I can see the commodity price curve

After the launch of BYD's new electric vehicle, sales skyrocketed thanks to its stylish appearance and improved performance.

Crowds thronged in front of stores, with consumers queuing up in long lines just to buy this new type of electric scooter as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yue's balance scooter ran into trouble.

Many consumers have reported that while balance scooters are convenient and stylish, their functions are relatively limited, they cannot carry many items, and they are extremely inconvenient to use in daily commutes, shopping, and other scenarios.

Suddenly, online discussions about the shortcomings of self-balancing scooters increased, and their reputation began to decline.

At the headquarters of BYD electric vehicles, Zhang Hong looked at the market research report, a smug smile on his face, and said to Chen Feng:
"Chen Feng, look, Zhang Yue's reputation for balance bikes has plummeted. Our chance has come."

Arrange for another group of people to "promote" his hoverboard online.

They'll just say it's poor quality and breaks easily, rehashing all the previous negative news.

Chen Feng said with some concern, "President Zhang, the previous smear campaign has already attracted some attention."

"If we do that again, won't someone find a way to use it against us?"

Zhang Hong scoffed dismissively: "What's there to be afraid of! Zhang Yue is too busy taking care of himself to have the energy to deal with us."

Do as I say, you must completely suppress his hoverboard business.

Helpless, Chen Feng could only arrange for online trolls to spread false and negative information about Zhang Yue's self-balancing scooter online once again.

In an instant, the internet was flooded with insults and doubts about Zhang Yue's self-balancing scooter.

On Zhang Yue's side, Zhan Susu, holding her phone, trembling with anger, stormed into Zhang Yue's office:

"Zhang Yue, look at these!"

"Yadi has gone too far! They're smearing us online again, and now our sales are plummeting. If this continues, the company won't be able to hold on!"

Zhang Yue took the phone, looked at the malicious comments, his face darkening terribly. He slammed his hand on the table:
"Yadi and his gang are shameless! They actually resorted to such despicable means."

"Susu, don't worry, I have a way to handle this."

Zhan Susu asked anxiously, "What method?"
Our hoverboards have a bad reputation now, and consumers are no longer willing to buy them.

A resolute glint flashed in Zhang Yue's eyes: "Since they're smearing us and trying to suppress our sales, then we'll just drastically lower the price."

We've reduced the price of these hoverboards from a thousand yuan each to just two hundred yuan!

Zhan Susu's eyes widened in disbelief as she exclaimed, "What? Reduced to two hundred yuan?"
We can't even recoup our costs, and with such a drastic price reduction, won't consumers think our product quality is worse?

Zhang Yue shook his head and patiently explained, "Su Su, the situation is urgent now, and we can no longer consider costs and profits."

Significant price reductions have two advantages: first, they can attract price-sensitive consumers, making them feel like they've gotten a good deal, thereby stimulating their desire to buy.

Secondly, it can dispel BYD's smear campaign. If our product quality were really that bad, would we dare to lower the price so drastically?
They'll definitely think we're making a last-ditch effort, but this is actually our counter-offensive strategy.

After hearing this, Zhan Susu still hesitated: "But, if we lower the price like this, the company will suffer a lot of losses."

Zhang Yue patted Zhan Susu on the shoulder: "Susu, you need to broaden your horizons."

As long as we can overcome this difficulty and regain the market, there will be plenty of opportunities to make money in the future.

The most important thing now is to stabilize the situation and regain consumer confidence in our products.

Zhan Susu was persuaded by Zhang Yue and nodded: "Okay, then I'll go and arrange the price reduction right away."

Soon after, Zhang Yue's company announced a significant price reduction for its self-balancing scooters.

This news was like a bombshell, causing a huge uproar online.

Consumers started discussing it.

"Wow, the price of a hoverboard has dropped to 200 yuan! That's such a cheap price!"

"I heard the quality wasn't good before, but it's so cheap, it's worth buying and trying it out."

"Maybe the store is having a clearance sale. In any case, the price is too tempting."

At the BYD electric scooter headquarters, Zhang Hong was taken aback when he learned that Zhang Yue's balance scooter had been significantly discounted, then burst into laughter:

"Zhang Yue has run out of ideas and has resorted to such a foolish method as lowering prices."

Chen Feng, ignore him. Let's continue to increase our publicity efforts and promote the advantages of the new electric scooter.

We want consumers to know that our electric scooters are the best choice.

Chen Feng said with some concern, "Mr. Zhang, with Zhang Yue lowering the price so drastically, won't that attract some consumers to buy his balance scooter?"
After all, the price advantage is too obvious.

Zhang Hong said dismissively, "What's there to be afraid of! His balance bike has such limited functionality, even if the price is reduced, it will only be a temporary fad."

Our new electric scooters have advantages in both performance and appearance, and consumers will ultimately choose ours.

However, things took an unexpected turn for the better.

After the price of self-balancing scooters was significantly reduced, sales not only did not decline, but instead ushered in a new wave of growth.

Long queues formed again in front of stores as consumers rushed to buy the affordable hoverboard.

One consumer said in an interview: "I used to think that balance bikes were expensive and had limited functions, so I never bought one."

Now it's down to 200 yuan. It's a good buy for commuting and entertainment, and it doesn't matter if it has fewer features.

Another consumer said, "At such a cheap price, even if the quality is just average, it's acceptable."

"Besides, I see a lot of people buying it online, so there shouldn't be any major problems."

As sales of self-balancing scooters have skyrocketed, negative reviews of them online have gradually decreased.

Consumers began to realize that BYD's smear campaign might be unfounded.

However, sales of BYD's new electric scooters have begun to decline due to the price reduction of Zhang Yue's balance scooters.

Looking at the sales report, Zhang Hong was furious: "How could this be?"
How could Zhang Yue's price reduction on his self-balancing scooter have such a huge impact? Chen Feng, you need to think of something quickly!

Chen Feng said helplessly, "Mr. Zhang, consumers are now attracted by the low price of balance scooters. No matter how much we promote the advantages of the new electric scooters, the effect will not be significant."

Moreover, consumers may have already become aware of our smear campaign, and their trust in us is declining.

Zhang Hong plopped down in a chair, his eyes filled with anger and helplessness.

"I didn't expect Zhang Yue to have this trick up his sleeve. It seems we miscalculated this time."

Looking at the steadily rising numbers on the sales report, Zhang Yue smiled confidently.

He said to Zhan Susu beside him:

"Su Su, our balance bikes are selling so well right now, we need to strike while the iron is hot and do something big."

A hint of doubt flashed in Zhan Susu's eyes as she asked, "What big move?"

The company has just recovered, so let's hope nothing goes wrong again.

Zhang Yue excitedly slapped the table and said, "I'm planning to hold a balance bike competition!"

Think about it, now that so many people have bought balance scooters, there must be quite a few who want to show off their scooter skills.

Holding competitions will not only attract more attention to our balance bikes, but also further enhance our brand image.

Zhan Susu frowned and said worriedly, "The idea is not bad, but organizing a competition is no small matter. Venue, prize money, publicity, all of these require money."

Moreover, we can't afford to bear the consequences if anything unexpected happens during the competition.

Zhang Yue patted Zhan Susu on the shoulder and comforted her, "Don't worry. I've already thought of a venue. We can find a large square in the city and talk to the relevant departments to try and get it used for free."

Regarding prizes, although the company's funds are not very abundant at the moment, we can set up some practical prizes, such as balance bike accessories, coupons, etc., which can save costs and attract participants.

As for promotion, we can utilize existing online platforms and mobilize consumers who have purchased our balance scooters to help spread the word. Their word-of-mouth is far more effective than our own advertising.

After hearing Zhang Yue's explanation, Zhan Susu's worries lessened slightly, but she still hesitated:
"What if not many people sign up? If the competition is deserted, that would be counterproductive."

Zhang Yue smiled confidently and said, "Don't worry about that."

We can set up some warm-up activities before the competition, such as launching a balance bike skill challenge online, allowing netizens to upload their videos, and selecting the best performers to receive certain rewards.

This will not only inspire everyone's enthusiasm for participation, but also create momentum for the competition in advance.

Furthermore, I can contact some well-known balance bike enthusiasts and invite them to participate in the competition. With their encouragement, the number of people signing up will definitely be endless.

Zhan Susu was somewhat tempted by Zhang Yue's words and nodded, saying:

"Alright then, since you're so confident, let's give it a try."

However, we need to formulate a plan as soon as possible; time is of the essence.

Zhang Yue said excitedly, "No problem, I'll call the team for a meeting right away and develop a detailed competition plan."

You are responsible for communicating with the relevant departments regarding the venue; you must finalize it as soon as possible.

The competition plan was quickly developed.

Zhang Yue and his team rented a venue in a large square in the city center and set up a challenging track with curves and obstacles to test the participants' balance and skills.

At the same time, they launched a large-scale promotional campaign online, releasing news about the competition and promotional videos, inviting balance bike enthusiasts to sign up and participate.

The news caused a sensation as soon as it was released.

In just a few days, hundreds of people signed up to participate.

Looking at the registration list, Zhang Yue excitedly said to Zhan Susu:
"Su Su, look, so many people have signed up. It seems our competition is bound to be a great success."

Zhan Susu also smiled with satisfaction: "Yes, I didn't expect everyone to be so enthusiastic."

However, we still need to ensure safety on the day of the competition; we can't afford any mistakes.

Zhang Yue nodded and said, "You're right, safety comes first."

I have contacted a professional security and medical team, who will be on-site throughout the competition to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

The day of the competition finally arrived.

The square was packed with people and bustling with activity.

The contestants, dressed in cool gear, rode balance bikes on the track, drawing cheers from the audience.

Standing on the platform, Zhang Yue watched the lively scene, feeling a surge of accomplishment. Just as the competition was about to begin, a group of people suddenly rushed into the square, holding banners and shouting:
"Boycott substandard hoverboard competitions! Zhang Yue's hoverboards are of poor quality and he is not qualified to hold competitions!"

Zhang Yue and Zhan Susu were both stunned; they hadn't expected such an unexpected turn of events.

Zhang Yue quickly calmed down, walked up to the group, and asked, "Who are you? Why are you causing trouble here?"

One of the leaders said with a sneer, "We are consumer representatives."

We bought your hoverboards, and they've developed all sorts of problems. Not only are you not fixing them, but you're also holding a competition here to deceive consumers.

Zhang Yue's heart tightened; he knew that Yadi must be behind this.

But he didn't panic. Instead, he said loudly, "Everyone, please be quiet."

Our self-balancing scooters are absolutely guaranteed in quality. We will take full responsibility for any problems that arise.

Today's competition is to showcase the performance and safety of our self-balancing scooters.

If you don't believe me, you can watch the competition live and see for yourself how good our balance bikes really are.

After hearing Zhang Yue's words, the audience quieted down and began to look forward to the start of the competition.

Seeing this, the troublemakers stopped causing trouble and simply stood aside and watched coldly.

As Zhang Yue finished speaking, the competition officially began.

One hundred contestants shot off like arrows released from a bow.

A roar suddenly echoed across the square as the balance bikes sped along the track, kicking up clouds of dust.

The track starts as a long, straight stretch, and the competitors are all pushing themselves to accelerate, trying to take the lead on this stretch.

Xiao Yi was among them. She leaned forward slightly, her hands firmly gripping the handlebars of the balance bike, her eyes focused intently on the front. The balance bike sped along beneath her feet like the wind.

At this moment, a tall male driver next to her tried to overtake Xiao Yi from the outside. He suddenly accelerated, and the car squeezed towards Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi noticed, and with a nimble twist of her car, she skillfully avoided the male driver's collision, while also turning back to tease him:

"Hey bro, it's not that easy to overtake me!" the male contestant snorted and continued to accelerate forward.

Soon, the long track ended, and the first bend appeared.

This bend has a very sharp angle, which is a great test of the driver's balance and skills.

Many competitors slowed down when entering the curves, turning carefully, afraid of falling over.

Xiao Yi, however, did not slow down at all.

She skillfully tilted her body, shifting her weight to one side, and the balance bike glided smoothly along the curves like an obedient sprite.

Just as she was about to exit the bend, a young driver behind her suddenly accelerated and caught up, running alongside Xiaoyi.

The young player smiled smugly and said, "Miss, it seems your skills aren't that great."

Xiao Yi smiled slightly and said, "Don't rush, this is just the beginning."

After exiting the bend, there is a row of obstacles ahead, including wooden stakes and tires.

The competitors need to navigate nimbly, as a slight misstep can result in collisions with obstacles, affecting their speed.

Xiao Yi took a deep breath, her eyes becoming even sharper. She maneuvered her balance bike like a nimble swallow, gracefully weaving between obstacles.

The young driver wasn't so lucky. He accidentally bumped into a wooden stake while crossing it, causing his car to wobble and slow down.

He slapped his forehead in frustration, muttering, "Oops, I messed up."

Halfway through the competition, the athletes' stamina began to decline, and their speed gradually slowed down.

But Xiao Yi maintained a steady pace, and her face showed no signs of fatigue, but rather was full of fighting spirit.

At this point, a steep slope appeared on the track, posing a huge challenge to the athletes' stamina and balance.

When Xiaoyi arrived at the steep slope, she adjusted her breathing slightly and then suddenly accelerated and rushed up the slope.

As the bike climbed the hill, it trembled somewhat with difficulty, but Xiaoyi gripped the handlebars tightly and leaned back forcefully to help it maintain its balance.

Finally, she successfully climbed the steep slope and reached the top.

Looking down from the top of the hill, there was a long downhill road. Xiao Yi rushed down without hesitation. The wind whistled past her ears, and she felt as if she were flying.

However, an accident occurred during the descent.

The rider ahead was going too fast and lost his balance while turning downhill. He fell to the ground, and his balance bike slid off the track, blocking part of the track.

Xiao Yi was startled when she saw this, but she reacted quickly.

She twisted the car body forcefully, trying to go around it.

However, due to the close proximity, they accidentally grazed the balance bike of the fallen athlete, causing the bike to lurch violently.

The audience held their breath for Xiaoyi, and someone couldn't help but shout, "Be careful!"

Xiao Yi gritted her teeth and struggled to control the balance bike. After a struggle, she finally managed to steady the bike and continued to rush forward.

But this accident slowed her down, and the other competitors took the opportunity to catch up.

One of the male contestants, who wore glasses, caught up with Xiaoyi and said in a sarcastic tone:

"Oh, looks like you can make a mistake too."

Xiao Yi ignored his sarcasm and simply sped up her pace.

She knew that now was not the time to give up, and there was still a chance to catch up.

The race is nearing its end, with only the final straightaway remaining.

At this point, the top-ranked contestants were giving it their all, vying fiercely for the prize.

Looking at the leading contestant ahead, Xiao Yi felt a strong fighting spirit ignite within her.

She took a deep breath, then accelerated suddenly, the hoverboard roaring as it charged forward like an angry beast.

Seeing Xiao Yi speed up, the male competitor wearing glasses followed suit, not to be outdone, and shouted loudly:

"Trying to surpass me won't be that easy!"

Xiao Yi didn't respond to him; she was just focused on controlling the balance bike.

In the final moments, Xiao Yi, with her outstanding explosive power and skills, finally overtook the male athlete wearing glasses, and then, with one more burst of energy, crossed the finish line.

A burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted in the square as the audience applauded Xiao Yi's wonderful performance.

Zhang Yue and Zhan Susu excitedly walked up to Xiao Yi. Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Congratulations, Xiao Yi, you are amazing!"

Xiao Yi wiped the sweat from her forehead and said happily, "Thank you, this match was so exciting, I never thought I could win."

At this moment, the male contestant wearing glasses walked over, and he said somewhat embarrassedly:
"Xiao Yi, I was wrong just now. I shouldn't have mocked you. You are really amazing. I admit defeat wholeheartedly."

Xiao Yi smiled generously and said, "It's okay, it's a competition, you have to give it your all."

Moreover, everyone here is very talented, and I'm happy to compete together.

The balance bike competition came to a close amidst cheers and laughter, with Xiao Yi emerging as the undisputed champion.

In the days following the competition, Zhang Yue's office was bustling with activity, the phone ringing incessantly with calls from dealers across the country requesting to increase their inventory of balance scooters.

Holding a market research report, Zhan Susu excitedly rushed into Zhang Yue's office, her face beaming with barely suppressed joy.
"Zhang Yue, look, our hoverboards are absolutely hot right now!"

Young consumers are sharing competition videos on social media and even spontaneously organizing various small-scale balance bike races. Our balance bikes are almost synonymous with fashion!

Zhang Yue took the report, quickly scanned the data, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming:

"This is a really good sign!"
However, we cannot be satisfied with our current achievements; we must continue to work hard to take our balance bikes to the next level.

At this moment, Mr. Li, the head of the technical department, hurriedly walked in and said:

"Mr. Zhang, there is such a high demand for our balance scooters in the market right now, but our existing functions and performance may cause consumers to lose interest over time."

I suggest we make some improvements to the self-balancing scooter, such as adding some smart features and increasing its battery life.

Zhang Yue nodded, and said thoughtfully, "Engineer Li, your idea is very timely."

We can't just sit back and do nothing; we need to keep innovating. In what ways do you think we can start making improvements?

Engineer Li took out a technical proposal and handed it to Zhang Yue: "Mr. Zhang, I have a preliminary idea. We can add a smart navigation function to the balance bike, so that consumers can find their destination more easily while riding."

In addition, it can improve the battery's range, allowing the balance scooter to travel further.

Also, we can optimize the design of the self-balancing scooter to make it more stylish and personalized.

Zhang Yue carefully examined the plan, occasionally raising questions, which Engineer Li patiently answered one by one.

Finally, Zhang Yue said with satisfaction, "This plan is very good. Engineer Li, you should lead the technical team to start research and improvement as soon as possible."

However, during the research and development process, it is crucial to pay attention to cost control to prevent the improved costs from becoming too high, which could negatively impact the product's market competitiveness.

Mr. Li said confidently, "Mr. Zhang, don't worry."

We will definitely strike a good balance between functionality and cost, and strive to develop an improved self-balancing scooter as soon as possible.

However, the research and development process was not without its challenges.

A few days later, Engineer Li arrived at Zhang Yue's office with a worried look on his face:
"Mr. Zhang, we have encountered a problem in developing the intelligent navigation function."

Existing navigation chips are bulky, and if installed on a self-balancing scooter, they would affect the overall appearance and stability.

Moreover, the price of chips is relatively high, which will significantly increase costs.

Zhang Yue frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "Engineer Li, we can't back down because of this little difficulty."

Could you talk to the chip supplier to see if there are any smaller, more affordable chips available?

Alternatively, collaboration with universities or research institutions could be considered to see if they have any relevant technologies that can be learned from.

Upon hearing this, Engineer Li's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea!"
I'll contact the chip supplier right away, and also get in touch with universities to try and resolve this issue as soon as possible. (End of Chapter)