Chapter 243
In early April, Fengshou Food Factory finally produced and shipped the first batch of papaya shreds. Salesmen went out in full force to promote the product in various convenience stores and restaurants. They consumed more than ten cans a day just for people to taste.
"Big sister! We are a big factory. This is a new product that has just been produced. Many people have bought papaya shreds recently. Why don't you try it!"
The lady running the noodle stall tried it and thought it was pretty good: "Young man, how do you sell this?"
"Big sister, look, this bottle of ours is a full pound, and it's only one dollar. Shredded papaya is very popular recently. You can put up a sign and let diners who come to eat noodles take one chopstick each. It will definitely attract more diners. And this bottle can be filled so many times, you can make back the cost by selling two bowls of noodles."
The auntie at the noodle stall was really tempted. The taste of the noodles sold at these stalls is actually pretty much the same. The one that makes really delicious noodles has already rented a store.
They compete with their rivals by relying on portion sizes and side dishes. For the same price, whoever offers larger portions or tastier side dishes will attract more customers.
"Okay, I've never seen your shredded papaya sold at any of the stalls on this street. Give me two bottles to try first. If they're popular, I'll buy more."
…
"Brother! I'm busy! Look what good stuff I brought!"
The owner of the small shop was watching TV with his legs crossed when he was startled by the food factory salesman who suddenly looked familiar to him: "Hey, where did you come from? Why are you walking so quietly?"
"It's not that I walk without making any sound. Brother, you're just engrossed in watching TV. Come and take a look at this! It's the new shredded papaya from our factory!"
The boss turned off the TV, walked to the counter and said, "Shredded papaya? What is that? A snack? Like the rice crust we had before?"
"It's not a snack, it's a side dish. Try it."
The boss tried two bites and said, "It's really delicious! I don't think it needs to be eaten with food! It's delicious even on its own! How long is the shelf life?"
"That's right! Big brother, you can buy them at the store. You can sell them by the bottle, or you can package them and sell them as snacks to children. The shelf life is three months, and the cost price of a large bottle is only one dollar and twenty cents!"
The shop owner smiled and shook his head. "One dollar and twenty cents? Xiao Liang, we're acquaintances. I stock your factory's products every month. That price is insincere, isn't it? For a big customer like me, there shouldn't be a discount, right?"
Xiao Liang said anxiously, "Oh! Big Brother, you're really putting me in a difficult position. It's not that I don't want a discount, but this is new and already at a discounted price. The price will go up after the promotion period!"
"Little brother, I heard that you've been promoted to team leader. Don't you have any privileges as an official? Go talk to the factory and ask them to give me a discount."
Xiao Liang seemed to have made a great decision. He approached the store owner and said, "Big Brother, look, the sales department takes a cut of the factory's products. I'm going to cut out all the profits and sell it to you at the cost price of one yuan per bottle. But you can't tell anyone about this price! Otherwise, I'll be in trouble."
The shop owner immediately said happily, "Okay, okay, okay! I'll order ten bottles right away at this price. If they sell well, I'll definitely order more!"
They agreed to have ten bottles of shredded papaya delivered to your door tomorrow. Xiao Liang said with a pained look on his face, "Brother, I didn't make a cent from you for these papayas. Don't bargain like this when you have new products in the future! I have to earn some money for my food."
"Okay, okay! If you have suitable new products in the future, I will order from you! Look, there's only a little shredded papaya left in this jar for tasting. Leave it to me and I'll let my clients try it too."
After Xiao Liang left, the shop owner's smile instantly turned into a sarcastic expression: "Tsk! Are you trying to compete with me? No profit? Who would believe that? The factory price must be 1 yuan. I've been running this shop for so long and I still don't know you guys? Humph! I'm just marking up the prices! But the food is delicious!"
Suddenly, he smiled kindly at the child who was drooling over the bag of rice crust and said, "Little friend, uncle has some new snacks here, do you want to try them?"
The shredded papaya, which can be used as a side dish or as a snack, has really turned on the taste buds of many diners, and the food factory's sales have been rising rapidly.
Sell fifty bottles today and sixty bottles tomorrow, which makes the salesmen work hard to achieve sales. After finishing one area, they move to another, and after finishing the city, they go to the suburbs.
There are more and more noodle stalls selling shredded papaya as a side dish, and one day a diner finally raised an objection.
"This shredded papaya is quite different from what I've had before, Boss. You made it yourself."
The woman at the noodle stall replied, "How could there be a difference? This is freshly shipped from the factory! Look at the date on the can, it's still fresh!"
The customer took the jar and looked at it, and immediately said, "Oh no! This is not authentic, you bought a fake one!"
"How is that possible! It's from Fengshou Food Factory! I buy directly from the factory, so it can't be fake."
"I'm not saying the goods you bought are fake, I'm saying the brand you bought is not authentic."
"Huh? Aren't they all Harvest brand? That's the brand sold in all the noodle stalls and shops these days. Mine is the most advanced product!"
"The first one to come out should be Su Ji's, the Su Ji food store across from No. 1 Middle School. They started selling it last year. I heard they even sold it in Taiwan! Theirs is the best!"
"Su Ji? Can you tell me where it is? I have to go buy some and try it too!"
The papaya shreds business at Fengshou Food Factory was only booming for ten days before its sales began to decline.
Manager Zheng went from being full of confidence ten days ago to scratching his head now.
After a few days, he could no longer sit still and asked the salesmen to ask old customers why they did not repurchase, and to hold a summary meeting tonight.
"Xiao Liang! You used to sell the most. Tell me why your old customers aren't coming back to buy anymore?"
Xiao Liang hesitated and said, "I don't know how they found out about Su Ji's shredded papaya. Now they all go to buy from them instead..."
Another salesperson also said, "Yes! Yes! The ladies at my noodle stalls said the same thing. They said that customers who had tried Su Kee's recommended it to them. After trying it, the customers all said it tasted better. So, for the same price, they all went to buy Su Kee's."
Manager Zheng gritted his teeth and said, "It's Su Ji again!"
Then he ran to the factory director's office to find the boss.
Half an hour later, he returned to the sales department and said to his subordinates, "Everyone, listen up! Tomorrow, we're going to tell our customers that as a reward, we're going to give our papaya shreds a 10% discount starting tomorrow. Each bottle will only cost 90 cents. Everyone, cheer up and win back all those customers!"
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