Chapter 264 Teacher Song
Piles of goods were neatly arranged. Song Yuanchao looked at them as he walked, while Lin Yuhang introduced the names and efficacy of these products to Song Yuanchao.
Although Lin Yuhang was not from the pharmaceutical industry and had only been at Factory 8 for a short time, he had put a lot of effort into this area and had a thorough understanding of the actual situation in a short period of time.
Factory Eight is not as big as Factory One or Factory Two, and it is not even as good as Factory Three or Factory Four. What’s more, Factory Eight’s predecessor was just an ordinary pharmacy with no background and naturally no flagship products.
At present, the Eighth Factory produces two main types of Chinese patent medicines, one is Yinqiao Jiedu Tablets, and the other is Zhike Pills. As for medicines, there are also two types, one is Ganmao Chongjiu, and the other is Baohe Granules, also known as Xiaoshi Tablets.
These are all very common products, among which Yinqiao Jiedu Tablets and Ganmao Chongji are slightly better. Both of these medicines are used to treat colds and are used quite frequently.
As for the cough pills, to put it bluntly, they are no different from the powerful pills sold on the flyover in the past, and their effects are better than nothing. Not to mention the Baohe granules, with the current family conditions of ordinary people, how can they afford to eat and drink lavishly? Going out for a walk, no matter men, women, old or young, everyone has a "slim" figure. The fat people that can be seen everywhere in later generations are rare. Eating meat is a luxury on a daily basis, and things like Baohe granules are not needed at all.
Apart from these four, there are more ointments.
These ointments are basically loquat ointment, cough syrup and the like, which are also commonly used Chinese patent medicines. But compared with the big factories like Factory 1 and Factory 2, the brands of Factory 8 are not well-known, and the products are ordinary. Although the effects are similar, people rarely choose to use the products of Factory 8 first when choosing.
Among the more than one million pieces of inventory, 80% are ointments. Firstly, ointments are large in volume, and secondly, ointments have a slightly longer shelf life and a larger demand group. In addition, ointments accounted for a larger proportion in the original factory's production plan, which led to the current situation.
With Lin Yuhang's consent, Song Yuanchao opened a box of loquat paste, took out the products inside and examined them carefully.
The loquat paste produced by Factory No. 8 is no different from that produced by other factories. It is packed in a small brown glass bottle, about the size of a fist, with a wax seal on the bottle mouth and three big words "Loquat Paste" on the front, and the manufacturer's name and address below. It feels unremarkable in the hand.
"How much is this bottle?" Song Yuanchao asked.
Lin Yuhang replied: "The factory price is 1.57 yuan per bottle, and the retail price is 0.23 yuan more."
After some calculation, the retail price is 1.80 yuan per bottle. This price is neither high nor low. Although prices are low now, loquat paste is made from loquat as the raw material, and the price of loquat as a seasonal fruit raw material is there. Moreover, the products of today's traditional Chinese medicine factories are genuine and the ingredients are real.
"Where's the cough syrup?" Song Yuanchao asked, pointing at a warehouse board nearby.
"Cough syrup is cheaper, the factory price is 0.75 yuan, and the retail price is 0.16 yuan more."
Song Yuanchao nodded, and then asked about the prices of similar products from Factory 1 and Factory 2. Lin Yuhang had already done his homework and gave an answer immediately.
Compared with the products from Factory No. 8, the products from Factory No. 1 and Factory No. 2 are slightly more expensive, but only to a limited extent. Loquat paste is five cents more expensive, and cough syrup is two cents more expensive. But even though the prices are slightly higher, both patients and doctors are willing to choose to use the products from their factory instead of those from Factory No. 8. Who said that Factory No. 8 is not well-known?
After asking about the inventory status of these ointments, Song Yuanchao had a rough idea in his mind. After continuing to pack them around the warehouse, he said he had finished checking them out, and then returned to his factory director's office with Lin Yuhang.
Back in the office, Lin Yuhang made a cup of tea for Song Yuanchao. After they sat down, they couldn't wait to ask, "What do you think, Yuanchao? What do you think after watching it?"
"Ideas? Haha." Song Yuanchao took the cigarette handed to him by Lin Yuhang, lit it up and took a puff, then said with a smile , "Of course I have ideas, but before we discuss these, can I meet your supply and marketing section chief first?"
"That's no problem. I'll call him right away." Lin Yuhang didn't ask Song Yuanchao why he wanted to meet the head of the supply and marketing department. He stood up and walked to the desk, picked up the phone and called the supply and marketing department. A moment later, a man in his forties who looked somewhat shrewd knocked on the door of the factory director's office.
"Director, you're looking for me?"
"Old Lu, come, come, come and sit down." Lin Yuhang called Chief Lu in, pointed at Song Yuanchao and introduced him, "This is my friend Song Yuanchao, from the Imperial University of Peking. He came here today to help check on the factory situation."
"Hello, Teacher Song, thank you for taking the time to visit our factory." Section Chief Lu smiled and stretched out his hands to Song Yuanchao, appearing extremely enthusiastic.
Song Yuanchao was wondering at this time, when did he become a teacher? But when he noticed Lin Yuhang winking at him, Song Yuanchao understood a little, and without correcting the other party's mistake, he smiled and shook hands with Chief Lu.
After some pleasantries, everyone sat down, and Song Yuanchao asked directly about the supply and marketing situation of the factory without beating around the bush. He was not keen on purchasing, and mainly asked about the sales channels of the Eighth Factory. Section Chief Lu was an old supply and marketing expert, and these were his main jobs, so he immediately explained them to Song Yuanchao in detail.
Although Chief Lu is quite experienced in supply and marketing, his sales ideas for products are still based on the original planned economy. But this is inevitable, after all, medicines are different from ordinary products. Ordinary products have a wide market audience and are not limited to a single channel.
But it is different for medicines, especially for Chinese medicine factories like Factory No. 8. There are basically two main sales channels: one is major hospitals, and the other is pharmacies.
The relationship between Factory Eight and these two channels is relatively complete. According to Chief Lu, Factory Eight has cooperation with all major hospitals in Yanjing, including pharmacies, and the cooperative relationship has existed for many years.
In addition, there are also certain channels in many township hospitals and pharmacies around Yanjing. However, with the changes in market opening, coupled with the three old products that the Eighth Factory has been producing over the years, and the problems about Western medicine and Chinese medicine that Song Yuanchao once mentioned, the products of the Eighth Factory have not been selling well and have gradually gone downhill over the years.
"What about the specific sales methods? Oh, how do you sell your products?" Song Yuanchao asked after listening to Chief Lu's introduction.
"Sales tactics? This..." This simple question stunned Chief Lu. He didn't quite understand why Song Yuanchao asked this question, because in his opinion there was no need to ask at all.
"Old Lu, just tell Teacher Song whatever he wants to know. It's not a secret." Lin Yuhang said from the side.
Section Chief Lu smiled and nodded, thought for a moment and said, "Teacher Song, actually the sales method you are talking about is really nothing. How should I put it? Our products are different from clothing and food. We are a pharmaceutical factory. We produce medicines. Medicines are used to treat diseases. They are used by doctors and pharmacies who sell them directly to people in need."
"Generally speaking, we will give the hospital or pharmacy a list of products in advance, and then send a batch to them regularly. When the doctor sees the patient, he will prescribe according to the patient's condition. If our medicine is needed in the prescription, the patient will go to the hospital pharmacy or an outside pharmacy to buy it. Of course, this is not absolute, because many of our Chinese patent medicines are not prescription drugs and can be purchased at pharmacies. This is also a way."
Song Yuanchao nodded slightly: "So, the sales of medicines are completely controlled by doctors? Doctors can prescribe whatever medicine they want or whoever's medicine they want?"
"That's not the case. It would be great if that were the case. People who go to the doctor for treatment are not stupid. Especially for Chinese patent medicine like ours, they generally like to use products from big manufacturers. Doctors are the same. They think that medicines from big manufacturers are safer to use." Chief Lu shook his head and explained.
Song Yuanchao understood a little in his heart. This situation was similar to that of later generations. However, compared with later generations, there were no such messy things now. Whether it was a doctor or a pharmacy, they first looked at the factory and then the efficacy. As for personal interests, they did not care at all.
Today's angels in white are still very pure, and saving lives and healing the wounded is their main job, and they don't consider anything else.
The chat with Chief Lu didn't take long, just over half an hour .
After seeing off Section Chief Lu, Song Yuanchao and Lin Yuhang returned to their seats. Lin Yuhang looked at the thoughtful Song Yuanchao with an eager look, hoping to get the answer he wanted from him.
"Brother, I already understand the situation. There are ways to solve the current situation of Factory 8, but..."
"But what?" When Lin Yuhang heard the first half of the sentence, his face was full of joy, but at the end Song Yuanchao said "but not" again. The most feared thing in everything is this "but".
Song Yuanchao glanced at Lin Yuhang and smiled: "Second brother, to be honest, the situation of the Eighth Factory is really not that good. Your Eighth Factory has no products, no technology, no foundation, and no reputation. Similar products cannot compete with others. If this continues..."
"Yes, this is also what worries me. But it is not so easy to solve these problems. Everyone in the factory is waiting for food." Lin Yuhang said with a worried look and a wry smile.
"So, if we solve the problem step by step, I'm afraid that before the problem is solved, the Eighth Factory will go bankrupt, and you won't be able to stay as the factory director. There is only one way to solve the problem now, and that is to find another shortcut and start from other places. Solve the inventory and sales problems first, let the factory recover, and wait until the factory has a stable income and the internal and external conflicts are resolved, then we can do the following things."
"That's a good point, but how do we help North Korea?" Lin Yuhang asked anxiously.
"Don't be impatient, second brother. Let me ask you a question before I say it. If the means of solving the problem are not so fair and aboveboard, are you willing to do it?"
"This..." Song Yuanchao's words made Lin Yuhang at a loss for a moment. As a combat hero and a party member, Lin Yuhang is a very principled person. He has always hated evil ways. This character is somewhat similar to Lin Daoyuan.
"Yuan Chao, the method you mentioned is not illegal, right?" Lin Yuhang asked hesitantly.
"Of course not, what are you thinking, second brother?" Song Yuanchao smiled and shook his head: "How can we do something illegal and criminal? What I want to say is that it is a little different from the usual means. It is definitely not illegal or against the rules, but it is a bit rebellious. In the final analysis, it is just skirting the rules."
After saying that, Song Yuanchao looked at Lin Yuhang, who frowned as if thinking about something. He didn't agree with doing this in his heart. Even if it wasn't illegal, it would definitely attract a lot of criticism. But as a qualified factory director, his responsibility was to lead the Eighth Factory out of the current quagmire and restore the factory to life, so as not to disappoint the expectations of the employees.
In the face of the overall situation, even if you do something slightly wrong, as long as it is within the law, what does it matter? Just like in war, how can you go to the battlefield according to the rules? The battlefield is ever-changing, and everything must be adapted to the situation. The key is to win the war, and only winning the war is the fundamental.
Thinking of this, Lin Yuhang made up his mind, his eyes gradually became firm, and he said to Song Yuanchao solemnly: "Yuanchao, as long as it does not violate the law or regulations, you can rebel against the doctrine. The key is to save the factory. If my superiors criticize or even dismiss me because of this, I will accept it as long as the factory can survive!"
"good!"
Song Yuanchao patted the armrest. Lin Yuhang's answer made him feel relieved. With Lin Yuhang's words, he had a chance to save the Eighth Factory.
