Chapter 23: Counterattack against plagiarists and mark
Faced with the cold reception brought on by plagiarism and low-price competition, Su Hexi didn't dwell on anger and frustration for too long. She knew that in this era of lack of intellectual property protection, anger wouldn't solve the problem; she had to fight back with strength and strategy.
Su Hexi calmed down and carefully analyzed the situation. Engaging in a price war with the other party was a bad idea; it would only hurt both sides and lower her own quality. She had to take a differentiated approach.
At this time, a middle-aged woman in work clothes and with a somewhat impatient look pushed the door in. It was Sister Wang who had ordered a shirt before.
"Master Su, I'm here to get some clothes." Sister Wang spoke in a loud voice, her eyes scanning the slightly empty shop.
Su Hexi immediately stood up with a professional smile on her face: "Sister Wang, you are here. The clothes have been made for you a long time ago. I have checked them several times and am waiting for you to pick them up."
She turned and took the light blue shirt from the hanger, shook it carefully, and handed it over.
The shirt has a crisp shape, neat and even stitching, and the buttonholes are meticulously fastened, giving off a delicate luster under the light.
Sister Wang took the dress, felt the material, and tried it on herself. A look of relative satisfaction appeared on her face, but she began to grumble, "Well, it's okay. But your price... is too expensive! The new shop down the street makes something similar, and the labor cost is more than half the price!"
As she spoke, she slowly took out money from her pocket, her movements hesitant, obviously trying to bargain.
Su Hexi's smile remained unchanged, but she was holding back anger. She took a deep breath and spoke calmly but firmly, "Sister Wang, my price is really just to cover the cost of the materials and my hard work. I'm not asking for a penny more."
She stepped forward, her fingers lightly brushing the shoulder and cuffs of the shirt. "Feel the material. It's high-quality cotton from a reputable factory. It's thick and breathable, and it won't warp or pill easily no matter how many times you wash it. And look at the stitching," she said, turning the shirt inside out a little. "It's just as smooth inside, and the threads are all cleaned up. It won't rub your skin. I've also nailed the buttons securely; they won't come off even if you pull hard."
As she spoke, she showed Sister Wang the details of the clothes one by one with a sincere and professional attitude.
"There's a reason why it's expensive. A piece of clothing made of good material and fine workmanship can be worn for years without going out of style. It's much more cost-effective than buying those cheap clothes that lose their shape and unravel after just one season." Su Hexi said, seemingly unintentionally changing the subject. "For example, the one you're wearing, isn't the seam under the armpits a bit tight? It's not very convenient for movement, right? And the material is so thick that it's likely to lose a lot of color after just a few washes."
Sister Wang subconsciously raised her arm and indeed felt a little tight. When she compared the workmanship and feel of the shirt in her hand, the balance in her heart began to tilt.
Su Hexi struck while the iron was hot and made a final promise: "Sister Wang, if the clothes you make here have even a little thread coming loose, or if you gain weight or lose weight and want a size change, just bring it to me anytime and I'll make it for you free! I'll definitely make sure you wear them to your heart's content!"
After hearing these words, Sister Wang was stunned by what she had heard.
She carefully compared the two pieces of clothing, then thought about it. The price had been set before, so it was unreasonable for her to change it now. She muttered, "Okay, okay, I see you did it very carefully. You have to change it for me next time!"
"Don't worry!" Su Hexi took the money with a smile, carefully packed the clothes and sent the guest away.
Su Hexi had been deliberately trying to undermine the other shop's craftsmanship and materials, but with little success. Most people were still attracted by the low prices and flocked to the imitation shop.
Su Hexi knew that relying on defense and preaching alone would not be enough, and that he had to use absolute strength to crush his opponent.
She stayed up all night for several days in a row, her eyes turned red, and she finally designed two dresses that were extremely stunning, complex in craftsmanship, and extremely difficult to imitate.
One features an asymmetrical slanted lapel design and hidden buttons, while the other uses complex pleating and splicing techniques at the waist and hem, giving it a very three-dimensional and artistic feel.
After the clothes were made, she dressed up carefully and put on the asymmetrical dress with a slanted collar. She deliberately tightened her waistline to highlight her increasingly slim figure after losing weight, and then went out for a "stroll" on the street.
She deliberately walked on the most crowded street, with a leisurely pace and elegant posture. The uniquely designed dress seemed to have its own aura, instantly attracting everyone's attention!
"Look! That skirt is so pretty!"
"How is this made? I've never seen this style before!"
"She looks so elegant in her clothes! She looks like someone from a picture magazine!"
Exclamations and envy rang out one after another.
People's eyes were fixed on her, especially those young girls and wives who loved beauty, whose eyes were almost glued to her.
Su Hexi sensed the heated gazes from all around her and knew the time had come. She paused and spoke loudly to the assembled group, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a new design I've come up with, freshly made. The materials and workmanship are both top-notch. As usual, I'll only charge for the material and the labor, and the price hasn't increased."
Someone immediately murmured, "It's nice-looking, but it's too expensive. I wonder if that new store has this style..."
Su Hexi smiled faintly and threw out the blockbuster promotion she had prepared: "I know everyone thinks it might be a little expensive, so here's a promotion for our new product! Introduce a new customer to order this new product, and I'll waive all the labor costs! It's like just paying for the fabric! What's more, if there are any quality issues with this dress in the future, I'll provide free lifetime modifications! You can wear it to work in the fields or go out to collect rent, and as long as you didn't tear it intentionally, you can bring it back to me if there are any problems!"
She paused, watching their eyes light up instantly, and then added fuel to the fire: "The colors and sizes can be customized according to your preferences and body shape, guaranteed to be unique! However, such a complex process is too time-consuming, and I can't make too many. There are only 99 pieces! First come, first served, while stocks last!"
These words were like dropping cold water into boiling oil, causing an immediate uproar!
No labor required? Just the fabric? That's even cheaper than that knockoff shop across the street! And the clothes are so beautiful, and they come with a lifetime warranty? And they can be custom-made in unique colors and styles? And they're limited edition?
The huge temptation and the sense of urgency brought by "limited quantity" instantly ignited everyone's enthusiasm!
"I want one! Mark it down for me!"
"I'll go get my sister-in-law right now! Count us both in!"
"Leave one for me! I'll go home and get the money!"
People flocked to the scene, scrambling to register and pay deposits, fearing that they would miss out on the precious 99 spots if they were a step late.
The 99 places were snapped up almost instantly!
In the following days, Su Hexi began to work overtime like crazy, drawing patterns, cutting, and sewing day and night.
And on the inside of the armpit of each exquisite dress, in an extremely hidden position, Su Hexi embroidered a very small but clear and neat "Xi" character mark with silk thread of the same color.
This is not only her silent brand declaration, but also the most powerful evidence in case of counterfeiting disputes in the future. Her battlefield is no longer limited to this small county.
Zhou Lin felt sorry for her and took on all the housework and menial tasks, even almost feeding her with his own hands. Su Hexi was so busy that she forgot to let him go out to sleep, so he still slept on the floor in the room.
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