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Chapter 1626: A War with No Victors (Seventy-Six)
Chapter 1626: A War with No Victors (Seventy-Six)
No wonder this beauty salon is so popular among the girls.
The owner of the Witch's Beauty Salon is her own best advertisement. With her exceptional beauty and identity, most customers are easily convinced, especially with Albert's endorsement. These days, the British magical community has a very positive perception of Albert.
However, the most important reason for the salon's popularity is that all the owners of the Witch's Beauty Salon are stunning beauties. With several such cases, the initially skeptical witches began to wonder if the products they held in their hands truly possessed the miraculous effects claimed.
It can be said that Albert's operational strategies struck a chord with the girls. The idea of spending just a few Galleons to enhance their beauty was alluring, and many girls were willing to spend their money, especially since the odds of winning the bet were quite high. There seemed to be no reason to hold back.
Of course, Albert employed several other tactics to encourage customers to part with their money willingly.
For instance, the interior of the shop was not very spacious due to the renovation, and it could accommodate only a small number of customers. The most obvious sign of this was how crowded the shop became when Hermione and her group entered.
Additionally, most girls liked to take advantage of the free registration and wait in the store, which made the salon seem even more popular than it was. In reality, they served only about a hundred customers throughout the day.
Then, by displaying empty shelves with "Sold Out" signs, they created the illusion that the store was highly sought-after.
"Sold out?"
Qiu, completely unaware that she had fallen into a consumer trap, looked at the empty shelves and the "Sold Out" signs, her face filled with shock and disbelief.
"Yes, everything's sold out," Katrina replied with a slight uplift of her lips, feigning helplessness. "We didn't prepare too much stock to begin with, and we never expected such a tremendous response. If you wish to purchase, you can place an order here. It's similar to Owl Post delivery. We'll have an owl bring the products to you, but it might take a few extra days. As for the price, you'll still enjoy today's discount. However, due to our grand opening promotion, each person can only purchase one item per product, and the discount is only valid for today's pre-orders."
One reason the relatively inexpensive products on the shelves sold out instantly was the limited supply.
The quantity fell far below expectations, but it didn't matter because customers could always pre-order. The sight of a long reservation list naturally created the illusion of the salon's products being in high demand.
Of course, it wasn't entirely an illusion. The products were indeed well-received, and the girls who had fallen into the consumer trap willingly handed over their Galleons.
The presence of Primpenelle was also part of the scheme. Her beauty potion shop in Diagon Alley had a significant reputation, and the fact that she was now working at the Witch's Beauty Salon spoke volumes about its value.
If a shop owner didn't see any prospects, they wouldn't easily give up their own business to become an employee at another store.
"Aren't you afraid of making a loss?"
George's voice rang out from outside the door. He had always admired Albert's generosity and was curious about how this store planned to turn a profit.
"The facial cleanser is indeed inexpensive, but it needs to be used continuously to see results," Katrina explained to everyone present. "This product is suitable for both ladies and gentlemen."
Her statement was straightforward and direct.
They were in it for the long haul, so it didn't matter if they made a small loss at the beginning. Moreover, even with the discounted price, they weren't losing money; they were just making a smaller profit and forgoing the labor cost.
This was another reason many girls were willing to make purchases. Those who intended to be long-term customers assumed that the store had confidence in its products. Otherwise, if customers felt cheated after one purchase, they wouldn't return.
After all, no one was a fool, and no one wanted to be treated like one.
Reluctantly, the girls had to admit that the owners of those beauty salons were stunning beauties in every sense of the word.
"I shouldn't stay out in the sun too much?"
Angelina listened in astonishment as the other party, speaking English with a French accent, gave her advice.
"Yes, although many say that tanned skin looks healthier, it's actually a frustrating lie. Excessive sun exposure damages the skin, and if you don't want to age faster, you need to be especially careful in that regard.
Louise, her face aglow with a healthy radiance, picked up a small bottle of sunscreen and placed it in front of Angelina, suggesting, "If you can't avoid the sun, it's best to use sunscreen. However, I still recommend trying to avoid prolonged exposure or taking the necessary precautions."
"Beauty is a lifelong pursuit," Catherine advised in a serious tone. "You can't rely on a magical potion to solve all your problems. If such a miraculous potion exists, please let us know, and we'd be willing to pay a hefty sum for it. But if you don't particularly care about your appearance, then a simple daily skincare routine should suffice, which is what we recommend to most of our customers."
Facing the professional advice of the beautiful shop owners, the girls felt that they were being given genuine and practical tips without any hint of deception. The only concern they had was the cost involved in maintaining their skin care routines. Even the cheapest option required them to spend a few Galleons each month on the most affordable beauty package—a cleanser and essence—to nurture their skin, just as Katrina had mentioned earlier. They were in it for the long haul.
However, the most interesting part was Qiu's consultation.
As a well-known beauty in Ravenclaw, she was curious about the changes in Isabelle's appearance. Even though Isabelle was already married and had a child at a young age, she still exuded elegance, beauty, and charm.
In the end, Isabelle recommended Katrina's book and gave her simple tips on how to take care of her body and maintain her allure.
As the girls stepped out of the Witch's Beauty Salon, they couldn't help but shiver, realizing that their wallets had quietly slimmed down.
"No wonder Primpenelle closed her own shop to work here," Qiu said, glancing back at the salon with a hint of trepidation.
"No, I think you might have misunderstood," Sana clarified, noticing the gazes of the other girls. "Primpenelle might have accepted the offer to work here because they offered her a good deal. After all, Albert has done similar things in the past."
"Not only does it eliminate direct competition, but it also sends a message to others," Sana pointed out. "Think about it. On the very first day of opening, they sold out their products and had a long list of people waiting for owl post deliveries. For those beauty-conscious women, it's an irresistible temptation."
"Has anyone seen Hermione?"
Ginny's sudden question drew their attention, as they realized someone was missing.
"Hermione was the last one," Angelina replied, looking back at the salon. "Let's wait a bit longer. She should be out soon."
At that moment, inside the Witch's Beauty Salon, Hermione stood stiffly under the scrutinizing gazes of Albert's lovers, who showed no restraint in whispering amongst themselves in French, right in front of her.
Although Catherine and her group didn't outright say it, it was clear that they believed Hermione dragged down the average standard of Albert's lovers. As a result, they offered Hermione a plethora of suggestions, from her attire and hairstyle to skincare, figure management, and even cultivating her aura.
Hermione eventually stormed out of the salon with a dark expression, clutching a book written by Katrina in her hand.
"What's that?" Qiu asked, noticing the book in Hermione's hand with a puzzled look.
"It's from Isabelle," Hermione replied, handing the book to Qiu. "She said it might be useful for us."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione added, "Let's go. I somewhat regret coming here today. It feels like a waste of time."
"I think it was worth it," most of the girls chimed in, feeling that the advice they received was quite reliable.
"No, I mean coming here today was a waste of time," Hermione clarified, glancing back at the salon as they prepared to leave.
She truly disliked Albert's lovers and was glad she hadn't attended the welcome dinner the other night; otherwise, she would have been infuriated.
(End of Chapter)
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