Chapter 364: Xu Yue
Chapter 364: Xu Yue
Nie Zan had recommended a female bodyguard, and she had arrived. She was tall, easily over 1.7 meters, with tanned skin and sharp eyes that sent a chill down one's neck when they looked at you.
Lu Jiaxin took the initiative to introduce herself to the woman.
As soon as Miao Na entered the door, she began to size up Lu Jiaxin. Seeing her proactive greeting, Miao Na smiled and extended her hand as well, "Miao Na, 27 years old this year, a mercenary for six years, proficient with various weapons, and skilled in attack."
In her past life, Lu Jiaxin's knowledge of mercenaries came solely from television and movies; she had never personally interacted with one.
Lu Jiaxin asked Gu Wenfeng, Zong Jinghua, and the other two to introduce themselves as well. She had signed a two-year contract with Miao Na, and during this period, they would be spending a lot of time together.
In fact, she had wanted to sign for a longer period, but Miao Na wasn't keen on that idea. Miao Na enjoyed her freedom and didn't want to be tied down to one place for too long. Additionally, she believed that staying in a comfortable environment for too long would dull her alertness.
With Miao Na's arrival, Qian Xiao Xiao briefed her on Lu Jiaxin's daily routine and habits. After shadowing her for two days and seeing how well she adapted, Qian Xiao Xiao returned home to visit her family.
On Saturday morning, not long after Lu Jiaxin had finished breakfast, the person she had invited arrived. Her name was Xu Yue, and Lu Jiaxin had found her through a headhunting company.
Xu Yue was quite well-known in the fashion industry of Harbor City. After leaving her previous company, she had received offers from several other companies. However, each of these companies had their strengths and weaknesses, so she was still considering her options when the headhunting company recommended Lu Jiaxin to her.
She had heard that Lu Jiaxin was preparing to open a store and wanted to hire her as the shop owner, which she initially thought was a joke. It was only when the headhunting company mentioned that Lu Jiaxin was the enigmatic 'Green' and that the store was just the first step that she became intrigued.
Xu Yue was well-aware of the figure 'Green' in Harbor City's fashion industry. However, Green was extremely mysterious; they had sparked a frenzy and then disappeared. Xu Yue had seen the clothes from that fashion show, and while not all of them were equally stunning, the fact that a single person could design so many new styles for spring, summer, autumn, and winter showed an incredible natural talent. But after that show, Green had vanished without a trace. Some said they had run out of ideas, while others claimed that the designs were plagiarized, and Green was merely seeking fame and fortune. Despite the slander, the designer never came forward to refute the rumors.
When Xu Yue learned that Lu Jiaxin was Green, she agreed to meet, partly out of curiosity and partly because she wanted to hear Lu Jiaxin's plans. If Lu Jiaxin was only planning to open a single retail store, Xu Yue knew she wouldn't be interested in the job.
Xu Yue asked, "Miss Lu, why didn't you release any new designs after that fashion show a couple of years ago?"
It was a sharp question, but it cut right to the heart of the matter, and Lu Jiaxin appreciated that.
"After collaborating with Su Heyuan, the owner of Qi Rui, for some time, I realized that we had differing visions. He was solely focused on maximizing profits, while I wanted to build my own brand," Lu Jiaxin explained.
"Most of Qi Rui's current clothing is based on popular Western styles with some modifications," Xu Yue commented.
If you wanted to accuse them of plagiarism, you could argue that they had altered the designs significantly. But if you denied that there was any copying involved, anyone with eyes could see the resemblance.
Instead of responding directly, Lu Jiaxin steered the conversation towards the store she wanted to open.
Xu Yue asked, perplexed, "Miss Lu, wouldn't it be better to just establish your own brand directly?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "That's a business secret that I can only share with you, Miss Xu, if you join my team. Miss Xu, my dream is for the clothes I design to be sold and worn all over the world."
Xu Yue was adept at identifying the key issues. "Miss Lu, you intend to position your brand as high-end fashion. Forgive me for being blunt, but so far, there's only one fashion brand from Harbor City that has made it big internationally."
Lu Jiaxin replied confidently, "My brand will be the second one."
Seeing her self-assurance, Xu Yue fell into deep thought. Not only was Lu Jiaxin young and talented, but she also had substantial financial resources. Perhaps this was a gamble worth taking.
Xu Yue was a decisive person. Having made up her mind, she immediately stood up and said, "Miss Lu, I'm willing to join your team."
Lu Jiaxin also stood up and shook her hand. "Pleasure to work with you."
Even without a signed employment contract, Lu Jiaxin trusted Xu Yue's word. She then briefly outlined her plans.
"First, we'll open a store and sell mid-to-high-end fashion brands from Europe. I've already selected over a dozen brands, and I'll need you to secure the distribution rights. As for our own brand, that will come later," Lu Jiaxin explained.
Xu Yue understood. They would first establish the store's reputation and then launch their private label. She asked again, "Miss Lu, why not create your own brand directly?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "It's simple. Creating a unique brand requires a lot of time and energy. I'm still a student and don't have that kind of time and energy to spare right now. I wouldn't feel comfortable handing everything over to someone else."
Xu Yue nodded in understanding. So, the plan was to establish the brand after graduating from university and use the store to accumulate funds in the meantime. She asked, "Miss Lu, do you think this store will be profitable?"
Lu Jiaxin went back to her room and returned with a booklet, which she handed to Xu Yue.
After flipping through the first page and seeing the images, Xu Yue immediately asked, "The pants are Levi's 501, and the shoes are Dr. Martens. But what brand is this t-shirt?"
"The t-shirt is my own design," Lu Jiaxin said with a smile. "As for the pants and shoes, I saw them in Europe, and they're from the two brands that I've selected. I'll need you to secure the distribution rights for them."
Xu Yue had a good eye for fashion. "This combination is very trendy and appealing to young people. However, without brand recognition, it might be challenging to attract young consumers."
"First, we'll secure the distribution rights," Lu Jiaxin explained. "Then we'll get celebrity endorsements and advertise in magazines and on television to promote the brand extensively and make it a household name."
There was an old saying in the mainland that went, "Good wine needs no bush." However, that saying didn't apply to Harbor City. If you didn't spread the word about your good wine, not many people would bother to try it.
As someone in the industry, Xu Yue knew this well. "Miss Lu, if we promote your brand this way, the marketing costs will be very high."
"Don't worry about that," Lu Jiaxin assured her. "I'll make sure we have enough funds for marketing. The costs will be recouped through the clothing sales."
Xu Yue was relieved to hear this. She continued flipping through the booklet, and after finishing, she expressed her readiness to fly overseas at any time to secure the distribution rights for these brands as quickly as possible.
"There's no rush," Lu Jiaxin said with a smile. "I've already gathered information on these brands, and you can take it with you to review later."
Knowing your opponent was the key to victory. It was essential to understand the products of the other party before negotiating to show sincerity. Only then would they be willing to discuss distribution fees and durations.
After signing the contract, Xu Yue left with a thick stack of materials. Seeing her eagerness, Lu Jiaxin knew she had found another workaholic. However, it was evident that Xu Yue genuinely loved her work, and that passion would fuel her long-term dedication.
(End of Chapter)
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