27.Summer Pulse
It’s only the middle of June this year, but the atmosphere at Youchuang seems to have entered midsummer early. People from top to bottom are filled with excessive excitement - the company received an unexpectedly large order.
The budget for the full-case promotion of Summer Pulse, a new light luxury brand that is being prepared, is quite considerable.
When President Yao announced the news, the entire company was excited - Shengcheng's acquisition failed, so it had to make some small moves, so Youchuang has hardly received any new orders recently, and even had the cooperation interrupted halfway.
Therefore, General Manager Yao attached great importance to this order. Even Wang Baopi and Deputy Director Wen, who were always fighting, put aside their past grudges and shook hands to make peace. People from both sides were also temporarily transferred to form a joint project team.
"Baby, it feels so good to be on the same team with you. I'm even daring enough to touch the big fish," Wenwen said, taking advantage of her lunch break to sneak up on Jiang Nan's workstation, her face practically glowing. "And I heard the client is quite important. If we succeed this time, the bonus will be enough to keep us entertained for a while!"
Jiang Nan couldn't help laughing. "Yeah, I never expected that. I feel like my luck has really gotten better recently."
Mother Jiang recovered well, and Father Jiang was asked to get the title of head of multiple chemistry groups when the next semester started. She got a promotion and a raise, and the people she disliked were fired. Now there is a big project coming, and her life is going so smoothly that she feels like she is dreaming.
"Let's go have hotpot tonight to celebrate?" Wenwen suggested.
"Okay!" Jiang Nan had just agreed when her phone rang. It was Wang Baopi, who asked her to immediately go to CEO Yao's office with preliminary market research and competitive analysis. He said the client had arrived and wanted to hear their initial thoughts.
"So fast?" Jiang Nan was a little surprised, but she packed up the documents immediately. Wenwen cheered her up and wished her all the best.
Jiang Nan smiled, exchanged a few words with Wenwen, and hurried to Mr. Yao's office, folder in hand. Before entering, she straightened her appearance, took a few deep breaths, and then raised her hand to knock on the door.
"Come in." It was Mr. Yao's voice.
She pushed open the door, and the professional smile on her face froze instantly when she saw the two people sitting on the sofa.
Song Wei, dressed in a sharp white suit and skirt, sipped her coffee elegantly. Next to her sat a stylishly dressed, arrogant young man—Qin Yu, whom she had met briefly at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet.
Wang Papi and Deputy Director Wen were also present, sitting on the single sofas on either side. General Manager Yao sat in the main seat and waved to Qin Nan with a smile, "Jiang Nan, come over here. General Manager Song, General Manager Qin, this is our company's very talented planner, Jiang Nan. She was primarily responsible for coordinating and conceptualizing the early stages of this project."
Song Wei put down her coffee cup, her eyes fell on Jiang Nan, and a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of her lips: "Miss Jiang, we meet again. It seems that we are really destined to be together."
Qin Yu sneered and looked Jiang Nan up and down without any concealment, his tone frivolous: "Is it her? Sister, are you sure? She looks - well - quite plain, even plainer than last time."
He emphasized the word "simple".
Jiang Nan pursed her lips, thinking, "They're coming for her." No wonder CEO Yao and Wang Papi designated her as the liaison; they probably wanted to use Chen Yunsheng's financial resources to secure their support.
She forced herself to calm down, then walked to the table and put the documents down. Then, she turned to Song Wei and Qin Yu, nodded slightly, and tried to keep her voice steady. "Ms. Song, Mr. Qin, it's nice to see you again."
Wang Papi spoke up, his tone as flattering as ever: "Boss Song, Boss Qin, Jiang Nan may be young, but she's very capable. She single-handedly led the last project, and the client was incredibly satisfied. Right, Director Wen?"
He turned to look at Deputy Director Wen, seeking agreement.
Deputy Director Wen pushed his glasses up, his attitude calm and objective. "Jiang Nan's professional ability and sense of responsibility are indeed very strong. Mr. Song, Mr. Qin, why don't we first hear some of Jiang Nan's preliminary thoughts on the brand's early stages?"
President Yao also nodded. "Yes, Jiang Nan, please briefly report the ideas we have discussed over the past few days to President Song and President Qin."
Jiang Nan felt that everyone's eyes were focused on him, especially Song Wei's eyes that were full of scrutiny and a hint of anticipation, as well as Qin Yu's undisguised contempt.
In this situation, Jiang Nan couldn't help but think of Chen Yunsheng, and at the same time wondered what approach he would take if he faced such a situation.
She thought that he would calmly grasp the core of the matter and not be disturbed by the other person's emotions.
So, she did the same.
"Okay, Mr. Yao," she said, raising her head and focusing her gaze on Song Wei and Qin Yu, trying to ignore the uncomfortable scrutiny. "Mr. Song, Mr. Qin, based on your proposal of an emerging affordable luxury brand targeting young urban men and women, we have conducted some preliminary market and competitive analysis."
At first, her voice trembled a bit, but once she entered her professional field, the familiar gave her a sense of support, making her increasingly confident. "Currently, brands with the same positioning on the market mostly emphasize individual expression or affordable luxury quality, resulting in serious homogeneity. We believe that if new brands want to break through quickly, they need to find a more precise point of differentiation."
Jiang Nan handed over several printed charts and data. "This is our recent research on the consumption trends and value preferences of young urban residents. The data shows that, in addition to quality and design, they increasingly value the story behind the brand and their shared values. The concepts of practicality, sophistication, and sustainable consumption are particularly gaining popularity."
Qin Yu casually flipped through the information and pursed his lips. "Story and values? Are you sure? These things are too empty. What we want is a hit product, something that can immediately catch the eye. For example, find a popular celebrity to endorse it, and then fully advertise it online and offline-"
"Qin Yu." Song Wei interrupted him calmly. Although her tone was not harsh, Qin Yu immediately restrained himself.
Song Wei then picked up the data report and looked at it carefully. After a moment, she looked up at Jiang Nan, her eyes filled with surprise. "This data is quite detailed. Have you also noticed the cultural trends of niche circles?"
Jiang Nan nodded. "Yes, Mr. Song. We believe that true trends often originate in niche circles, then gradually expand and become widespread. We believe that early insights can help brands create a forward-looking and unique image."
There is a faint shadow of Chen Yunsheng's analysis of problems in these words - focusing on the general trend and underlying logic.
Song Wei nodded thoughtfully. She closed the information and leaned back on the sofa. "Based on this, what specific initial suggestions do you have for our brand?"
Wang Papi rushed to say: "We think we should focus on high-end——"
"Director Wang," Deputy Director Wen interrupted Wang Baopi and looked up at Jiang Nan, "Let Jiang Nan finish her thoughts."
Jiang Nan glanced at Deputy Director Wen gratefully and continued, "Our initial suggestion is that the brand try to combine the two seemingly contradictory concepts of futuristic and handmade."
She elaborated clearly, citing a wealth of fresh data and case studies. Throughout the presentation, General Manager Yao and Deputy Director Wen would occasionally add one or two key points to allay Song Wei's doubts.
Song Wei listened with a calm expression. She had indeed intended to use this project to give Jiang Nan a hard time, to see what she could do without Chen Yunsheng's influence. But at this moment, the professionalism and clarity of thought Jiang Nan displayed completely exceeded her expectations.
However, despite her praise, Song Wei did not intend to stop there.
After Jiang Nan finished speaking, Song Wei put down the report and looked at her sharply. "The concept sounds good and very thoughtful. But, Miss Jiang, do you know how difficult it is to put it into practice? We have to maintain a cool and aloof style while making people feel approachable. We have to emphasize value while ensuring sales. This balance is not something that can be found by just a few data reports."
"Besides, the concepts of futuristic and handmade are no longer new. Summer Pulse wants to stand out, not follow the old conventional path." She leaned forward slightly, looking at Jiang Nan with interest. "I want something more subversive and bold. Can you give it to me? Or rather, do you dare to give it to me?"
Her tone was light, but in fact, this sentence not only questioned the depth of the creativity, but also threw all the pressure directly back to Jiang Nan personally.
"Tell me about it, Miss Jiang," Qin Yu looked at Jiang Nan sarcastically, "My sister and I are waiting."
Wang Papi looked at Jiang Nan nervously, fearing that she would give a bad answer and offend the client.
Mr. Yao just watched from the sidelines.
Deputy Director Wen was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Mr. Song, innovation and risk often coexist. We need to find a balance between disruption and market acceptance. The framework proposed by Jiang Nan is market-proven and a relatively stable starting point. If you have new requirements, perhaps—"
Song Wei waved her hand, still staring at Jiang Nan. "Director Wen's words make sense, but I want to hear Miss Jiang's opinion."
Then, she turned to look at Mr. Yao. "After all, it was Mr. Yao who specifically assigned Miss Jiang to be in charge of this project. If she needs help with even this little challenge, then our cooperation may be over."
Mr. Yao laughed and said, "Mr. Song's concerns are very practical."
She winked at Jiang Nan.
Jiang Nan took a deep breath and spoke again, "Mr. Song, disruptive things certainly attract attention, but the premise of all creativity is respect for the brand's foundation and target users."
"I believe what Summer Pulse needs right now isn't a gimmick for disruption's sake, but rather effective marketing that can precisely penetrate the market and build brand awareness and trust. The framework we're proposing is the optimal solution for this goal."
She paused, then continued, "But this doesn't mean we have to stick to the old ways. We can experiment within certain frameworks. For example, we can collaborate with lesser-known artists who align with the brand. We can also, in line with President Qin's ideas, find suitable artists to collaborate with and conduct offline promotional events. However, these attempts must be built on a solid foundation; otherwise, they will be like castles in the air and fail to translate into tangible brand assets."
Then Jiang Nan imitated Song Wei and threw the question back: "If you insist on a completely unconventional and reckless plan, we can certainly do it, but I'm afraid that anything that comes out of it won't pass your and Mr. Qin's risk assessment. Are you sure this is what you want?"
Song Wei raised her eyebrows slightly, looking at Jiang Nan with a hint of hidden admiration. The person who had needed Chen Yunsheng's protection during their previous meetings was now completely different. She had become calm and confident, and her words were filled with an almost sharp defensive counterattack.
After a few seconds of silence, Song Wei suddenly laughed: "Ms. Jiang, you are much more courageous than I thought—" She considered her words, "Much more so."
"Okay, I have a rough idea of the initial direction. Based on the stable framework you've proposed, I'll start by producing a detailed plan and budget," she said, standing up with her bag. "I'd love to see those bold, creative details you mentioned."
Then Song Wei looked at Mr. Yao and said, "My assistant will contact you regarding the follow-up details." After that, she gave Jiang Nan another meaningful look before leaving the office with Qin Yu, who looked unhappy. "Mr. Yao, there's no need to see me off."
As soon as the office door closed, the expressions of the remaining people changed immediately. CEO Yao offered a few empty words of encouragement, while Wang Papi kept pushing Jiang Nan to take the lead. However, Deputy Director Wen praised him, saying, "You handled it very professionally, with clear logic, and you maintained your integrity. Keep it up."
Jiang Nan recovered and forced a smile at Deputy Director Wen: "Thank you, Director Wen."
But when she lowered her head to pack her things, her heart was not as calm as she appeared.
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