The crowd was somewhat confused, presented with an electric fan and a kettle.
These were such common, untechnical items; what was there to show off?
Wait, it feels a bit different?
Some noticed something amiss.
The fan and kettle before them seemed to have some differences from their impressions?
Not only did their appearance seem much more aesthetically pleasing and elegant, but there also seemed to be some unique, special aspects?
"Everyone, these are our new products," Wang Yu said with a smile to the crowd, "a timed electric fan and an electric kettle."
"What's the use of these things?" someone in the crowd asked.
"You'll know once you see."
Without Wang Yu needing to say anything, Brother Hu promptly stepped forward, plugged in a wire, and began the demonstration.
"This is a timed fan. Its appearance is similar to a regular fan, but the blades and the entire body adopt injection molding, making it lightweight, flexible, and aesthetically pleasing," Wang Yu explained. "Its biggest feature is the timing function."
"Timing function?" someone questioned.
People were not unfamiliar with electric fans in this era. While not cheap, they were at least affordable for most families. As long as one wasn't so poor they couldn't make ends meet, such an item was definitely a possibility.
"That's right," Wang Yu nodded. This was indeed an era of rapid development for small appliances, which was why he had designed and developed these two products.
"It can be timed to turn on and off according to your needs."
As Wang Yu spoke, Brother Hu was already demonstrating. The operation was not complicated; it was essentially learned with a glance. It was just that the demonstrator's role was a bit undignified. However, after Wang Yu paid a pack of Da Qian Men cigarettes as compensation, Brother Hu had patted his chest and declared that it was indeed inappropriate to entrust such important tasks to clumsy subordinates or burly workers; it had to be him, Brother Hu, to personally handle it.
"It has such a magical function?"
Everyone present was sharp-witted and quick-thinking. It could be said that anyone who could keenly sense a business opportunity from a television news report and personally come to implement it was a top-tier expert, a standout figure in the entire province.
Naturally, they immediately saw the difference in the fan. Unlike the clunky, cumbersome traditional fans, Wang Yu's new fan was exquisitely made and aesthetically pleasing, winning hands down in terms of initial visual impression.
What's more, the timing function was something they had never heard of!
Imagine falling asleep to the fan and setting it to automatically turn off. This could save a lot of electricity! Electricity was still scarce and precious in those days, and electricity bills were not cheap, otherwise, there wouldn't be frequent power outages.
Considering the electricity cost, housewives, in particular, would definitely not mind paying a little extra to buy a fan with such a timing function!
And...
Someone else seemed to sense a difference. Hu Pangzi, who was closest, leaned his large body towards the fan, feeling the pleasant cool breeze. His considerable bulk certainly put him under a lot of pressure, so he naturally gravitated towards it first.
And then, he discovered the difference.
Firstly, the fan's wind force was very strong. The whooshing cool breeze felt wonderful on his skin, especially after he had been arguing heatedly with the old man with the white beard and was covered in sweat. It was simply exhilarating!
The wind force was much stronger than ordinary fans, yet it wasn't uncomfortable, feeling quite gentle.
Moreover, the noise it produced was remarkably quiet, with none of the buzzing sounds typical of regular fans.
But before Hu Pangzi could continue to enjoy it, the fan abruptly stopped rotating. It was clearly the timed shut-off function that Brother Hu had set taking effect.
"It really turned off on time, how amazing," Hu Pangzi exclaimed in surprise.
"..."
Wang Yu looked at the dramatically expressive胖子 (pangzi - fatty) with a speechless expression. This guy shouldn't be a parts supplier; if he were in the film industry, he could easily overshadow those effeminate young actors of later generations who only knew how to gawk.
It was just a simple timer mechanism! The principle was the same as old mechanical alarm clocks. He drew the design, custom-ordered the parts from several component factories, and built it in two days. What was there to be so surprised about?
However, considering these guys were encountering it for the first time, it was understandable. They couldn't be expected to be professional technicians.
"This is good stuff, truly good stuff!" Hu Pangzi's small eyes lit up. "This kind of thing will definitely sell well when it's released."
Not to mention anything else, the timing function alone was an excellent selling point! Not to mention its superior performance and appearance compared to traditional fans.
"This... Manager Wang, is this fan also a product of your automobile factory?" the shrewd, short man asked Wang Yu with some doubt.
"What? Who says an automobile factory can't produce fans?" Wang Yu retorted.
In fact, this new timed fan didn't involve much technical complexity. He was responsible for the drawings, and he commissioned a small fan factory in the county for outsourced manufacturing. For the appearance and fan blades of this new fan, Wang Yu referenced the minimalist style of his previous life and used plastic for its construction.
Current ordinary fans all used simple cast iron craftsmanship, with both blades and bodies made of metal, simple to produce and low in cost. But the drawback was their bulkiness and heaviness; without a bit of strength, one couldn't even move them. Anyway, all manufacturers and brands were like this, and no one saw anything wrong with it. Wang Yu's small yet elegant design and craftsmanship would be absolutely groundbreaking at this time. It would make a striking impression as soon as it was seen.
Although it was outsourced, the truly critical components were still controlled by Wang Yu. One was the timing switch, and the other was the motor. This small, brushless DC motor was his secret weapon, his trump card. With his technical knowledge from his previous life, after numerous experiments, he had finally succeeded in manufacturing it. It was more energy-efficient, quieter, and more powerful than the ordinary fan motors on the market. All related parts were custom-ordered separately and then assembled at his own automobile factory, so it was not incorrect to say it was produced by the automobile factory.
"That's not it," the short man was immediately speechless. Their original intention in coming was to deal in new-style agricultural vehicles and small dump trucks. However, if a business was profitable, they wouldn't turn it away.
What? You say it's not their specialization? Different trades? Trying to do too much?
Damn your third uncle's grandpa, haven't you seen the shop assistants in supply and marketing cooperatives and state-run department stores who look down their noses at customers? What specialization do they have? Isn't it just "heaven is the boss, the earth is second, and these goods are third"? They put on a sour face, saying "take it or leave it, don't look if you're not buying," and still, the common people's money pours into their pockets?
...
Cough, coughed, getting a bit sidetracked!
Everyone present felt a burning enthusiasm in their hearts, as if they had seen a goose that laid golden eggs. All eyes were fixed on Wang Yu, waiting for him to announce the agency terms.
However, Wang Yu seemed not to notice their gazes, or perhaps he noticed but ignored them. Instead, he continued to explain the next new product.
"This is a kettle," Wang Yu said, pointing to the kettle.
Brother Hu immediately held the kettle up high, allowing everyone to clearly see the special base and the design with the trailing wire.
"The most crucial thing is, it's an electric kettle that can boil water without needing to start a fire!"
"Electric kettle? Without needing to start a fire?"
Everyone present was stunned.