The matter was resolved, and Song Qiao saw no reason to linger. After exchanging pleasantries with Gao Yuan, he took his leave.
"Brother-in-law, I never knew you were so capable! Even a big boss like Gao Yuan treats you with such respect."
As soon as they were outside, Xia Xueqing couldn't help but give her brother-in-law a thumbs-up.
Song Qiao chuckled, dismissively saying, "It's all just empty fame. I just happened to run into a business partner today."
"That's still impressive! You don't know, Gao Jie usually relies on his father's influence so much that even school leaders give him some leeway."
Xia Xueqing stuck out her tongue and continued.
"That arrogant? If he dares to bully you again in the future, just tell me, and I promise to give him a lesson he won't forget!"
"Oh, that won't happen. He's probably trying to avoid me right now."
Xia Yuqing said with a hint of shyness.
Song Qiao smiled. He wasn't too worried about Gao Jie, believing that although he hadn't pressed the issue today, Gao Yuan would surely discipline his son once they returned home.
...
Half a month later, Song Qiao's franchised stores had increased significantly, sprouting up like mushrooms after rain.
In no time, the scent of "Xiang Piaopiao" stinky tofu could be found in almost every high-traffic area.
As Xiang Piaopiao gained fame, Song Qiao's commercial empire began to take shape, developing steadily according to his original plan.
"Boss, you're adding another production line?"
At that moment, in the office, Old Zhang looked at Song Qiao with a perplexed expression.
"Yes, with more and more franchised stores, it's becoming unrealistic to expect one main store to supply raw materials to all of them."
Song Qiao rubbed his forehead and continued,
"We're setting up a separate production line specifically to produce semi-finished products for freshly made stinky tofu, which will help alleviate the pressure on the main store."
"I understand, boss. Give me a week, and I guarantee this will be handled properly."
After Song Qiao's explanation, Zhang Laicai immediately understood his boss's intention and patted his chest, promising to deliver.
"Old Zhang, we might face a shortage of factory workers. You can decide on the recruitment of factory staff, and if necessary, you can appropriately increase the salary and benefits."
Song Qiao thought for a moment and then instructed Old Zhang further.
Old Zhang had always been a capable subordinate, but he had virtually no authority in personnel management. Now that A Wei was increasingly busy, Song Qiao decided to completely entrust the factory's hiring power to Old Zhang.
"Alright, boss, I'll arrange it as soon as possible. I've already divided the workers into two shifts for day and night, which has significantly improved efficiency."
"That's good, but be sure to prioritize production safety and ensure the workers get enough rest."
Old Zhang agreed and turned to leave the office.
No sooner had he left than Qin Ya burst in, carrying a stack of documents.
"Boss, a company has preemptively registered the logo we were using. Now, many products on the market bear our Xiang Piaopiao logo."
Song Qiao was taken aback and couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and dismay.
He hadn't expected a casually designed trademark to be registered by someone else. It indicated that Xiang Piaopiao's fame had already extended beyond the food industry into various other fields.
After a moment of thought, he shook his head and said dismissively,
"It doesn't matter. I just came up with it on the fly. Besides, it's just a trademark. We can use this opportunity to design an even better one, perhaps it will become a new hit."
"Will you be drawing the trademark again this time, boss?"
Seeing that her boss wasn't taking the matter too seriously, Qin Ya asked with some curiosity.
"No, I'm not a professional. We have enough money now, so let's find a designer to specifically design our brand."
Song Qiao waved his hand, refusing the idea.
"But where can we find a suitable designer? They usually charge exorbitant fees."
Qin Ya still asked with some concern.
Song Qiao pondered for a moment and instructed Qin Ya,
"Go and call Lily. Ask her to come to my office."
"She's been in sales for years and knows more about trademark design. Leave the task of finding a designer to her."
...
"Boss, it's just a trademark, I don't think we need to make such a big deal out of it."
After hearing Song Qiao's idea, Li Lili asked, quite puzzled.
"Oh?"
Song Qiao raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Then tell me your thoughts."
"I think the most important thing for our products is sales. Finding someone to design a flashy trademark doesn't seem to help us much right now."
As an old employee, her relationship with Song Qiao had long surpassed that of a superior and subordinate, so she spoke her mind directly.
"Ah, Lili, thinking like that is rather short-sighted."
"Look at all the well-known brands around us that you can name. Don't they all have their own unique trademarks? Some trademarks even embody the entire company's corporate culture."
"Xiang Piaopiao will reach that point sooner or later. Securing the trademark now can definitely be considered an investment in the future."
"The earlier such things enter the market, the deeper an impression they can leave in people's minds. This can be considered a form of marketing. Although the effect might not be as immediate as advertising in the short term, it could become a signature product for Xiang Piaopiao in the future."
"Don't you think, when you see the swoosh logo, the first product that comes to mind is Nike sneakers?"
Among all his employees, Song Qiao valued Li Lili's abilities the most. Because he intended to nurture her, he shared his views with her without reservation.
After listening, Li Lili stood stunned for several minutes before nodding, as if she vaguely understood her boss's meaning.
Seeing this, Song Qiao nodded with satisfaction and continued to instruct,
"You'll be responsible for contacting designers. You can temporarily hand over your current business to your assistant. This will also give the junior staff an opportunity to gain experience."
"Alright, boss. Within a week, I guarantee I'll contact a designer. The final trademark design will be submitted to you for approval."
Li Lili finished speaking and turned to leave the office, leaving Song Qiao alone, deep in thought.
The matter of designing a trademark was by no means a whim.
Recalling those milk tea shops from his previous life that gained fame through their trademarks, Song Qiao already possessed a vision that transcended the era.
Although the company wasn't yet large enough for a trademark to make it a household name, early planning was always beneficial, preventing a rush when the time came.