Chapter 49: Pre-sale of Shower Gel
The next morning, when Lu Yu went to work, he arrived at Pink White Black Cosmetics Company. He entered the advanced production workshop, carefully adjusted the machine parameters, and then called Deng Qiang to bring his team in to start trial production.
Over two hours later, as the first bottle of body wash rolled off the production line, Lu Yu and Deng Qiang watched the final inspection equipment closely. Only after confirming that all inspection data met the standards did they nod in satisfaction. Lu Yu instructed the employees to continue production, and then he and Deng Qiang returned to the office to discuss the sales price of the body wash.
Lu Yu wasn’t versed in pricing, so he listened to Deng Qiang’s advice.
Deng Qiang explained, “Currently, most body washes on the market are priced below a hundred yuan. Some mid- to high-end products go above two hundred, and there are even many priced in the thousands.”
“Our products, like our facial masks, focus on hydration and whitening effects. I estimate the whitening body wash will be a bit more popular.”
“So, based on our market department’s research, we recommend pricing the regular bottles of both types of body wash at 199 yuan each. The slightly better ones at 399 yuan, and the best at 699 yuan per bottle.”
“These price ranges will yield the best sales volume.”
“As for the hydration cream, we set the price at 99 yuan. We don’t know how the market will respond, so we produced just 500,000 bottles to test the waters.”
Deng Qiang laughed, “Honestly, I believe our products don’t have to worry about selling. No matter the price, women consumers will buy them.”
Lu Yu pondered, “That’s unnecessary. We’re still in the domestic market; we need a good reputation.”
“When you expand abroad and make the packaging more exquisite, then you can set whatever price you wish. I won’t stand in your way.”
Deng Qiang laughed heartily, agreeing enthusiastically. Whether in his previous work in daily chemicals or his current role in cosmetics, foreign giants held absolute monopoly, raking in huge profits in China’s market.
Now, with Lu Yu telling him that one day he could go overseas and make a fortune, Deng Qiang truly felt that, if that day came, it would be a moment worth celebrating with a grand toast.
With the prices decided, Lu Yu left the company to rest at home for a day. Tomorrow, he would resume his studies, enriching himself.
...
Soon after Lu Yu left the company, Deng Qiang gathered several key managers, especially from the marketing and sales departments, for a meeting. Deng Qiang first introduced the hydrating and whitening body wash products, then discussed pricing, urging all departments to prepare.
In addition to the planned sales of two facial masks today, two types of body wash would also be available for pre-sale. Not a huge amount: 600,000 bottles each for the lowest price, 300,000 for the mid-range, and 100,000 for the highest price, totaling one million bottles of each body wash.
While selling facial masks, they needed to ensure the body wash products—whitening and hydration—were prominently displayed, with clear descriptions of their effects.
The management teams quickly got to work.
By noon, the company’s official Weibo account, Pink White Maiden, posted:
“Did everyone have a happy May Day? No matter how you spent it, there’s something to make you even happier: our warehouse is full again! Official sales start at five this afternoon!”
“2 million boxes of Halfday River Hydration Masks! 2 million boxes of Cream Dew Whitening Masks! Ready for everyone to snatch up!”
“Also, the boss told me we have new products! Halfday River Hydration Body Wash and Cream Dew Whitening Body Wash begin pre-sale today, only 1 million bottles each! Halfday River Hydration Cream, 500,000 bottles!”
“Want your whole body’s skin to be fair and supple? The boss said, come use our body wash, guaranteed to be just like the boss’s wife!”
Shortly after Pink White Maiden’s post, many of the account’s over ten million followers saw it, quickly sharing and commenting:
“Finally launching body wash?! Every time I shower and see my improving facial skin, I feel melancholy…”
“I don’t know if May Day was happy, but I know someone’s about to be unhappy again! @Su Yihan”
“Haha, so what did Su Yihan do wrong? She’s never managed to snatch one!”
“Our Yihan is so pitiful already, stop laughing at her! Hahaha.”
“Is the whitening and hydrating body wash for real? Are the effects the same as the masks?”
“It must be real! With their masks’ results, if the body wash doesn’t work, I’ll livestream eating trash!”
“Here’s the real question: who’s the boss’s wife? @Lu Yu Likes Tea”
“Same question, who’s the boss’s wife? @Lu Yu Likes Tea”
...
“So it’s come to this, there’s no hiding it now. Everyone, I’m Likes Tea!”
...
On his way home, Lu Yu saw himself being crazily mentioned on Weibo by netizens. Following the posts, he realized Pink White Maiden was at it again.
He grimaced—was this person part Teddy dog? Always stirring up big news! Last time it was a movie invitation, now it’s straight up ‘boss’s wife.’ What’s next?
Lu Yu replied to the post:
“So the question remains, where’s the boss’s wife? @Pink White Black Cosmetics Company”
Unexpectedly, Pink White Maiden replied quickly:
“Boss, ever since I started using our products, I’ve also become fair and beautiful. Plus, my nickname is Likes Tea… sob sob…”
The spectators erupted with joy, leaving comments teasing the boss in a grand show of flirting. Most followers of the company’s Weibo were female, and now they all offered tips to Pink White Maiden, transforming into flirting experts.
Lu Yu’s face darkened as he read the comments—office flirtation scenarios everywhere, opening his eyes to new possibilities.
Without hesitation, he replied:
“You’re so outstanding, send me your employee number, and I’ll arrange for you right away!”
Pink White Maiden: “……”
Netizens urged her to seize the opportunity—promotion and a raise were within reach.
But Pink White Maiden wouldn’t fall for it. She deftly launched a promotional triple play:
“Don’t miss out as you pass by!”
“Whitening and hydrating masks, hydrating and whitening body wash!”
“You can’t go wrong buying this, never a mistake! Essential for flirting with the boss!”
Netizens: “……”
...
Leaving aside Pink White Maiden’s survival instincts and the online banter, as five o’clock approached, many female consumers gathered at the official flagship stores of Pink White Black across major e-commerce platforms.
They flexed their fingers, eyes glued to their phones or computers, ready to act.
At exactly five o’clock, just twenty-one seconds later, the total of four million boxes of facial masks and two million bottles of pre-sale body wash were sold out.
Unexpectedly, the hydration cream was a flop, with poor sales.
Many disappointed women left comments on the company’s Weibo, wailing and stamping their feet, blaming the company for hindering their journey to beauty.
Yet, some were stunned by the sales volume and speed, especially those in the cosmetics industry.
In just twenty-one seconds, with masks priced at 99 yuan for 2.8 million boxes, 299 for 1 million, and 499 for 200,000, total sales reached 676 million yuan.
Body wash sold 1.2 million bottles at 199 yuan, 600,000 at 399, and 200,000 at 699, totaling 618 million yuan in pre-sales.
That means Pink White Black Cosmetics Company achieved 1.294 billion yuan in revenue in twenty-one seconds.
Consider that many domestic small- and medium-sized enterprises don’t make that much in a year.
Pink White Black, itself a mid-sized company, did it in just twenty-one seconds!
And this was only one sales event!
...
If extrapolated from this sale, their annual revenue would easily surpass ten billion. Achieving their target months ahead of schedule, even two billion yuan was possible!
What does this mean?
Excluding state-owned companies, how many domestic enterprises reach two billion yuan in annual revenue?
And that’s with limits on production scale and raw materials.
If those are solved and they enter the vast overseas market, then…
It’s unimaginable!
No one doubts that Pink White Black’s products would sell just as wildly abroad as they do at home.
They would undoubtedly be feverishly sought after by female consumers worldwide!
It’s almost terrifying upon reflection!
This is clearly a super unicorn company, rising like lightning and forming at an unmatched speed!
The future holds boundless possibilities!
...
A closer look at the company’s information reveals an incredibly simple equity structure.
It’s a wholly-owned subsidiary of Extraterrestrial Nebula, which is entirely owned by Lu Yu as sole proprietor.
In other words, this future super unicorn will belong entirely to Lu Yu alone!
No one else will share it!
What does this signify?
It means Lu Yu’s wealth will skyrocket rapidly!
Multiply many times over!
It’s no exaggeration to say that almost all eligible female consumers will be clamoring, even crying, to give him their money.
And they’ll do so willingly, without complaint!
...
Some imaginative reporters started spinning their tales:
“The fastest rising super tycoon in history!”
“The man every woman dreams of!”
“A super unicorn company that rose in strength in less than two months!”
And so on, endlessly.
Some even made up stories about Lu Yu’s hard studying and diligent entrepreneurship.
Lu Yu was left bewildered—so vivid, as if it were real, yet he had no idea himself!
Whatever Lu Yu thought, thanks to his company’s sales event, he was rapidly entering many people’s sights.
This ran counter to his plan of quietly climbing the technological ladder!
It was not the situation he had envisioned.
Sitting at home, reading the news on his phone, Lu Yu felt a bit frustrated.
Scratching his head irritably, he changed into sportswear, laced up his sneakers, and went out for a run.
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