Chapter 248: A Grand Marketing Campaign
Chapter 248: A Grand Marketing Campaign
The ground promotion plan was formed, the marketing area determined, the promotion team established, and daily wage workers recruited.
With the onset of summer in June, the ground promotion work of group buying in stores officially commenced.
Countless daily wage workers, armed with colorful flyers, employed various cunning methods to enter office buildings, shopping streets, bars, exhibition centers, swimming pools, gyms, and other locales frequented by the youth to conduct their promotions.
Since the internet was a fashion among the young, it was this demographic that quickly embraced group buying and generated significant results.
Naturally, starting from the easiest places was the key to effective ground promotion.
A spark falling into water would undoubtedly be extinguished, but falling into a pile of cotton, it was bound to ignite a fierce blaze.
“Brother Jiang, why have you been coming to class every day lately? Are you bored out of your mind?”
Jiang Qin, sitting drowsily in the classroom, turned his head in surprise upon hearing this and glanced at Ren Ziqiang, “I’m a student, so it’s only right that I study diligently. You’re saying I’m bored? Is there no justice in this world?”
“That’s true, but it doesn’t seem like your style. Have you given up on your business?” Ren Ziqiang asked curiously.“The business must go on, but I’m the boss. I don’t need to handle everything personally; others will take care of it for me.”
Cao Guangyu, listening nearby, felt a chill down his spine. He opened his phone’s memo app and recorded this boastful quote, planning to apply it himself.
Meanwhile, the finance class three’s “golden flowers” were fixated on Jiang Qin, daydreaming throughout the class.
The male god attending class was nothing short of a miracle. They had to take the chance to gaze at him more, fearing he might disappear for another month.
As expected, Jiang Qin vanished the next day, as if the person who said students should study well wasn’t him at all, but a dog.
And from the day of his disappearance, the employees of 208 also started taking leaves and skipping classes, gathering at 208 to prepare diligently for the weekend’s major marketing campaign in the university town.
Whether the group buying could seamlessly transition from the university town to Linchuan City would hinge on this weekend, a crucial juncture.
“This weekend’s marketing campaign will target Wanzhong Mall. We’ll aim all our arrows at this target.”
“Next, I’ll assign tasks.”
“Suna, adjust the homepage. List all Wanzhong Mall’s stores. This time, we’re not offering a 40% discount, but a 50% discount across the board.”
“Tell everyone, we’re not looking to make a profit this time, just to make friends.”
“Lanlan, coordinate with Manager Yue. Their mall will conduct offline marketing simultaneously, interacting with our group buying.”
“Wenhao, you’re in charge of coordinating the teams from the other three universities. Start discussion threads and hype up the event.”
“Feiyu, continue with the lottery for the four schools. This time, not just one, but ten draws. Winners can eat for free ten times, at any store, with ten spots available.”
“Tan Qing, once the event starts, you’ll oversee the business department. We want to spread the impact of this event, making all stores in Linchuan green with envy.”
“Now, let the marketing begin.”
After Jiang Qin finished speaking and slapped the table, 208 instantly buzzed with activity.
Everyone instantly got to work—making calls, typing on keyboards—just like the first time group buying went online, full of vigor.
A day later, users across all forums of the four major universities were drawn in by the promotional posts, showing high levels of engagement.
Many students, seeing the words “half-price” and “free meals,” were not only excited but also baffled.
“Damn, 40% off was already outrageous, now it’s straight-up half-price. Has this business gone mad? Can they even make money at half price?”
The most shocking was the meals. Who wouldn’t want that?
Wave after wave of top posts and coupon grabs once again sparked a frenzy of group buying in stores.
In reality, this is how marketing campaigns work. Many consumers feel perplexed when caught in the whirlwind, wondering how the business can make money with just shouting and no profit, merely chasing the wind.
But for real business people, money is the ultimate goal, but not the absolute objective at every stage.
If losing money can capture a larger market, as long as it doesn’t lead to bankruptcy, no one cares about the immediate loss.
At five in the afternoon, Jiang Qin left the bustling 208 to dine in the cafeteria. Everywhere he went, he heard discussions about the half-price group buying and free meal cards.
The little rich lady waiting in the cafeteria waved at him, then watched Jiang Qin sit down beside her with a dazed expression.
“Jiang Qin, are you guys starting another campaign this week?” Gao Wenhui asked while eating noodles.
Jiang Qin took the chopsticks handed to him by Feng Nanshu and tasted her noodles, “This is our last campaign targeting university students. We won’t have such big discounts afterward, so if you want to participate, do it now.”
“Can you really make money with everything at half-price? Are you struggling to make ends meet at home?”
Feng Nanshu, hearing this, pouted her small face, “We are.”
Gao Wenhui banged the table, looking gorgeous but still full of doubt, “But won’t half-price lead to huge losses? Where do you make money, are the costs of those restaurants really that low?”
Jiang Qin stretched and yawned, “The costs can’t be that low, remember there are also expenses for premises, labor, and utilities. I’m currently losing money on this campaign, but it’s to make more money in the future.”
“Can you rig the draw, like the last two times, so I win a prize?” Gao Wenhui tried her luck.
“Wishful thinking. I’m barely covering your salary, let alone giving you a prize. Have you maintained my solid friendship with Feng Nanshu?”
“I have,” Gao Wenhui claimed shamelessly.
Jiang Qin chuckled, “Maintained my ass. You’re always adding fuel to the fire between us two.”
“Who told you guys to not be honest with each other? Every time I ‘ship’ you two, it’s never satisfying.”
“Why do you have to focus on us two good friends when there are plenty of couples in your class?”
Jiang Qin’s words weren’t false. After all, everyone had been at Linchuan University for a year now. Those who wanted to be in a relationship were already in one, and those who weren’t either didn’t want to or couldn’t find someone.
Finance Class 4 had several couples who were always inseparable and overly affectionate.
In college, apart from studying, dating was the main theme, and few were like Jiang Qin, who was solely focused on money.
However, Gao Wenhui felt that those sickeningly sweet relationships were not worth ‘shipping’. She preferred the kind where nothing happened between Feng and Jiang unless Feng made a move, and everything went haywire when Jiang did, even if they claimed it was just friendship.
“Little rich lady, I need to tell you something, come here, and don’t let Gao Wenhui hear.”
“What is it?” Feng Nanshu leaned in, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity.
Jiang Qin whispered in her ear, “There’s something really good to ‘ship’, but I forbid you to tell her.”
Feng Nanshu: “?”
“Alright, I’m full. I have to go back to work now. Bye!”
Jiang Qin left the cafeteria, and Gao Wenhui immediately pestered Feng Nanshu, “What did he tell you just now?”
Feng Nanshu, still a bit dazed, replied, “Something really good to ‘ship’, but he forbade me from telling you.”
“Why not? We’re best sisters!”
“That’s what he said.” Feng Nanshu looked innocent.
Gao Wenhui was dying of curiosity, “So what is this really good thing to ‘ship’?”
Feng Nanshu frowned slightly, “He just said there’s something good to ‘ship’, but I’m not allowed to tell you.”
“Can’t you just tell me secretly?”
“He only said that…”
“Which is?”
“There’s something really good to ‘ship’, but I’m not allowed to tell you!”
“Why can’t you tell me?!”
“…”
At night, with the city lights shining, two rounds of half-price coupons had already sold out, and all the employees of 208 breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, a large number of students from the four universities poured out of their campuses, converging towards the city center, creating such a demand that the taxis waiting at the intersections were not enough.
Wanzhong Mall was brightly lit, with PVC boards advertising the half-price sale at the entrance, along with group buying banners and standees. There were even groups of young ladies in short shorts dancing at the entrance, making the scene more lively than a festival.
The synergy between online and offline activities, and the interplay of crowds and lights, made the marketing campaign sweep through the city in a dazzling manner.
Jiang Qin, following the crowd, also arrived at Wanzhong, only to be stuck at the entrance. It took him over ten minutes just to get into the underground parking.
By the time he took the elevator to the first floor, the throngs of people had already filled the first and second floors of the mall. He felt a sense of awe, reminiscent of the bustling atmosphere during New Year fairs.
“Is it really half-price?”
“Yes, but you have to grab a coupon from a website called ‘Group Buying’. Just log in using your mobile WAP.”
“Are all these people here with coupons?”
“Yes, they’re mostly university students from nearby. I heard the promotion was conducted at the universities.”
“Damn, no more coupons?”
“Today’s are indeed gone, even tomorrow’s have sold out. But you can try for the day after tomorrow’s coupons, and there’s also a chance to win a free meal card, which lets you eat here ten times for free.”
“Bro, how do you know so much?”
“Nothing much, I’m just an ordinary university student.”
Jiang Qin, being a helpful person, educated several groups of onlookers about the promotion, then squeezed through the crowd anonymously.
If the last 40% off marketing represented the prelude to Wanzhong’s opening, then this time’s half-price sale was a grand declaration of its glorious return.
But looking beyond the surface, it was actually a bundled marketing effort between a group buying website and the mall.
This marketing tactic wasn’t particularly clever, but it still attracted crowds, simply because getting a half-price coupon online was truly appealing.
Meanwhile, the newly established business department of Group Buying led merchants from nearby shopping districts to Wanzhong’s front square. Faced with this sea of people, everyone felt a profound sense of shock from deep within.
AN: Today, I’m flying from Shenzhen to Shandong to prepare for my wedding. There will be no break in updates, but the timing might be affected. Please understand and support me with your monthly votes!!!
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