Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 997 - 85: Prince Han with Nine Apertures
Previously on Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne...
The promo for the soccer game created such a splash that Shen’s eatery skyrocketed to fame. In only three days after the event, Boss Shen had fully recovered the fifty gold taels he'd shelled out for the ad slot. Those other traders, spotting this success, kicked themselves for not bidding on the ad space earlier.
Once the soccer match wrapped up, Zhao Yao didn't even have to bring up ad spots for the polo event before merchants from far-off areas and overseas nations came knocking on their own, asking about the polo advertising opportunities.
On the eve of the polo match, Zhao Yao ran an auction for the polo ad spaces. Every trader at the fair showed up, turning the place into a buzzing hive of excitement.
The bidding war among the merchants grew fierce. The polo ad spaces fetched two hundred gold taels, a whopping five times what the soccer ones brought in. That two hundred taels covered just the four prime billboard spots, excluding the sponsors who supplied prizes. Those sponsors also dropped two hundred taels to fund the prizes.
Zhao Yao proved fair-minded. Right in the middle break of the polo match, he let the boss who'd paid two hundred taels push his store or goods. Zhao Yao even floated the idea of staging a show during the pause, as long as it tied back to the boss's shop or items.
The four billboard ad spots for the polo match went to “Li’s Textiles.” Li’s Textiles holds big fame across Jiangnan, where their cloths and needlework fly off the shelves. Their Su embroidery even counts as imperial tribute.
For this trip, Li’s Textiles aimed to peddle their fabrics and embroidery to places like Annan and Johor abroad.
Boss Li asked Zhao Yao for tips on the performance. Zhao Yao pitched having lovely ladies and dashing gents dressed in outfits from his fabrics and embroidery strut a fashion parade right on the polo ground. While they paraded, a voice could describe the materials used and the embroidery details, helping everyone there get the picture.
Zhao Yao dreamed up the fashion show idea on the spot, drawing inspiration from the runway events in his dream realm. Back there, tons of fashion shows happen, with major labels throwing lavish annual spectacles that Zhao Yao figured could be adapted here.
Should the midway fashion show during the polo match hit it big, then once the trade fair wrapped, he could run similar shows for Lingnan’s fabrics and embroidery. Maybe even turn it into a yearly thing to hype fresh releases in cloths and stitching.
Boss Li found Zhao Yao’s notion fresh and exciting, deciding it deserved a shot. But the looks of his attendants and maids he'd brought along were so-so, and using them for the show might fall flat. So Zhao Yao tossed out another suggestion: borrow the dancers, performers, musicians, and sentries from his estate for the runway. Naturally, Boss Li would cover their pay.
The performers and dancers at the Prince Mansion, plus the guards, all boasted striking appearances. Boss Li jumped at the chance to borrow from Zhao Yao and vowed to compensate them handsomely.
Boss Li felt lost on running a fashion show and shyly sought Zhao Yao’s advice. Zhao Yao held nothing back, detailing how to pull off a runway event. Then he coached the dancers and guards on executing the show.
The whole point of the fashion show stays on highlighting fabrics and embroidery, so skip over-the-top flair, or it'd overshadow the real stars. The models don't have to dance or strike weird poses; a simple, natural stride down the path works fine.
Zhao Yao had the dancers and guards demo walks before Boss Li, who nodded in approval. With that, the fashion show plan locked in.
After heaps of thanks to Zhao Yao, Boss Li departed the Han Prince Mansion. A wide grin lit his face as he went. Once more beholding Prince Han’s clever trade tricks, Boss Li felt truly awed and sold on Zhao Yao. With decades in the fabric and embroidery game, he'd never imagined parading products like this. His time in Swamp Prefecture opened his eyes wide, teaching him heaps.
With Zhao Yao directing the singers and guards in the fashion show practice, Uncle Gao rolled He Lianfang over to watch with wide-eyed wonder. Truth be told, this bold new tactic left them both stunned.
“Your Highness, how does your mind work, to come up with so many peculiar and unconventional business methods?” Uncle Gao kept getting blown away by Zhao Yao’s fresh and one-of-a-kind trade ideas.