Chapter 466: Double Eleven Event

"Boss, recently the greenhouse vegetables all over Dongjiangsheng have started entering the harvest season; with the company's current cold storage capacity, I'm afraid it won't be enough." Early in the morning, Chen Yang was summoned by Shen Anna to a meeting at the Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company. When discussing the vegetable storage issue, her face showed worry.

Over the past year or so, Chen Yang has signed many greenhouse vegetable cooperation projects in Dongjiangsheng, especially in Qingshui City; he actually anticipated this situation.

Anna, since we have a surplus of vegetable inventory, let's launch a big promotion to clear the stock.

Shen Anna, with a worried look, told Chen Yang: "Recently there haven't been any major holidays, so a promotion wouldn't have much effect."

Chen Yang glanced at the small desk calendar on the office table and immediately had an idea. He told Shen Anna: "How about we run a Double Eleven promotion on our online sales platform?"

Shen Anna looked at Chen Yang, bewildered. "Boss, what does Double Eleven mean?"

Chen Yang said: "Double Eleven is Singles' Day! With so many singles worldwide, gathering them to buy our products isn't a bad idea, right?"

Shen Anna felt Chen Yang was pointing at her, but she couldn't find evidence. She said irritably: "What kind of lousy activity is that? Singles' Day should be spent looking for a partner to get out of being single; who would stay home online buying vegetables?"

Chen Yang laughed and said: "Whether they want to be single or not, whether they can be single, that's their problem. I just want to use this holiday as a gimmick for our company's promotion."

Shen Anna gave Chen Yang a sideways glance. "Running a vegetable promotion on Singles' Day, aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock all over the internet?"

Chen Yang said with an indifferent expression: "As long as we can clear our company's inventory, let whoever wants to laugh laugh."

Although Shen Anna thought Chen Yang's idea was strange, she had no better alternative. To prevent the company's products from stagnating, she could only try it.

Over the next few days, the Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company's e-commerce platform launched a frenzied marketing campaign online for its inaugural Double Eleven event.

At the same time, all chain stores of the Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company joined the promotional efforts.

Meanwhile, to boost the promotional effect, Chen Yang bought half a month of TV advertising slots in Xingcheng and Shencheng, the two major sales locations for agricultural products.

After only three days of marketing, Chen Yang was summoned by Liu Jianghua to the provincial government office.

"Chen Yang, to sell a few vegetables you're spending so much money on promotion—that's extravagant! Even if you sell all the inventory, it won't cover the promotion costs." Liu Jianghua didn't understand Chen Yang's behavior at all, so he simply called him over to ask for clarification.

Facing Liu Jianghua's inquiry, Chen Yang deliberately sighed and said: "Governor Liu, this year the greenhouse vegetable bases across the province have had a bumper harvest. If I don't run a promotion, their vegetables will rot in the fields. Then the loss won't be just mine—it will be the entire farming population of Dongjiangsheng. For the benefit of Dongjiangsheng's farmers, I can only sacrifice myself."

"You little rascal really have a kind heart; I thank the over twenty million farming households of Dongjiangsheng on your behalf." Liu Jianghua was moved by Chen Yang's behavior. Since the Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company was established over a year ago, farmers' incomes across Dongjiangsheng have noticeably increased.

That's precisely why Liu Jianghua doesn't want to see Chen Yang's company run into trouble. He believes that such blind promotions held just to clear inventory need to be stopped.

"Chen Yang, if your company's cold storage is insufficient, just let me know. I can call the relevant companies and try to help you clear more inventory. Promotions that lose money just to make noise—I suggest you hold fewer of them. If one day you run the company into the ground, don't come crying to me."

Chen Yang smiled and told Liu Jianghua: "Losing a little money can give the Old Hundreds E-commerce Platform some popularity, which in the long run is also a gain. Moreover, our company's Double Eleven promotion isn't limited to vegetables; it also includes other products on the platform. We'll help any merchant who wants to join the event with publicity."

Liu Jianghua's eyes lit up upon hearing that. "If the whole platform's products are promoted together, that's actually a good idea." He then asked, puzzled: "Then you should be promoting all the platform's products, so why are the ads only for greenhouse vegetables?"

Chen Yang explained: "This event is still the first time we're holding it; many merchants' responses aren't very enthusiastic. If we promote them now and they later don't join, we'll not only waste advertising resources but also give the platform an image of untrustworthiness."

"In that case, let's first promote the greenhouse vegetables to show the effect. Once they're moved and willing to join the event, we'll adjust the advertising plan according to the actual situation."

Liu Jianghua, upon hearing that, felt Chen Yang's strategy of having the Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company lead by example was correct. Only by getting all the platform's merchants on board can this Double Eleven event truly succeed.

"Chen Yang, since you want to go big, the government will also give strong support."

"But you must ensure quality supervision. If product prices drop and quality drops along with them, the event becomes meaningless. It could even cause a significant negative impact on the Old Hundreds E-commerce Platform."

Chen Yang nodded and assured Liu Jianghua: "Governor Liu, rest assured, we will strictly handle after-sales service. For merchants who violate regulations by selling counterfeit or substandard products, we will impose severe penalties according to platform rules."

Liu Jianghua was very satisfied with Chen Yang's attitude. The emergence of the Old Hundreds E-commerce Platform has driven the recovery of many industries in Dongjiangsheng and greatly alleviated employment pressure for urban and rural residents. He very much hopes the platform can grow bigger and stronger.

To better help Chen Yang run the Double Eleven promotion, Liu Jianghua specially called the telecommunications department, demanding they fully guarantee network stability for the Old Hundreds E-commerce Platform during the promotion period.

After Chen Yang's advertising promotion had run for five days, the platform's merchants gradually became active. Some large-scale operators even proactively called the business department, requesting to join the platform's promotion.

Seeing that the timing was ripe, Chen Yang immediately had Luo Hao open on the platform the qualification for merchants to join the Double Eleven event. He also issued an order for the promotion team to prioritize promoting the products of those major merchants.

Chen Yang understood clearly. For the Old Hundreds E-commerce Platform to grow, it cannot promote only its own products; it must also cultivate a group of capable merchants to advance together.