beloved little cotton-padded jacket was a bit leaky.

Du Manqing said, "I also think 70% is a bit high!"

Du Zhou couldn't help but smile. "70% may seem high, but if it really helps us build our brand as he says, it'll be worth it even if we don't make a single penny from this deal."

Du Manqing lowered her head, took a bite of rice, and asked, "So, you... agree?"

I'm planning to ask him to have lunch with me tomorrow at noon.

Du Zhou nodded slightly, lowering his voice, "Manqing, how far have things progressed between you and Shen Mo?"