Core Insights - The company, Xiaoguan Tea, has launched a new strategic product, a low-sugar tea priced at 5 yuan per bottle, which is its cheapest offering to date, amidst criticism and skepticism regarding its market strategy [2][3][5] - Xiaoguan Tea is facing significant challenges, including a decline in sales of high-end products and a "store closure crisis," with an equal number of new and closed stores in the past 90 days [2][13] Product Strategy - The introduction of the low-priced tea product may be a response to the company's current market situation, as high-end teas have seen limited sales, with many products selling fewer than 30 units historically [2][7] - The founder, Du Guoying, initially set a suggested retail price of 15 yuan but ultimately decided on 5 yuan after considering various factors, indicating a shift in marketing strategy [5][13] Sales Performance - Xiaoguan Tea's high-end products have struggled, with only 12 sales for products priced over 10,000 yuan and an average of 27 sales for products priced over 3,000 yuan, suggesting a lack of consumer interest [7][9] - The company's revenue peaked at over 2 billion yuan in 2018 but has since declined, with 2021 revenue reported at 1 billion yuan, and no public financing activities since 2019 [13][14] Market Position and Challenges - Xiaoguan Tea operates 1,877 stores, primarily in first-tier and new first-tier cities, but faces high operational costs and rent, contributing to its store closure crisis [13][14] - The company is diversifying its brand portfolio, including the launch of products in various categories, aiming to capture a larger share of the growing tea market, projected to reach 530.96 billion yuan by 2028 [14]