When Lu Weimin placed the carefully selected photographs in front of Shen Zili and Zhou Yuming, both of them couldn't help but be captivated by the series of images.
The work of a professional photographer was indeed incomparable to that of an amateur. Lu Weimin felt pleased with his wise decision to invite a photographer from Changzhou to Nantang for the shoot, capturing scenes at different times of the day—morning, noon, and evening. The photos included both wide-angle and close-up shots, vividly showcasing the excellent ecological environment of the Nantang hilly area, especially the kiwi orchards.
Shen Zili and Zhou Yuming were both deeply impressed by the series of photos, but what truly amazed them was Lu Weimin's series of conceptual plans.
Although Lu Weimin had previously proposed some promotional activities in Changzhou, and Shen Zili had agreed, even providing his wife's address and phone number who worked at the "Changzhou Daily," he hadn't expected that Lu Weimin's advertising and promotional plans would be so rich and impactful.
"Lu, you mean you plan to have the 'Changzhou Daily' supplement publish an article introducing the nutrition and eating methods of kiwis?" Shen Zili put down the plan Lu Weimin had written and subconsciously took a deep breath.
"Yes, it's not really an introduction, but more of a casual essay. I've already given it to Sister Zhang, who read it and said it was good. She's helping me polish it a bit," Lu Weimin replied respectfully.
Shen Zili was already aware of this. His wife had called him, praising the young man for his broad thinking, quick reactions, and good writing skills. She particularly admired his idea of using casual essays in the "Changzhou Daily" as a subtle form of advertising, calling it a stroke of genius.
"Are you also planning to use printed materials to promote the kiwis?" Shen Zili asked thoughtfully.
"Secretary Shen, those casual essays can only be considered soft advertising, and their effectiveness is uncertain. At best, they will help build the reputation of Nantang kiwis. However, printed advertisements will have a greater impact on ordinary consumers. Using both methods together, I believe we can significantly boost the kiwi market in Changzhou, helping our Nantang kiwis gain a foothold and secure the market," Lu Weimin explained with a smile.
"What's the significance of hiring a professional photographer to take these photos?" Zhou Yuming couldn't help but ask.
He had given Lu Weimin the authority to handle this matter, but his mind was in turmoil, especially when he heard that the Agriculture Bureau had sent a recently graduated young woman, and the Commerce Bureau had dispatched the detested Chang Chunlai. This made Zhou Yuming furious.
However, Lu Weimin seemed unfazed. He stayed in Nantang for only two days before heading to Changzhou to explore the market, and they couldn't even get in touch with him. It wasn't until a week later that he returned.
"Director Zhou, we have 400,000 kilograms of kiwis to sell. We've calculated that even if the orders from Factory 195 and Changzhou Steel are confirmed, at six kilograms per box, it would only amount to about 120,000 to 130,000 kilograms. We estimate that the Changzhou market could sell another 50,000 to 100,000 kilograms, but we still have nearly 200,000 kilograms left unsold. Therefore, we need to explore markets in Beijing and Shanghai. However, in those places, people might not even know the name of Nantang. How can they trust us? We need to make a good first impression. I plan to print these promotional materials on the best copperplate paper, even if it means exaggerating a bit. At least we have real photos to back up our claims, not just empty words. We welcome them to verify."
Lu Weimin's trip to Changzhou had secured the sale of over 100,000 kilograms of kiwis, which greatly surprised Shen Zili and Zhou Yuming. Although Lu Weimin and Su Yanqing were from Changzhou, it was reasonable that they had some connections. However, the subsequent series of plans revealed Lu Weimin's exceptional abilities.
He suggested that the county unify the kiwi farmers into a professional kiwi planting cooperative, establish a modern agricultural development company, register a regional trademark, and handle packaging, advertising, and sales both within and outside the province. The plan was meticulous and well-reasoned. Could you imagine that this was the work of a recent university graduate?
Shen Zili took a deep breath and tapped his pen lightly on his notebook. "Lu, as you said, relying solely on the provincial market might not be enough to absorb all of Nantang's kiwis. However, the out-of-province markets like Beijing and Shanghai are areas our commercial system has never ventured into. We only have a little over ten days left. Do you have the confidence to succeed?"
"Secretary Shen, I can't guarantee success, but we can't just sit back and do nothing. The provincial market is limited, and this is already the best we can do. Opening up the out-of-province market is inevitable. If we don't do it soon, next year, Nantang kiwis will enter their peak production period, and the yield will increase by at least 60% to 80%, which means an additional 250,000 kilograms or more. If we don't expand the out-of-province market early, we might face even greater pressure next year," Lu Weimin said calmly.
Zhou Yuming was speechless with shock. Was Lu Weimin really a recent university graduate? How could he seem like someone who had been in business for years? How did he understand the agricultural market so thoroughly and think so far ahead?
At least as the director of the agricultural office, he hadn't considered such far-reaching and deep issues, or if he had, he hadn't come up with a good solution. How could this guy think of it and even come up with a plan?
"So, what do you plan to do?" Shen Zili didn't ask many questions. He trusted Lu Weimin, believing he was a capable person. He confidently entrusted this matter to Lu Weimin, who was also very considerate, reporting every plan and action in advance and considering every detail.
"I plan to have Chang Chunlai handle the contract fulfillment with Factory 195 and Changzhou Steel, as well as the sales in Changzhou. The publicity in Changzhou is almost arranged, and the packaging and printing are also mostly settled. We just need to find someone to implement it, which can be entrusted to Chang Chunlai. Director Zhou, I would like you to lead the establishment of the Nantang Kiwi Production Cooperative. Ideally, the cooperative's leaders should be elected by the farmers themselves, but given the tight schedule and the involvement of hundreds of households in Nantang, it's unrealistic to expect them to select suitable leaders in such a short time. Therefore, I would like to ask you, Director Zhou, to temporarily take on the responsibility of leading the cooperative. The main task will be to supervise the farmers in picking and sorting the kiwis, ensuring that the boxes are full and the kiwis are of consistent quality. This is the first step for our Nantang kiwis to enter the market, and it must be successful to help our kiwi brand sales next year."