Reborn in the Entertainment Industry: This Top Star Has Real Achievements

Fortunately, although he thought this way, he didn't show it on his face.

Otherwise, Richard Mille's CMO would be in an even more awkward position.

Tim arrived a day later because he was in a meeting with the group to discuss matters.

The group desperately wanted Li Xiang as their spokesperson; in fact, they were determined to get him.

It wasn't that Li Xiang's superstar status played a role; what truly impressed them was his terrifying ability to drive sales of luxury goods.

This is the fundamental reason why they absolutely had to sign Li Xiang.

For products with individual prices often reaching hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, superstars are certainly useful, but they are merely icing on the cake, used to maintain the brand's image.

But no matter which luxury brand it is, what they ultimately value is always sales volume.

To this end, they spent a lot of money to hire the industry's top market consulting firms to conduct reverse calculations.

When it was calculated that Bulgari's annual sales had skyrocketed to eight times their original level after Li Xiang became its spokesperson, signing him became almost a done deal within the group.

Otherwise, do you really think these luxury brands are running charitable organizations?

Delphia and Michele, in particular, practically worshipped Li Xiang, mainly because of their unimaginably high sales figures.

As for the roundabout tactics used during today's meeting, they are simply common price-cutting methods employed by brands.

They weren't sure if Li Xiang was fully aware of his own commercial value.

They can only throw out a bunch of questions, firstly to lower their bargaining power, and secondly to probe the other party's background. To put it bluntly, it's a kind of soft PUA.

If Li Xiang obediently follows their lead, the entire negotiation will fall into their rhythm until he is firmly in their grasp.

Even if the final endorsement fee is roughly in line with Li Xiang's worth, the brand will simply ignore the additional value brought by eight times the sales revenue.

But Li Xiang's casual "I don't know" inadvertently exposed this scheme.

In negotiations among top luxury brands, celebrities are almost always in a weaker position and rarely achieve equality.

Not to mention someone like Li Xiang who is indifferent and unresponsive, which further disrupts the negotiation rhythm set by the other party.

Tim was starting to have second thoughts, fearing that the duck he was about to eat would fly away.

He immediately took out a printed summary of the basic contract and placed it on the table between the two of them.

"Global Brand Spokesperson, this is a title created specifically for you."

"Dear Ethan, I want you to know that the brand has never had a so-called global brand ambassador before."

"The highest title we hold externally is simply 'Friend of the brand,' meaning a close friend of the brand."

"Rafael Nadal, Buba Watson, Sebastian Loeb, and this year's sprint superstar, Yohan Blake..."

"These world-renowned industry leaders, even with numerous honors, are merely brand ambassadors within our brand system."

"Looking at the global entertainment and sports industries, no one can break this precedent."

"You are the only one we have made an exception for. After multiple rounds of negotiations among the group's senior management, we have specially made an exception for you and granted you the unique status of global brand ambassador."

As Tim recounted this unprecedented preferential treatment, he kept a close eye on Li Xiang, waiting for him to show any emotion or surprise.

But who is Li Xiang?

Aside from Chanel, which is in the Asia-Pacific region, all the other top luxury brands she collaborates with are her top-tier global brand ambassadors.

It was something that seemed like a great favor to Tim, but he genuinely didn't feel it at all.

Don't even think about trying to fool him by creating a sense of scarcity.

This unmoved attitude was naturally noticed by Tim on the other side, who then thought that Tim was truly ungrateful.

But when he thought of Li Xiang's incredible sales performance and the top-tier treatment he received from all his past endorsements of luxury brands, he swallowed back all the words he wanted to say.

People who have eaten and seen before naturally won't be surprised by his suggestion of making an exception for them.

Tim quickly suppressed his complex emotions, stopped asking for credit for the title, and instead focused on the core issue: the endorsement fee.

"In addition to the exclusive title, we also offered top-tier compensation. The brand's only requirement was a five-year exclusive endorsement contract."

"Five years? Exclusive?"

Li Xiang, who had been listening silently with a calm expression, finally looked up and spoke for the first time, his tone filled with obvious doubt.

"Yes, five years. This is the shortest endorsement period that the brand can accept."

"Of course, if you're willing to sign a ten-year contract, the brand can also afford the endorsement fee..."

Hearing this, Li Xiang gave a polite yet distant smile, everything was understood without saying a word.

"I can understand five years, but what exactly do you mean by 'exclusive'?"

"Because we will offer you an extremely generous endorsement fee, we will naturally have other requirements, and this exclusive clause is the most crucial part."

Tim explained seriously, "You can also understand it as the complete exclusivity of the watch category."

"For the next five years, whether in public or in private, you may only wear a Richard Mille watch."

"Of course, this includes jewelry-style watches, which means that watches from any other brand are not allowed to be worn."

Wow. Li Xiang now fully understands just how domineering this exclusivity clause really is.

But despite his domineering nature, he didn't object to it.

He can negotiate even the most unreasonable terms as long as the money is right.

Seeing that he did not immediately refute, Tim assumed that he had tacitly agreed to this point, and then threw out his most crucial bargaining chip.

"With high demands, the compensation offered is naturally equally generous..."

"800 million per year, totaling 4000 million over five years. That's on par with Maserati's contract standards."

"Ethan, this is the highest level of global brand ambassadorship the group can offer."

This is just Tim's own calculation. In Li Xiang's eyes, comparing this treatment to that of Maserati is inherently unfair.

Without mincing words, he immediately retorted: "Maserati is a car, and watches and cars are not the same thing at all."

Moreover, Maserati, despite offering such a high endorsement fee, never stipulated that I couldn't ride in other cars.

Like today, I arrived in a Range Rover, and the Maserati side didn't raise a single objection.

But your terms are so harsh that they interfere with my daily life. Based on that alone, I cannot accept this offer.

Before Tim could even defend himself, Richard Miller said, "Don't give me that excuse about the two products having different pricing positions. Richard Miller is not cheaper than Maserati."

"Moreover, my current commercial value is vastly different from when I signed with Maserati."

"Tim, I can't accept this condition."