Super Zoo

"Boss, I want Great Sage Liquor! Yeah, that kind of baijiu! What, you don't know? Are you kidding me, you run a tobacco and liquor store and you don't even know Great Sage Liquor? What are you doing?"

"Boss, give me twenty skewers of lamb, ten skewers of grilled kidney, and two bottles of Great Sage Liquor... Huh? Don't have it, stop messing around, bro's not short on money, hurry up, bring out the liquor!"

"Xiao Li, your boyfriend's no good... Why? You know I love to drink good liquor, and it's not like he doesn't know about it. Even the auntie next door who dances in the square knows that our city has a new monkey liquor, and your boyfriend still brings this low-class booze, clearly lacking sincerity!"

...

After the unexpected popularity and the media reporting on the behind-the-scenes marketing strategies, Yangchuan Dasheng Distillery's reputation soared, especially in Yangchuan City itself, where almost everyone who drinks was aware of a new nationally famous product from their hometown.

But just try to buy it!

Da Sheng Liquor was like the mist-shrouded Great Sage Liquor Industry; clearly existing, yet untouchable, cloaked in a dense veil of mystery.

"Hey, I'll tell you, you really did something big, making such a huge ad for the distillery without making a fuss!"

Zhao Yun usually spent most of his time at home being a homebody and imitating a husband. Homebodies come in different varieties; some just laze around at home doing nothing but eating, playing games, and surfing the internet. The kind of homebody Zhao Yun was, just like Zhuge Liang, honed his skills at home, keeping abreast of the situation everywhere, understanding the world without stepping outside.

Reading books and newspapers every day, Zhao Yun kept seeing news about Great Sage Liquor Industry and realized that, in just half a month, the once obscure Great Sage Liquor Industry had shot to fame. The previous concerns about sales channels now seemed like a joke. Worried about not being able to sell ten tons of liquor? That's laughable. Even if that number were multiplied by ten, it would likely still be snapped up in an instant.

In this period, he had already received several large orders. Zhao Yun visited today to discuss with Suming about increasing production. They wanted to take advantage of the current boom of Great Sage Liquor and timely release the product onto the market.

"I think, it's not quite the perfect moment yet," Suming said, gesturing with two fingers, "Why not stretch it a bit more."

"You mean, do scarcity marketing?" Zhao Yun thought for a moment and then said, "But scarcity marketing must be premised on the continuous fermentation of the product, constantly releasing attractive news. That will keep consumers' appetite on tenterhooks. Otherwise, scarcity marketing can easily backfire, not only failing to achieve the expected results but if dragged on too long, consumers will gradually forget about Great Sage Liquor."

As he spoke, Zhao Yun pulled out a wrinkled newspaper from his back pocket: "Look."

When Suming saw this action from Zhao Yun, he couldn't help but twitch. A successful middle-aged man from the twenty-first century, acting like a coal miner stuffing a newspaper in his pants pocket, was just too old-fashioned. What happened to getting news on a smartphone?

The newspaper headline was eye-catching: "Great Sage Liquor is absent from the scene, but its legends are all over the place."

The subtitle read: "The greatest distance in the world is when I hear all about you, but you're not by my side."

Of course, the content was still about Great Sage Liquor. After gaining fame, the actual liquor was nowhere to be seen on the market. Everyone was like treasure hunters, searching for the true presence of Great Sage Liquor.

"This reporter must have started in martial arts novels, writing commentaries so emotionally..." Suming said, speechless.

"Never mind whether it's emotional or not, but he does have a point. It's no good just stretching it out endlessly. If you don't have any follow-up plans, I still suggest putting the product on the market ASAP. At least release those ten tons first to give everyone a taste," Zhao Yun said.

Of course, there is a follow-up plan.

Suming had considered that although Da Sheng Liquor seemed very popular at the moment, being discussed on just about every website, at the end of the day, this was unexpected publicity brought about by the show, not the liquor itself.

But what Suming wanted to sell wasn't the unexpected attention, but the Da Sheng Liquor itself. The show was merely a 'catalyst'.

If one were to follow normal logic, taking advantage of the current fame of Da Sheng Liquor and decisively entering the market would certainly be profitable. However, this would rely on the novelty brought by the unexpected attention, and once that faded, one would still need to return to building Da Sheng Liquor's reputation slowly and steadily.

Instead of that, it would be better to start shifting the public's attention now. Taking advantage of the high level of interest brought by the show, divert some of the public's attention to the real product: Da Sheng Liquor itself.

"I think when you have time, you'd better spend some money to do an MBA." Zhao Yun finally managed to listen to Suming's explanation and couldn't help frowning, "I understand what you mean, but you explained it in a way that's too abstract. If I hadn't been in business for decades and had some experience, I wouldn't understand a word you're saying..."

"Well, for someone with schizophrenia, it's still quite an achievement to be able to explain it like this. Anyway, as long as you understand, that's good enough for me," Suming rolled his eyes and shrugged nonchalantly.

"What exactly do you plan to do?" asked Zhao Yun.

"You must know some experts in the liquor industry, right?" Suming asked confidently.

He knew Zhao Yun all too well. Zhao Yun's investments might seem capricious and impulsive to outsiders, as if he was investing on whims like someone who had more money than he could spend. But in reality, every investment Zhao Yun made was well-considered and carried a high probability of profit. He would never touch an industry he didn't understand.
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Since Zhao Yun and Suming's investment in the distillery was a joint venture rather than a loan to Suming, Suming was sure that even if Zhao Yun didn't understand liquor, he would have knowledgeable friends in the industry.

"Feels like you've seen right through me..." Zhao Yun shrugged, "I can indeed contact some industry experts. Are you planning to have them help support the product?"

"That's pretty much the idea," Suming nodded and tapped the newspaper on the table with his finger, saying, "These media outlets only got it half right. In the internet age, marketing is indeed very important, but the quality of the product itself is the foundation for sustainable development. We must never treat consumers like fools. What they want to buy is the liquor."

A few days later, in the No. 1 Hall of the Yangchuan City Hilton Hotel, a rather grand new product launch event was held.

The organizer was Yangchuan City Dasheng Liquor Industry, broadcast exclusively by Yangchuan City TV Station, and specialists from Jiangjin City Liquor Testing Center were invited.

Mr. Seibel, the foreigner who had participated in the Yangchuan gourmet show, was also present, chatting and laughing with a group of blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners.

The launch event was still more than an hour away from beginning, with people on site forming small groups and chatting amongst themselves. In the corner, Suming and Nangong Yan were muttering about something.

"I am innocent!"

...

PS: Keeping your word is important; otherwise, it's like passing wind. The red packet is sent, delivering five updates, now I'll go sleep for a bit~~ snooze~