These days, a head of Chengrong factory's sales team told me that, he was planning to visit a customer with some gifts.
This customers has been partnering with our factory since last year; in recent months, their order volume has remained stable, and daily business communications between both parties have been extremely smooth. The sales team leader wants to pay a personal visit to the customer, and take the chance to exchange ideas, listening to the customer's opinions and suggestions on our ultrafiltration water purification products. This way, we can better support the customer in building a strong market reputation in the new year.
However, I observed that one of the gifts he had prepared was a bottle of wine from a non-premium, unrecognized brand. I then pointed out that wine is a highly mature product category in China, where quality and brand credibility are easily distinguishable at a glance. If we are determined to present gifts to the client, we should opt for only high-quality, reputable, and universally recognized items; otherwise, it would be better not to offer any gifts at all.
Because gifting a mediocre product will only end up costing us money while actually tarnishing our image. Isn’t that just shooting ourselves in the foot?
When choosing gifts, we shouldn’t focus on price first. Instead, we should ask ourselves that, is this item truly good quality? Will giving it help us make a positive impression, or a negative one? If a gift is just cheap and has no other advantages at all, we definitely shouldn’t use it as a present.
At Chengrong Factory, I’m mainly in charge of production and quality control. My philosophy for product development has always been quality first, cost second. The reason Chengrong factory has grown from a small workshop to become one of the top three players in the stainless steel pipeline ultrafiltration water filter sector is precisely because I place unparalleled importance on product quality.
I still remember, in the early stages of the business , the factory’s bank account was practically empty. But whenever we signed a contract with a customer, even if it meant operating at a loss, I made sure that the products we delivered fully met the required standards. I would never cut corners or try to squeeze costs just because we found ourselves exceeding the budget midway. I would rather take a loss than compromise on product quality. Perhaps it was this stubborn commitment that moved heaven, leading me to meet nothing but helpful mentors and partners throughout my entrepreneurial journey.
Since launching the Chengrong Era brand, I’ve always told myself and my team that, the most important lesson of building a brand is to learn how to screen our target clients. Always remember that ChengrongEra is a premium mineral-retaining water purifier brand targeting the top 2% high-end users. So, what defines our ideal clients?
Only customers who are not constrained by budget can afford high-quality ultrafiltration water filters that match the standards of international first-tier brands, and thus fulfill their pursuit of premium quality. A client who is strapped for cash can never truly prioritize quality, simply because they don’t have the financial means to do so.
Users buying water filter/purifiers is no different from our factory manufacturing products. Once price becomes our primary focus, we will definitely deviate from our original goals, and ultimately fail to achieve the results we desire.
Therefore, Chengrong Era’s target clients are affluent consumers who demand top-tier water filtration system quality.
Conversely, this principle also serves as a constant reminder to me that, Chengrong Ultrafiltration Factory must never make concessions when it comes to quality and service. What clients want is not cheap products, but products that offer superior value for money, where quality far outweighs the price tag.
ChengrongEra Water filters, Never Compromise on Quality
