Duan Yiheng leaned back in his chair, not sitting as upright as the others, but his commanding presence was something others couldn't imitate.
He looked directly at Chen Liangyi for the first time and said, "The low-price strategy—what do you think our next step should be?" Chen Liangyi's blood boiled. In an instant, she realized that the core issue Duan Yiheng wanted her to address was how to win back lost customers.
"Without customers, even the best product is like a pearl covered in dust. Naturally, we need to offer incentives to win them back," Chen Liangyi said slowly, her eyes fixed on Duan Yiheng, unaware that Zheng Jizhong across from her had frowned.
"We can lower the price by 20%, coupled with a large-scale promotional campaign, and offer free value-added services. As long as the customers come back, everything is negotiable."
Zheng Jizhong clicked his tongue inwardly. Chen Liangyi was usually quite capable, but she was too driven by profit.
In the workplace, the first thing to consider is who you're dealing with. Duan Yiheng, president of Yinfan Technology, with a background in computer science and finance, prioritizes winning over clients through technology. Therefore, her suggested method wouldn't work with him.
Her ambition to climb the corporate ladder led her to lose some of her rationality at the mention of an opportunity, revealing her true nature.
"As long as the client comes back, everything is negotiable?" Duan Yiheng repeated casually. "Is this your method?" Chen Jingyi nodded blankly.
Duan Yiheng tilted his head, looking at Lin Xi: "If you were the sales manager, what would you do?" The crowd looked at the two of them in surprise, thinking Duan Yiheng was probably driven mad. Some agreed with Chen Jingyi's method, while others disagreed.
They just hadn't expected Duan Yiheng to allow a new secretary to interrupt an internal departmental meeting. He looked like a tyrannical ruler from ancient times, all for the sake of a beautiful woman's smile. Whispers rippled through the room, and some began speculating about their relationship.
The others dared not speak. Zheng Jizhong chuckled, "Isn't this a bit inappropriate? What does a secretary know?"
Lin Xi frowned. Zheng Jizhong's words essentially labeled her a decorative vase, only for show.
Duan Yiheng wasn't angry, giving a cryptic laugh: "Whether it's good or not, we'll find out after we try."
"Mr. Duan, you must be joking."
Zheng Jizhong's smile faded. "A secretary should be pleasing to the eye when serving tea and water. Do you expect her to get involved in business? Does she even understand?"
Duan Yiheng's gaze shifted to Lin Xi, asking again, "Do you understand?" Lin Xi took a deep breath and stood up. Since Duan Yiheng was putting her on the defensive, she had to understand, even if she didn't. If she backed down in fear, the label of "decorative vase" would be permanently attached to her once she left the meeting room.
Lin Xi took a deep breath and said, "I have no experience in this business, and I'm new here too. Since President Duan doesn't mind, I'll briefly share my thoughts."
Chen Jingyi's eyes darkened, her gaze mocking.
Her? A secretary, daring to interfere in the business department's affairs? Wasn't she afraid of being laughed at? Chen Jingyi leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, adopting a smug, expectant posture.
Lin Xi ignored her and disregarded all the gazes in the conference room, saying, "I believe that lowering prices is unacceptable for Yinfan." Her attitude was completely opposite to Chen Jingyi's, drawing glances from the others.
"This would mean all the R&D, effort, and costs invested upfront would be wasted. If we make so many departments work for nothing just to win back customers, there will only be resentment, and that's not how business is done." Chen Liangyi clenched her fist. "Who said it's all for nothing? As long as the customers come back, we can gradually adjust the prices later. With a large customer base, it's impossible for them all to leave."
Lin Xi: "So you're going to go for a low-profit, high-volume strategy? Do you think this is a wholesale market?"
Chen Liangyi choked: "You—" Duan Yiheng slightly raised the corners of his lips and said, "Secretary Lin, please continue."
Lin Xi nodded and added, "The market is fierce, in every industry. This can't be used as an excuse to appease your superiors in meetings."
"Today, President Duan emphasized the internal meeting of the business department, naturally wanting to ask you about Yin Fan…" "The product's advantages and the maintenance of customer relationships."
"I think Yinfan should stick to the product itself and abandon all advertising. Since customers have been lost, the sales department should naturally sort out and follow up with each one.
But it's crucial to avoid becoming a nuisance to customer service. Instead, get straight to the point—did the low-priced product make them money? Are they satisfied with the after-sales professionalism and service? We need to let them think about these issues."
"I've seen relevant customer feedback before. They don't actually care about the price difference; they care more about the benefits the product itself brings."
"Customer loss is only temporary. If you win them back with low prices and then raise them again, you'll lose them forever."
"Moreover, lowering prices is easy, but raising them back is not." After Lin Xi finished speaking, she immediately looked at Duan Yiheng. Duan Yiheng clapped first, and the others followed suit. Lin Xi smiled shyly and sat down.
Chen Liangyi looked at Lin Xi in disbelief, clenching her fists tightly. Duan Yiheng summarized the meeting and addressed the issues raised. Finally, the topic of the "acting manager" came up.
"Jiang Hulin's old illness has relapsed, and I've already had Qin Yang go see him," Duan Yiheng said, not intending to immediately break ties with Zheng Jizhong. "As the business director, even if you don't have to oversee everything, you should at least understand the people under your command."
"There was no internal notification, yet they've already called for a manager. What? Does this company belong to the Zheng family?"
Zheng Jizhong smiled obsequiously: "How could it belong to the Zheng family? I'll go see Manager Jiang right now and ask when he'll be back."
Duan Yiheng didn't even look at him, simply saying, "Meeting adjourned." Chen Jingyi coldly stared at Lin Xi, reluctantly packed her things, and left the meeting room.
Lin Xi slowly exhaled. In her first real confrontation with Chen Jingyi after many years, she had won.
"After you leave this meeting room today, no one will dare to look down on you again," Duan Yiheng said.
Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat. She turned to Duan Yiheng and nodded emphatically. "Thank you, but I want to ask, why did you do this? Aren't you afraid I'll disappoint you?"
Duan Yiheng: "I know your own limitations." Lin Xi asked, puzzled, "How did you know?"
Duan Yiheng didn't answer directly. "Doing this today is just to prove your abilities, to prevent them from looking down on you." Lin Xi thanked him again.
"Initiating a project, planning and executing it, controlling and wrapping it up—there are many intricacies involved. You still have a lot to learn."
Lin Xi's eyes were bright. "I will."
Duan Yiheng glanced at his watch and said, "It's almost lunchtime. Shall we go eat?" Lin Xi asked while tidying up her notebook. "With you?"
Duan Yiheng: "Sister Mei prepared your meal."
Lin Xi: "Are you planning to fatten me up to 26 pounds too?"
"If you're willing, I can fatten you up." Duan Yiheng's gaze suddenly darkened, becoming unfathomably deep.
Lin Xi felt her cheeks flush and lowered her eyes. Why does he have to be so handsome? Anyone would feel embarrassed to be stared at by such a handsome man.
She changed the subject: "My office is next to yours, which makes it a little inconvenient to discuss work details. If clients come to visit, I can't greet them immediately."
Duan Yiheng, for reasons unknown, bent down slightly to look at her expression, his voice soft yet seductive: "Do you want to move into my office?"