So-Young(US:SY) Bei Jing Shang Bao·2025-12-10 15:25Core Viewpoint - The ongoing price war surrounding "童颜针" (youthful needle) is not only challenging the pricing system of the medical beauty industry but also represents a critical transformation path for the company, 新氧 (So-Young) [2][14]. Group 1: Price War and Market Dynamics - 新氧 has significantly reduced the price of "童颜针" from over 10,000 RMB to 2,999 RMB, aiming to gain control over pricing autonomy [2][10]. - The company faces accusations from suppliers like 普丽妍, which has labeled many of 新氧's clinics as "non-official partners," questioning the legitimacy of their product sources and medical qualifications [3][4]. - The price reduction strategy is seen as a challenge to the traditional profit distribution model in the medical beauty industry, where high prices were previously justified by perceived quality [6][7]. Group 2: Transformation Challenges - 新氧 is transitioning from a platform-based model to a direct participant in the medical beauty industry by establishing its own clinics, which has led to conflicts with previously partnered medical institutions [14][15]. - The company's revenue from information and reservation services has declined significantly, with a 34.5% year-on-year drop in the third quarter [14]. - Despite the aggressive expansion into self-operated clinics, 新氧 has reported continuous losses, with a net loss of 64.8 million RMB in the third quarter of 2025 [15][16]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Cost Structure - 新氧's aesthetic treatment services revenue surged by 304.6% year-on-year to 1.84 billion RMB in the third quarter, becoming the largest revenue source [17]. - The gross profit margin for 新氧's medical aesthetic services was reported at only 24.25% in the second quarter of 2025, indicating a significant deviation from industry standards [8][9]. - The company is focusing on cost optimization through strategies like scale procurement and supply chain integration to improve profitability [17]. Group 4: Regulatory and Compliance Issues - 新氧 has faced multiple complaints regarding service quality and compliance, with 876 complaints recorded on consumer platforms, including issues related to false advertising and operational violations [17][19]. - The company has been penalized for non-compliance with national standards, highlighting the regulatory risks associated with its rapid expansion [17][18]. - 新氧 emphasizes that its low pricing strategy does not compromise regulatory compliance and is committed to addressing consumer feedback seriously [19].