At the headquarters of the provincial business, Vice President Zhang slammed the table. He threw the list of participants in the Youjia meeting that he had found out about, and the list of suppliers for the provincial business supplier conference submitted by the purchasing department, onto the table, and asked the person in charge of the purchasing department in front of him, 'Look, for the small Youjia, what level of people come to their meetings and attend? And for us, how many company bosses are coming?'
Many state-owned companies in China like to hold meetings and conferences. This is not only to satisfy the vanity of the company's leaders, but also a reflection of their work performance. For example, if they can invite a few foreign executives from Fortune 500 companies to their year-end meeting, it will definitely be considered a political achievement.
'The main reason is that the CEOs of many companies have come here in previous years,' the thin head of the purchasing department found an excuse.
'So what if they came? According to the latest figures, Yajia's sales last year were less than 120 million yuan. Our sales are several times that, so why do so many companies send their CEOs to Yajia's annual meeting, but they don't care about our annual meeting? What's the problem?' Vice President Zhang glared at him. "I think it's because you're not doing your job properly.'
The head of the purchasing department, who was scolded and felt like crying, cursed in his heart, "What a CEO! Is looking at sales the only thing that matters?
Last year, our growth was lower than the GDP growth rate, but Yajia's was amazing. Just look at their growth rate, and those companies are desperate to get on their good side.
It's just like the TV commercial: there's no best, only better. Yajia's growth rate is skyrocketing, which shows its potential.
One seems to have already passed its peak and is on the decline, while the other was established less than two years ago and is full of vitality, with an infinite number of possibilities for the future. It is expected that by next year, Youjia's sales will easily catch up with, or even exceed, the provincial merchants'. No wonder those suppliers sent high-level representatives to the meeting.
There is one more thing I have to say: Youjia is fully paid in cash, while the provincial merchants always want to delay payment. Whether it is an internationally renowned brand or a new domestic brand, who is willing to settle accounts on a quarterly basis?
When dealing with Youjia, various costs are also lower. Youjia's procurement department has a team dedicated to negotiating cooperation agreements, and a planning team that determines the orders for each supplier based on sales data derived from the system. Those employees who deal directly with manufacturers actually do not have much power, and it is not very useful for manufacturers to bribe them.
In addition, salespeople from various suppliers usually find it difficult to meet with executives from departments other than the procurement department, and they can't find the right person to give gifts to.
It's not like the provincial business, I heard that some suppliers have worked their way from the specific person in charge of public relations in the purchasing department to the side of the general manager. How easy and comfortable it is to deal with Yojia!
As long as the products are qualified, the price is reasonable, and the supply is timely, you can get the order! The person in charge of the purchasing department inwardly scolded, but on the surface he still accepted Vice President Zhang's criticism very humbly, 'Recently we haven't paid enough attention to this area of work, I'll go back and strengthen it immediately, and I'll definitely come up with a list that will make you satisfied.'
'What makes me satisfied is making the company satisfied. The people who come to the meeting must be worthy of our company.'
'Yes, I will definitely make the company satisfied.' He answered whatever Vice President Zhang said. There was no choice. In a state-owned enterprise, making the leader satisfied was more important than achieving results.
Next to be lectured was the head of the provincial commercial marketing department, the successor of Jin Ling, accompanied by a young man who also had some background and held a diploma from an unknown university in North America.
Vice President Zhang slammed his hand on the table again, throwing the summary of Jiamei's work last year, which he had specially dug up, onto the table. 'A small private enterprise has opened nearly 400 branches in just over a year, covering five provinces and one city. We, on the other hand, have transferred so many capable people, and to this day, we are still going around in circles in the provincial capital, having only opened a total of more than 40 branches. Is this your work achievement for the year? If I tell this story, will it bring you or me face?'
The president of Jiamei, relying on his background, said, 'Our style is more prudent and our foundation is more solid. When the time comes for us to make our move, we will easily leave Jiamei behind.'
'Our style is indeed prudent, so prudent that we only open three stores a month on average. Our foundation is indeed solid. Each store of Youjia has a maximum of two employees, while we need at least three. As for your idea of exerting our strength, let me ask you, when will you start exerting your strength? I don't ask you to surpass Youjia in all aspects. I only ask you, within the province, when will you be able to leave Youjia behind?'
The two of them were at a loss for words.
It's fine to speak in general terms, but making grandiose promises in front of the boss is a big no-no.
...
Finally, it was Shi Lu and General Manager Jiang's turn to negotiate with the Youjia team led by Jinling. Jinling and General Manager Jiang did not actually participate in the specific negotiations. They were there only to show the importance they attached to the cooperation between the two sides.
General Manager Jiang said to Jin Ling with a commanding air, 'General Manager Jin, for the mass market, our company has launched several new products this year that have even better results. Most importantly, they will definitely bring more profits to your company. Therefore, I hope that, based on last year's share, we can appropriately increase the purchase volume of our company's products.'
He was speaking from a position of strength.
'I agree in principle, but since they are new products, the promotional efforts must be increased, and with a large purchase volume, we hope that the price can also be more affordable,' Jin Ling replied tactfully to General Manager Jiang's proposal.
Well-known international daily chemical brands, under the overwhelming advertising effect, their market share is already increasing year by year, and increasing their share is a natural move.
The two bosses gave a general idea of the scope of the deal and then went to the window to chat over tea. The specific implementation of the deal naturally fell to the three-person team from Shilu Hejiaye and the other side.
The three employees from Shilu Hejiaye gathered around the round table and hammered out the details, clause by clause, and data by data. They often argued for a long time over just one point. Don't underestimate this one point. Whether it's a discount on the purchase price of one point less, or a point more in promotional expenses, multiplied by a not insignificant purchase base, it's not a small amount.
There were fewer problems on the Youjia side when dealing with Jinling because the negotiation team had talked to more than one daily chemical company and knew their bottom line. On the Shilu side, there were more problems when dealing with General Manager Jiang because his own authority was limited and some concessions required authorization from higher-ups. This was also the reason the company sent General Manager Jiang over.
As expected, Jiang agreed to most of Youjia's requests without hesitation.
With one person dealing with three, Shi Lu was already under a lot of pressure, and he was also worried about both sides. He often had to keep an eye on Jiang and Jinling, and he was begging them not to mention what happened yesterday afternoon in front of Jiang.
In the end, an agreement of intent was reached, which both parties were satisfied with. Youjia agreed to purchase more daily chemical products from their company, and Shilu also agreed to give Youjia the most preferential terms. In short, this was a win-win agreement that would create greater benefits for both parties.
However, Shilu keenly noticed that as soon as they left the meeting room, the smile on General Jiang's face immediately disappeared. He immediately had a bad feeling. Sure enough, General Jiang said coldly, 'Come back to my room.'
'Mr. Jiang, I...,' Shi Lu was about to explain to Jiang, who was sitting with his chin in his hands on the side of the coffee table.
'You don't need to say anything. After you go back, you'll prepare for the handover. You won't be responsible for the Jia business in the future. I'll have the sales department adjust your work. Didn't the country propose the development of the western region? After the Spring Festival, you'll go to the west.'
Jiang didn't even look at him, but what he said confirmed his prediction. Jin Ling had indeed mentioned what happened yesterday in front of Jiang.
'General Manager Jiang, I actually didn't do anything,' Shi Lu defended himself.
'No need to say anymore, just go back and write a summary of this meeting,' General Manager Jiang waved his hand, not wanting to hear Shi Lu's defence.
When Jin Ling had just mentioned what happened yesterday in a light-hearted way, General Manager Jiang, who could talk eloquently in front of any situation and to anyone, was at a loss for words. It had been many years since he had been so embarrassed. The other person was a woman, and he didn't believe she would make something up over such a trivial matter.
Although Jinling emphasised that it was nothing, how could General Manager Jiang hand over this single business, which he valued so highly, to Shi Lu to handle?
'General Manager Jiang, I was really acting on impulse. Besides, as you know, I'm still single,' Shi Lu really didn't want to hand over the big client he had worked so hard to consolidate to someone else for nothing.
'Shall I show you out?' General Manager Jiang finally looked at him directly, but the look in his eyes was a few degrees colder than the cold winter outside.
As soon as the guest room door closed, Shi Lu slumped. He hated himself and wanted to slap himself a few times. How could he have been so pig-headed yesterday? How could he have been so impulsive? Yijia is such a big account!
...
While many people in the entire group were revolving around this meeting, Feng Yiping was leisurely shopping with Huang Jingping. This was also one of the boss's privileges. He was only responsible for setting goals.
They were mainly buying gifts to take back for the New Year. In fact, they didn't buy much, and they enjoyed the process more. In the second half of the year, Feng Yiping will have to complete his heavy academic workload, and he will have to spend a lot of time sitting in the office, so there really won't be much time for leisure.
While taking a break in a coffee shop, Huang Jingping suddenly said, 'I want to go see that girl, Zhang Yan, right?'
Feng Yiping spat out the coffee he had just taken a sip of...