Free wine tasting
Because it was the first day of business, everyone who came to the shop to buy wine would have a free chance to sample Taibai wine.
This was something Fu Zhi Qiao specifically requested: a small glass of wine for each person, so that the guests could taste it without getting drunk. She also specially prepared fennel and peanuts for the guests who were drinking strong liquor for the first time. With purchase limits and free drinks, this opening was definitely a big gimmick!
Wouldn't it be a waste not to drink free wine? Some people who were originally hesitant were willing to come to the wine shop to join in the fun.
To provide customers with a pleasant shopping environment and prevent noise disturbances, the liquor store has a limit on the number of people allowed in at any one time.
The November wind made the wine flags flutter, and you could breathe out a chilly breath. Everyone rubbed their hands and stamped their feet. The store's crowd control policy made it even more uncomfortable for those queuing outside.
Although charcoal was lit at the entrance, it did little to help.
The workers kept a close eye on the queue, not daring to be distracted. The young master had instructed them to keep the number of people in line outside to around fifteen; they absolutely could not exceed that number. If the queue became too long, it would cause resentment among the people, which would be disastrous.
The shop assistants at the entrance of the liquor store all had smiles on their faces and bowed to welcome them into the store. Once inside, their service was excellent, making ordinary people feel respected.
After queuing in the cold wind to get into the store, I had a drink to warm myself up, and I felt refreshed all over!
After downing a cup, everyone's eyes lit up, and they could clearly feel their bodies starting to heat up.
"Sigh, one cup isn't enough, I want to have a few more!"
"After drinking this Taibai wine, other wines will seem bland and tasteless."
"Yes! Even Qingzhai wine can't compare to it!"
"What strong liquor! It seems the rumors that a bowl of Taibai wine can knock out a big man are indeed true!"
"Another one!"
"I'll have another one!"
The calls for refills were constant.
Qingzhai wine is a famous wine of Qingzhou. It was brewed by a local official fifty years ago and has been passed down to this day. In the eyes of the people of Qingzhou, it is the best wine in the area.
Fu Zhiqiao didn't expect that everyone would give such a review. It seems that the taste of Taibaijiu has been recognized by most people.
"Gentlemen, this wine is precious, with a complex production process and extremely low yield. I'm afraid we cannot satisfy everyone's requests. Two cups per person, no more than that! Please forgive us!"
Defu adopted a humble attitude, but did not forget to remind everyone of the preciousness and rarity of Taibaijiu. He clearly remembered what the girl had said: no matter what it is, the rarer it is, the more precious it is.
People who spend ten taels of silver to buy wine are usually quite well-off; it would be disgraceful if word got out that they were forcing the shopkeeper to give them wine. Anyway, they got the wine for free and went home satisfied.
Seeing how popular Taibai wine was, Manager Wang immediately felt that buying only twenty jars was far too little.
No, he needs to buy even more Taibai wine to take back.
If Manager Wang initially came to buy wine just to join in the fun, his attitude has now completely changed.
Taibai wine suddenly became a hot commodity in his eyes.
Shopkeeper Wang quietly approached Song Dali and expressed his desire to buy wine. Song Dali chuckled and asked, "How much does Shopkeeper Wang want to buy?"
"Fifty more jars, please!"
"Manager Wang, please wait a moment." Upon hearing that the quantity was not something he could decide, Song Dali immediately went to ask Defu for help.
Defu walked over, cupped his hands in greeting, and looked troubled: "Manager Wang, to be honest, we can't produce so much wine all at once."
Why?
"As you know, many customers order wine from us in advance. Apart from the twenty jars you ordered, we really can't sell you another fifty jars."
Manager Wang recalled the grand occasion when the wine was ordered and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. This Taibai wine was clearly beneficial to Baiweilou. He then secretly took out a silver ingot and slipped it to Defu, saying, "Manager Fu, could you please make an exception?"
Defu watched him expertly slip silver into his hand, his lips twitched, and he refused: "Manager Wang, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that we really don't have any more wine."
"Manager Fu, is there really no other way?"
Defu carefully observed his expression. "Actually, it's not like there's no way."
Shopkeeper Wang: "..."
Is it normal for you to talk like that, taking huge breaths?
Seeing that there was still a chance, he immediately asked, "What method?"
The two went into the reception room alone.
"Manager Wang, as long as Baiweilou signs a contract with us to buy wine, then we can enjoy the right to buy wine first. Of course, the amount must not be less than two hundred jars per month."
One jar of wine costs ten taels of silver, so two hundred jars would cost two thousand taels. Although Baiweilou wasn't short of money, it would still add up to a considerable sum over several months, so Manager Wang hesitated.
De Fu smiled, teasing him, "If it weren't for this contract, you might not be able to buy wine next time you come."
Shopkeeper Wang: ...
Isn't this a threat?
Defu seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire: "Of course, I don't care how much you sell it for, and whether or not it can be sold is none of Taibai Wine Shop's business."
Manager Wang calculated in his mind that he could buy it for ten taels of silver and sell it for twelve taels of silver, and he could also use the reputation of Taibai wine to attract customers. This deal was not a loss.
However, when it comes to business, it's all about give and take.
Manager Wang: "Manager Fu, you're not trying to fool me."
"Five restaurants. Taibai Wine only supplies wine to five restaurants. Manager Wang might want to think it over carefully."
Defu was actually quite nervous; this was his first time negotiating a deal, and his hands, hidden in his sleeves, were trembling slightly. He kept reminding himself of Fu Zhiqiao's words, "We're doing business, not asking for favors. Stay calm, stay calm..."
"You can't go wrong listening to the girl," Defu continued. "When Taibai wine's reputation and fame are established, and Manager Wang can't buy it anymore, don't blame me for not telling you this method."
You can only buy wine if you sign a wine purchase contract with Taibailou; otherwise, there will be no extra wine to sell to you.
You want to buy it?
Sorry, you'll have to wait in line...
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of restaurants in Qingzhou City. Taibai Wine Shop only plans to sign wine supply contracts with five restaurants. Manager Wang thought about the people queuing outside the wine shop, and perhaps this really is an opportunity. Baiweilou must seize the opportunity.
He wasn't slow-witted, and immediately smiled, "Then I'll have to trouble Manager Fu to take care of me from now on."
Defu breathed a sigh of relief and, on behalf of Taibai Wine Shop, officially signed a wine supply contract with Baiweilou.
*
On the third day after the wine shop opened, Fu Zhiqiao was just about to check the sales figures for the past two days when a knock on the door suddenly rang out, interrupting her thoughts. "Young Master, Boss Peng has arrived."
Boss Peng?
Fu Zhiqiao immediately realized that Peng Gaofei had brought his team to collect the wine. He had been notified of the wine shop's opening a month ago, and the opening date was fast approaching.
This time, Fu Zhiqiao personally received them.
Inside the Taibai Wine Shop, Peng Gaofei observed the furnishings and admired Fu Zhiqiao for being such a wonderful person; everything from the wine to the shop's decorations was exquisite.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Peng Gaofei, Fu Zhiqiao got straight to the point and even took him to the warehouse to inspect the wine.
Fu Zhiqiao took out a jar of wine and introduced it to him in detail. He also told him how to identify the anti-counterfeiting number. There were obvious marks on the jar, so that people could tell at a glance when the wine was brewed and who produced it.
Every jar of wine produced by Taibai Wine Shop is unique.
Peng Gaofei was stunned by what she said. He was very surprised by this brand-new packaging method. Buying Taibai wine was originally a spur-of-the-moment decision on his way back to Beijing, but Fu Zhiqiao kept refreshing his horizons.
"Boss Fu is indeed a shrewd businessman; I, Peng, am truly inferior to him."
Fu Zhiqiao: "Mr. Peng, you flatter me."
Peng Gaofei has shops and caravans, capable of both sales and transportation, making him an excellent vanguard for her external expansion!
In order to play the long game, Fu Zhiqiao was extremely polite to Peng Gaofei.
At this moment, Yinxing brought over a tray, and Fu Zhiqiao picked up the waist tag and handed it to him: "Boss Peng, this is our wine shop's waist tag. From now on, as long as you bring the waist tag to the shop, you can enjoy VIP treatment."
The waist tag was made of brass, and the word "VIP" could be faintly seen on it, representing the high-class customers of Taibai Wine Shop.
The waist tag also had Arabic numerals in the corner, from one to one hundred, with each number representing one person. The number was limited and only VIP clients could obtain them. Others were unaware of her setup and therefore could not replicate it.
Fu Zhiqiao artistically modified the three letters "VIP" to create a new logo, but to the people of Dawei, it was just a strange totem.
Peng Gaofei was the first high-class customer to have a waist tag, and his number was one.
After a brief two-day rest in Qingzhou and paying for the Taibai wine, Peng Gaofei returned to Beijing with several hundred jars of wine.
Before leaving, Fu Zhiqiao gave him two more jars of wine, saying, "Boss Peng, these two jars are for the brothers in the caravan. It's getting cold, a cup of Taibai wine is enough to warm them up."
Peng Gaofei gladly accepted her advances.
After seeing Peng Gaofei off, Fu Zhiqiao continued to do the accounting in the backyard of the wine shop.
Over the course of three days, including pre-orders, the shop sold a total of 2,300 jars of wine, generating a total revenue of over 20,000 taels of silver.
This was her first pot of gold. Looking at the numbers in the ledger, Fu Zhi Qiao felt extremely satisfied. She had completed the first step of accumulating money, and the next step was to consider further promotion of Taibai wine.
The liquor market is huge, and it would be difficult for her to open up the entire market in Qingzhou with just one shop. She focused more on the restaurants in the city, believing that selling liquor to them for distribution would maximize her profits.
Fu Zhiqiao was confident that it wouldn't be long before these restaurants couldn't wait to buy the wine.
Sure enough, in the few days since the wine shop opened, people from various restaurants could be seen appearing in the shop from time to time.
Taibai wine has been circulating in the market for so long that some restaurant owners have already come to the door after only two days of opening. However, most of them are taking a wait-and-see attitude, and only Baiweilou has actually placed an order.
"They don't have much time left to consider," Fu Zhi Qiao said with a smile.
"Them"? Who are you talking about?
Ginkgo was completely baffled; why was her daughter becoming more and more mysterious?
Selling Taibai wine to restaurants was something Fu Zhiqiao had planned long ago. It's difficult to achieve high sales volume by relying solely on retail, so supplying the wine to restaurants is a much better approach.
Without its own sales channels, producing too much liquor would make it difficult to sell.
Fu Zhiqiao smiled. With Peng Gaofei helping her find sales channels in other places and leveraging his influence to promote Taibai wine, and with restaurants and inns in the local area providing a basic sales base, she wouldn't have to worry about selling her wine.
On the second day after the wine shop opened, it was still unusually lively. Seeing this, Old Gao's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.
Fu Zhiqiao remained quite calm. The booming business these past two days was simply because the people of Qingzhou were seeing such novel wines for the first time. After the first peak period, the number of people buying the wine would gradually decrease.
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