Summary of Conference Call for 爱优企 Company Overview - **Company**: 爱优企 - **Industry**: Mother and Baby Products, Health Supply Chain Management Key Points and Arguments Store Expansion and Performance - In the first half of 2025, 爱优企 opened approximately 34 new stores, including regional flagship stores in 淮安, 扬州, and 邵阳, resulting in a net increase of about 20 stores compared to the same period last year [5] - The company plans to open around 100 new stores throughout 2025, with over 60 planned for the second half of the year [3][19] - Same-store sales growth exceeded 3 percentage points in Q2 2025, with even higher growth observed from July onwards, attributed to store optimization, adjustments in store size, pricing strategies, and improved employee performance [10][11] Financial Performance - For the first half of 2025, 爱优企 reported revenue of 1.835 billion RMB, an increase of 8.3 million RMB year-on-year, and a net profit of 46.73 million RMB, up 10% [4] - The company’s self-owned brand sales accounted for 13.5% of total sales, a year-on-year increase of 1.4 percentage points, with a target to reach 15% [14] IP Business Development - The first 万代 (Bandai) model store opened in 苏州 in March 2025, with plans to open three more stores in major cities in the second half of the year [6][21] - The IP business generated several million RMB in revenue in the first half of 2025, with expectations for improved performance in the second half as new stores open [21] Supply Chain and Product Strategy - The mother and baby health supply chain management business benefited from rapid growth on platforms like 拼多多 (Pinduoduo) and strong performance from existing flagship stores [8] - The company has optimized its product categories, with significant growth in milk powder and toys, driven by supply chain improvements and a focus on low-price strategies [17][18] Operational Efficiency - The company has streamlined its SKU count while achieving a 65% year-on-year increase in sales volume, indicating effective self-owned brand strategies [14] - Employee performance has been enhanced through a salary increase linked to performance metrics, contributing to improved sales efficiency [12] Future Outlook - The company anticipates better overall growth in 2025 compared to the first half, driven by store openings and a reduction in average transaction prices by 20% to 40% across various categories [3][32] - The company is adjusting its business model based on stable birth rates, aiming for growth through operational improvements and strategic store openings [20] Challenges and Considerations - The company is monitoring the impact of store closures on overall performance, as some locations have been shut down [2] - Supply chain issues are expected to improve in Q4 2025 with new factories coming online, although initial supply shortages may occur for new IP stores [22] Additional Important Information - The company maintains a dual dividend strategy, with plans to gradually increase dividend payouts to shareholders [31] - The operational model for new stores has shifted to smaller formats (100-200 square meters), which has not negatively impacted revenue, thanks to reduced rent and labor costs [29]