2025-12-01 16:03Summary of the Conference Call on the Gold and Jewelry Market Industry Overview - The gold and jewelry market in Henan experienced a significant slowdown in growth, with an increase of only 3.6% in October 2025, compared to 30%-50% in previous months. This slowdown is attributed to a 50% rise in gold prices and uncertainty surrounding tax reforms, particularly affecting the capital city, Zhengzhou, due to low wedding demand [1][4]. Key Points and Arguments - Impact of Tax Reform: The tax reform primarily targets investment gold bars, with upstream factories currently invoicing at a 13% VAT, leading to an increase of 70 RMB per gram in upstream costs, resulting in retail prices exceeding 1,200 RMB per gram. Domestic brands like Lao Feng Xiang and Lao Miao allow the exchange of old materials, mitigating cost pressures compared to Hong Kong brands like Chow Tai Fook and Chao Hong Ji, which do not allow such exchanges [1][5]. - Sales Performance: In November, overall sales performance was poor due to the off-season, with a 6.3% increase in monetary sales but a 24.6% decline in inventory weight. Lao Feng Xiang showed the best performance with a 12.6% year-on-year growth, while Chow Tai Fook reported a sales figure of 2.27 billion RMB due to software issues [2]. - Market Dynamics: The investment gold bars account for about 3% of the market, with most sales still focused on jewelry. The proportion of fixed-price products has increased, with Chow Tai Fook at 35.7% in Henan, while other brands like Lao Feng Xiang and Lao Miao are lower at 10-12% [3][10]. - Inventory and Supply Chain: There was a 20% decline in inventory in November, influenced by gold price fluctuations, rumors of the end of the Russia-Ukraine war, and uncertainties from tax reforms. Many brands reduced their purchase volumes due to cash flow issues caused by rising gold prices [11]. - Government Regulation: The government may enhance regulations on the recovery and trading of old materials and require upstream factories to purchase raw materials from the Shanghai Gold Exchange to reduce tax evasion [7]. - Consumer Sentiment: Consumers are primarily feeling the impact of rising gold prices. However, with increased transparency regarding potential tax increases, their initial wait-and-see attitude has eased, and wedding demand remains a significant factor [9]. Additional Important Insights - Brand Strategies: Major brands are reducing pressure on franchisees and developing IP series and high-end products to increase margins. Approximately 70% of purchases from leading brands are now series or IP products, which helps differentiate them from lower-end brands [12][13]. - Future Expectations: The willingness of consumers to spend in 2026 will depend on the clarity of tax policies. If the government clarifies that only investment gold bars will be taxed, it could significantly lower costs for franchisees and boost confidence in purchasing [17]. - Franchisee Challenges: Franchisees are currently facing challenges due to high tax burdens and are reducing inventory in anticipation of price corrections and tax policy changes. Many are also experiencing cash flow issues due to high inventory costs [15][16]. - Brand Goals for 2026: Brands are discussing their targets for 2026 with franchisees, with many facing declining sales targets due to store closures and high tax burdens. For instance, Lao Miao has projected a nearly 20% decline in order volume for 2025 [18].