Chapter 367

Chapter 367: Moonlit Lotus Triumphs with Quality

For the business of the five-star Tianhai Hotel, Qi Fei regarded “Dragoon” as her home turf. The visit was not only an evaluation but also an opportunity to increase her company’s chances of winning.

As the “Dragoon” jewelry mining company entered the Chinese market from Afghanistan, its initial positioning focused on high-end luxury consumption, which perfectly aligned with the international image of Afghan-origin gemstones as high quality and high priced.

Would wealthy individuals who can afford high-end jewelry care about an extra ten or twenty thousand?

The answer is obviously no.

Many top brands worldwide don’t just sell products; they sell a culture. Take Harley motorcycles, for example; their true highlights lie in the surrounding accessory products, clothing, jewelry, and small items, emphasizing a free-spirited road warrior style.

Cartier jewelry is renowned for its top-level craftsmanship and unique designs. Although material costs are similar to most brands, and the shapes may not be particularly extravagant, pieces made from the same materials can sell for prices many times higher than their counterparts. Cartier’s jewelry has always been imitated but never surpassed.

The “Dragoon” brand strongly entered China, based on a unique Persian style and adapted to Chinese consumers’ preferences, targeting the high-end market. It offered top-quality jewelry and craftsmanship, providing not only artistic uniqueness but also distinct commercial advantages.

With the help of local advertising design companies, Qi Fei aimed to promote “Dragoon’s” style and culture to every corner of China’s wealthy class. This meant avoiding large-scale advertising blasts, as traditional forms like newspapers, vehicle wraps, and billboards couldn’t quickly establish “Dragoon’s” mystique and distinctive style.

“Here, all the lights use imported shark chip LEDs, simulating natural light through filters that fully restore the true color of the jewels while being energy efficient. If we employed a lot of fluorescent and spotlight fixtures, the daily power consumption could add up to several hundred yuan, and it would sharply increase the store’s temperature, which would be futile even with air conditioning…”

“…The ceiling accommodates the fire safety pipes using an aluminum square tube grid. I also hung a layer of black mesh from inside, and the top is entirely painted black, ensuring that the unsightly pipes above are not visible from below. The walls are covered with non-woven fabric wallpaper, costing fifty yuan per square meter, very economical and without the need for paint. Installation is quick—everything can be finished in just one working day. It’s also very aesthetically pleasing. I suggest your hotel might consider using plain-colored vine-patterned wallpaper; it adds color to the room without visual chaos…”

“…I didn’t use marble or granite for the exterior columns because natural stones have inherent cracks, making them easily stain and difficult to maintain. They require monthly upkeep. Instead, I used brushed stainless steel with a shallow relief technique. Although it’s a bit more expensive, the brand’s prestige gets a significant boost. Mr. Bao, if your hotel insists on using stone, I can suggest acrylic or quartz slabs, or use imitation jade plaster materials in less accessible areas. Brushed metal aluminum-plastic panels could work, but only at the two hundred yuan level; for durability, it needs to be the three hundred yuan imported materials. The downside is their cooler color scheme, which may not suit the warm hotel atmosphere.”

Qi Fei continuously introduced the highlights and style positioning she designed for “Dragoon” to Bao Baoqiu, the vice president of Tianhai Hotel, along with some initial design ideas for the hotel’s future.

Because it was her “home turf,” Qi Fei spoke with both expertise and confidence, giving Bao Baoqiu a sense of a seasoned individual far beyond her years, a quality typically observed in successful individuals in their forties or fifties.

As Qi Fei led Bao Baoqiu through the “Dragoon” jewelry store, he nodded in agreement. Just as the conditions seemed ripe, Qi Fei seized the moment to say, “Mr. Bao, you’ve seen our capabilities; ordinary advertising or renovation companies cannot compare to us. Renowned domestic and international companies choose us for brand design and promotion, proving our excellent cost-effectiveness. Therefore, selecting our Moonlit Lotus is indeed a wise decision. We are confident we can deliver a perfect outcome like the many successful collaborations we’ve had in the past.”

Her tone was very encouraging, carrying an implication of established facts; this was a form of psychological suggestion strategy.

Yes, this little tactic appeared to have succeeded.

After considering several candidates in his mind, Bao Baoqiu scrutinized the store’s design, which highlighted the thematic style and clear positioning.

This was not just a simple matter of following instructions; it reflected a genuine commitment to thoughtful design, revealing the designer’s intentions through every corner.

Indeed, an average designer merely copies; a skilled one thinks critically, while the most brilliant designers refine their thoughts and showcase them.

Those who don’t use their brains are destined not to thrive, particularly in advertising design. A junior designer earning around two thousand yuan monthly, capable only of simple graphic edits, will never produce works with the depth that a ten-thousand-yuan designer would create. Design masters earning over a hundred thousand yuan annually are genuinely qualified to discuss creativity.

Perhaps as a developing second-rate designer, Qi Fei was very strict when hiring employees, always going for an elite approach with corresponding generous compensation. This virtuous cycle enabled her dedicated design company to quickly accept high-challenge projects.

These days, it is the talented who thrive, while the mediocre struggle to survive.

“President Qi Fei, you’re here! Are there any clients? How did the inspection with our Deputy Manager Ni go?”

At that moment, a well-dressed, charismatic middle-aged man walked in from the back of the store. As he passed, the jewelry image consultants gradually bowed in respect.

“Good morning, Manager Jin!”

“Hmm, good!” The suited middle-aged man didn’t show any airs, nodding at each employee in passing.

“This is Manager Jin Jun of the ‘Dragoon’ store,” Qi Fei had to pause her subtle suggestions to Bao Baoqiu momentarily to politely introduce the newcomer, then raised her voice slightly in a friendlier tone, “Manager Jin, this is my client, the vice president of Tianhai Hotel, Mr. Bao Baoqiu.”

“Oh! Nice to meet you!” Jin Jun stepped forward to shake hands with Qi Fei and Bao Baoqiu, handing out his business card. “Welcome, Mr. Bao, to our store. President Qi Fei excels in talent and beauty; the design and renovation of our ‘Dragoon’ store are all under her meticulous control. She comes to supervise almost every few days, which shows her dedication. Just this alone impresses me a lot.”

Flattery flowed as Jin Jun praised Qi Fei, and at least for now, he seemed genuinely pleased with the store’s renovation.

“Not at all! It’s also Manager Jin and ‘Dragoon’ company’s recognition of us. Our Moonlit Lotus Design Center put together a strong team and worked tirelessly for a hundred days, finally completing the task flawlessly.” Qi Fei smiled like a blossoming flower and continued, “This morning I inspected the entire store with our renovation leader, supervisor, my assistant Xiao Yang, and your Deputy Manager Ni. Overall, Mr. Ni was quite satisfied; this project is one of our representative works. I believe we’ll bring more partners over to visit and learn in the future, and I hope Manager Jin will welcome us.”

As for any minor flaws in the renovation, Qi Fei didn’t mention them at all. In reports, she thought it best to share only good news. Bringing up small issues that could be quickly resolved would only invite unnecessary trouble, potentially leaving a bad impression on the other party.

“Not at all! We welcome anyone. Guests from afar bring joy; we shall keep our doors wide open. Why would we refuse anyone? Let me verify with Deputy Manager Ni; if there are no significant problems, I’ll prepare the check for you before noon. However, I must clarify that according to the contract, I must retain ten percent of the quality deposit as final payment, which can only be given after six months,” Manager Jin cheerfully explained. Generally, industry norms require a retention of twenty to thirty percent, but Qi Fei skillfully negotiated to retain only ten percent.

“Manager Jin, you can rest assured. Your prompt payment shows your integrity, and the contract clearly states that we will both adhere to it,” Qi Fei understood well that this financially robust Afghan jewelry company was offering her twice the pay of other competitors, making this deal highly profitable.

“Mr. Bao, with Manager Jin’s endorsement of our Moonlit Lotus’s capability, what’s your decision? It’s essential we move quickly; we have several important projects starting soon. If you delay your decision, our best designers might not have time for you,” Qi Fei intentionally exerted some psychological pressure on Bao Baoqiu, the vice president of Tianhai Hotel, hoping to secure the intent agreement today.

Meanwhile, the observant Jin Jun, manager of the “Dragoon” jewelry store, smiled as he looked at both Qi Fei and Bao Baoqiu, saying nothing.