Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The few of them were merrily eating and drinking when Wen Xinya said, “Junling, do you know where we can buy imitation products from the Tang dynasty, such as writings, paintings, ceramics, etc.?”
Gu Junling smiled and said, “You asked the right person—our Gu Family has a business in this area. I can bring you to have a look—you can pick whatever you like and I’ll give you a fifty percent discount for everything.”
Wen Xinya was shocked. “Your Gu Family is also into imitation business?”
Gu Junling smiled and said, “You should know that the ancient pottery of Country Z has always been pursued by the whole world. However, currently, the amount of ceramics produced by Country Z’s four main pottery cellars falls short of the market demand by a huge margin, making them more and more pricey, and writings and paintings are even rarer. Thus, imitation products emerged as the times require. This line of business has always been profiteering—our Gu Family has connections in this area and can naturally do it.”
“I see.” Gu Family’s official businesses did not include imitation. She vaguely guessed that the business in this area was probably private. To do imitation business on a large scale required connections with the underworld—based on the Gu Family’s background, it was understandable for them to do such a business.
Instead, Gu Junling was very curious about what Wen Xinya was going to do. “You’re behaving oddly recently—are you thinking of doing any business?”
Many rich kids in the capital city would invest in some business themselves to earn some pocket money. Thus, regarding Wen Xinya’s actions, although he was curious, he didn’t feel surprised.
Wen Xinya didn’t keep it from them either. “I’m going to start a cosmetics company and plan to fashion the storefront in the style of imperial palaces of the ancient Tang dynasty.”
Gu Junling clapped and said, “Indeed, you dare to act on your thoughts. You’re not the first one to think of such an idea, but you’re the first to dare to act upon it. That’s because of the massive manpower, resources, finances, and energy the investment requires, as well as the rarity of connections in this area. However, employing such hype in the cosmetics line is indeed very attractive.”
However, Ling Qingxuan said curiously, “Cosmetics is one of the mainstream luxury products. Your Wen Corporation already has pretty good cosmetics brands which already currently owns a portion of the market. Do you intend to manage the cosmetics brand under the Wen Corporation?”
Wen Xinya shook her head, smiled, and said, “I’m planning to combine branding, production, and sales into one, chosen to manage a brand for Traditional Chinese Medicine skincare, employing the hype of the skincare secrets of the imperial palaces, and create a high-class, luxurious, and extravagant brand. I don’t want it to have anything to do with the Wen Family’s business, so my Grandpa still doesn’t know—hope you guys can keep it a secret.”
Such words from Wen Xinya already shocked the few people present, especially Gu Junling. “The Floral Lingo Pavilion is also doing research in the area of Traditional Chinese Medicine skincare, but without good results. Furthermore, you really have the guts to employ the hype of imperial palaces skincare secrets.”
Wen Xinya smiled and said, “Grandpa Du’s granddaughter, Du Ruo, has obtained some results from her research in this area. Thus, I’m cooperating with her.”
“Previously, the skincare products that you left at the Floral Lingo Pavilion were all made from Du Ruo’s formulas?” Previously, the beautician at the Floral Lingo Pavilion had mentioned to him that the skincare products left behind by Wen Xinya had astonishing results—if it was possible to bring in such products, the Floral Lingo Pavilion’s business would attain greater heights. However, he did not take it to heart.
“That’s right. They were given to me by Ruo Ruo—absolutely organic and irritant-free,” said Wen Xinya as she smiled and nodded.
Gu Junling gasped. The Traditional Chinese Medicine skincare market was one that he understood better than anyone else. His Floral Lingo Pavilion had only formulated a few types of ancient essences which already roughly accounted for a third of the Floral Lingo Pavilion’s profits, not to mention Traditional Chinese Medicine skincare.
Indeed, Wen Xinya wouldn’t go to war unprepared. With the formulas in hand, it was no wonder she was willing to put in so much effort on the storefront—because she was confident that the more effort she invested before, the more profits she would obtain.
Zhou Tianyu widened her eyes and said, “Previously, the skincare products that you’ve given me are Traditional Chinese Medicine skincare?”
Wen Xinya nodded. “Ruo Ruo gave me quite a bit, so I portioned out some for you.”
Zhou Tianyu took in a deep breath and said, “Not only are those products effective for skincare, but they also have the effect of health maintenance. I can foresee that your storefront will definitely flourish exceedingly.”
Ling Qingxuan clapped and said, “When your storefront is up, I’ll get the celebrities under our Ling Family to patronize your business.”
“That’s awesome!” Wen Xinya was naturally elated. “However, I don’t intend to mass-produce. I’m going to make the products into something similar to the Dew Essence of the Floral Lingo Pavilion—only available for the enjoyment of the truly rich.”
A set of Dew Essence of the Floral Lingo Pavilion cost the exorbitant price of up to a million yuan. When compared to the Floral Lingo Pavilion, her prices would only be higher and not lower.
“The higher the barriers to entry, the more it prevents the prevalence of all sorts of imitation and fake goods, prevent more people from doing similar research, pique the psychology of seeking novelty from more people, and of course, satisfy the narcissism of the truly rich.” Gu Junling felt that her idea was great and a thought gradually arose in his heart. However, they were friends, after all. He didn’t know how to breach the topic at the moment.
“That’s the theory.” She wanted to create a lasting brand of Traditional Chinese Medicine skincare. Thus, she had to control the market. Although Du Ruo’s research was the most mature in the area of Traditional Chinese Medicine skincare currently, the fact that Du Ruo could succeed meant that others could also succeed. Thus, she had to take precautions—to create an irreplaceable and non-imitable top luxury brand, like the luxury fashion brands Chanel and Versace—standing firm from the start to the end regardless of the changes in times.
Gu Junling looked at Wen Xinya with hesitation. “Xinya…”
Wen Xinya had already discerned his thoughts way before and also happened to be thinking along the same lines. Thus, she smiled and said, “I’ll like to cooperate with the Floral Lingo Pavilion to form a formal sales line—not sure what you think?”
“Naturally, it’s more than I can wish for.” Wen Xinya’s Traditional Chinese Medicine skincare, once up and running, would totally have no lack of sales outlets. To slightly bring the Floral Lingo Pavilion along was instead Wen Xinya’s act of returning his favor and also an appreciation of their friendship.
“In that case, I’ll pass you a portion of the products sometime later. Hope that the Floral Lingo Pavilion can help us do a quality test report which will also be used as our product quality standards. I believe the Floral Lingo Pavilion is second to none in this area.” If the storefront were to be publicized as having the professional quality assurance of the Floral Lingo Pavilion, it would naturally be even more popular.
“It’s my pleasure.” Even if Wen Xinya was not cooperating with him, he would also help her out on this.
Previously, Wen Xinya had mentioned the current state of the land at the western district and he had invested in some land. Now that the government intended to build an East-West train route, the land prices of the western district had soared, and the land that he had purchased was now worth a few times over.
Previously, he had thought that Wen Xinya was just mentioning it casually. However, he suddenly recalled that previously, the Lingyun Media and Entertainment Company under the Ling Family had invested in a small movie production starring the celebrity introduced by Wen Xinya as the main lead and obtained a box office of up to five billion yuan, attracting the attention of many Hollywood entertainment companies.
He didn’t believe that such a coincidence existed in this world. Although he didn’t know how Wen Xinya obtained these pieces of information, such sincere thoughts were worthy of them to treat each other with the utmost cordiality.
