The news of Poli Cosmetics' new perfume launch, leaked by the finance department, spread throughout the old cosmetics factory.
Although the old factory was currently in a shutdown and rectification phase, the news, passed along through various channels, reached almost all its employees.
That evening, upon learning that Poli Cosmetics' new perfume was related to Gao Fei's new product research, the employees' discussions intensified.
Some speculated privately that there was a traitor within the factory who leaked the research and development data of the new product, allowing Poli Cosmetics to reap the benefits.
Others analyzed that Poli Cosmetics was an old brand, once popular throughout half of the country, and the new perfume they were preparing to launch was likely developed in the past.
However, the most outlandish theory suggested that due to the old factory's initial shortage of raw materials, Gao Fei and Poli Cosmetics had put aside their rivalry, contributed their newly developed products, and achieved a win-win situation together.
Various speculations and rumors circulated privately, becoming increasingly exaggerated.
Rumors were just rumors, and whether Poli Cosmetics' new perfume was related to the old factory's new product still needed confirmation.
However, half of the people were still convinced that there were internal issues within the factory and a mole!
...
The next day, at ten in the morning, Li Ping Shopping Plaza.
Sheffler Cosmetics Store.
"Have you memorized the promotional slogan, product description, and discount activities for the new perfume?"
The store manager, a woman in her thirties wearing a black uniform with her hair tied up, asked her employees loudly.
"Memorized!"
Eight employees replied in unison.
The Sheffler Cosmetics Store was a designated partner store of the Poli Cosmetics Factory.
As the words fell, the manager, Hu Qian, began questioning the eight employees about the new perfume.
Only when everyone had fluently answered the questions and recited the product description and discount activities without missing a word did Hu Qian nod with satisfaction.
She gestured to the staff on her right, asking two of them to wipe down the display counter for the new perfume, and then instructed another two to move the new perfume from the warehouse and arrange it according to her instructions.
As Hu Qian and the store's employees were making the final arrangements for the new perfume, customers were already waiting outside the store.
There were no less than twenty customers outside, all female, aged between twenty and thirty.
Looking at the new perfume being displayed inside, they began to whisper amongst themselves, regardless of whether they knew each other.
"This product packaging seems a bit outdated, like something from two years ago. Is the perfume truly a newly developed fresh scent as the coupon suggests?"
"There are bound to be discrepancies between the product and the advertisement. New products are being launched today, and there should be samples for testing later, so we'll know then."
"If it's truly as advertised, I'll definitely buy a couple of extra bottles even without a coupon. I just hope it's not false advertising."
The unrelated female customers stood outside the store, discussing animatedly.
In their hands, they all held coupons they had received the previous day.
To be the first to get their hands on the new perfume, they had gathered outside the store early, waiting for it to open.
Inside the store, with everything ready, Hu Qian immediately called her employees to open for business.
Receiving the manager's instructions, everyone put on their professional smiles, ready to welcome customers.
"Clatter!"
The anti-theft roller shutter door was raised, and the Sheffler Cosmetics Store officially opened for business.
Just as the long-waiting customers were about to enter the store to make purchases, six or seven uniformed government officials suddenly approached from behind and blocked the store entrance.
Seeing the arrivals, Hu Qian was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and stepped forward.
"Hello there, Director Xu..."
As she was about to try and curry favor, the middle-aged man leading the group frowned, took out several documents from his bag, and interrupted, "Hello, I am Xu Xiao from the Market Supervision Bureau.
We have received a public complaint alleging quality issues with the new product you are selling. Please cooperate with our investigation and testing. Here are the relevant procedures and documents."
Xu Xiao handed the documents he was holding to Hu Qian. Hu Qian glanced at the contents of the documents, and her face turned extremely grim.
Before Manager Hu could speak, Director Xu beckoned the accompanying testing personnel to inspect the newly displayed perfume.
Witnessing the sudden turn of events in the store, the customers who had been discussing the new perfume moments ago instantly transformed into onlookers eager for gossip.
"Did you hear that? The regulatory bureau just said the new perfume has quality issues."
"We all heard it. I just didn't expect that with such a big discount and a unique new product on the market, it would be reported for quality issues before even being sold. Could it be competitor sabotage?"
"Whether it's competition or not, I don't know. If quality issues are indeed detected, I will never patronize this cosmetics store or the perfume manufacturer again!"
The customers blocked outside the door chattered.
Some even took out their phones and recorded the entire inspection scene inside the store.
Moments later, the accompanying testing personnel handed over test strips and presented a comparison chart, saying, "Director Xu, according to the on-site test, this batch of perfume has severe chemical exceeding standards."
Looking at the deep red on the test strip and the comparison chart, Xu Xiao immediately ordered all new perfumes to be seized and the Sheffler Cosmetics Store to be suspended for rectification.
Upon hearing Director Xu's order, Hu Qian's face turned ashen. She immediately instructed the assistant manager to contact the manager.
Meanwhile, she went back with the regulatory bureau personnel to accept the investigation.
The customers standing outside the store watched as boxes of new perfumes, not yet on sale, were carried away by the regulatory bureau.
Everyone silently rejoiced that they had not purchased the perfume, as they couldn't imagine the consequences.
As the new perfume at the Sheffler Cosmetics Store was seized by the regulatory bureau.
Other distributors who had cooperated with Poli Cosmetics Factory also received 'visits' from the regulatory bureau.
All the new perfumes that were about to be sold were found to have severe chemical exceeding standards, and all cooperating stores were ordered to suspend business for rectification.
.....
About half an hour before all the distributors were sealed by the regulatory bureau, inside the old cosmetics factory.
Gao Fei, as usual, went for his morning run, then returned to his office to eat breakfast and read the news.
Due to the fire, all staff except department heads were on leave.
Therefore, the daily routine morning meeting was also canceled.
After Gao Fei finished breakfast and read the morning news, he made two secretive phone calls. Suddenly, Ding Yao knocked on his office door.
Upon entering the office, Ding Yao directly placed a USB drive on the desk and said with a mysterious smile, "Boss, this is the big gift I'm giving you!"
"A big gift?"
"You'll know once you watch it!"
Gao Fei blinked his eyes in confusion, picked up the USB drive, and plugged it into the computer. Upon clicking it open, a video file appeared.
He curiously opened and played it, and a very exciting call-to-action video immediately presented itself.
After watching the video, Gao Fei gave Ding Yao a thumbs-up and laughed heartily, "Sister Ding, you're amazing! With such irrefutable evidence, let's see how they can argue.
Now, call the responsible persons and have them recall all the employees on leave. Immediately convene a full factory employee meeting." (I went traveling during the New Year, normal updates will resume tomorrow!)