Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 191 Cultural Company's Cultural and Creative Product Crowdfunding Project

Chapter 191 Cultural Company's Cultural and Creative Product Crowdfunding Project

After steadily implementing his family business's employee stock ownership plan, Mu Yang set his sights on a new development direction for his cultural company: crowdfunding for cultural and creative products. He understands that with the booming cultural and creative industries, crowdfunding is not only an effective way to raise funds but also a bridge connecting the market and creativity, allowing cultural and creative products to engage closely with consumers from the outset.

Mu Yang arrived at the crowdfunding platform's headquarters. This modern building radiated a sense of technology and innovation. The glass curtain walls reflected the bustling city, and the revolving doors opened and closed constantly, with people rushing in and out, full of anticipation and enthusiasm for innovative projects. In the spacious and bright conference room, the crowdfunding platform staff had already prepared detailed materials. A large screen displayed case studies of successful crowdfunding projects. From creative technological gizmos to artistic handmade products, each showcased the diversity and vitality of the crowdfunding platform.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the cultural and creative products brought by our cultural company this time combine profound cultural heritage with unique design concepts. We hope to use the influence of your platform to allow more people to participate in this creative journey. This is not only the birth of a product, but also an attempt at cultural communication and innovation." Mu Yang said with anticipation, leaning forward slightly, his eyes revealing confidence and desire for cooperation, as if he had already seen the grand scene after the project's success.

Manager Lin, the project leader of the crowdfunding platform, responded with a smile, "Mr. Mu, we're very interested in your company's creative product. However, for a crowdfunding campaign to be successful, the design of the crowdfunding plan is crucial. First, the target amount must be carefully considered. If the amount is too high, the crowdfunding campaign may fail and investors may be deterred. If the amount is too low, it won't meet product development needs, and subsequent production and promotion may be stretched."

The contradiction between the crowdfunding goal of cultural and creative products and the actual fundraising situation was presented to us from the very beginning. Mu Yang pondered for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and quickly sorting out the various costs and expected returns of the product in his mind. Then he said: "After preliminary calculations, we estimate that the research and development, production, and promotion of the product will require [X] million yuan. However, considering the uncertainty of the market and the performance of similar projects on crowdfunding platforms, we are also worried that setting this amount will put too much pressure on investors. Therefore, we hope to refer to the fundraising data of similar projects on your platform and find a balance based on the characteristics of our product. For example, our product has unique cultural connotations, and although the audience group is relatively niche, it is highly loyal. Can we be more flexible in setting the amount, or set goals in stages?"

After some in-depth discussion, they settled on a reasonable crowdfunding target amount and began to design a return structure. During the discussion, conflicts with investors' expectations regarding the distribution of crowdfunding returns gradually emerged.

Xiao Li, a planner at the platform, said, "Common forms of rewards include free products, customized services, and priority purchase rights. However, different investors have different expectations for returns. Some prioritize material rewards, feeling reassured only when they actually receive the product. Others are more interested in participation and cultural experiences, hoping to be deeply involved in the product's creation. How do we strike a balance? Furthermore, the cost of rewards needs to be considered. We can't make the rewards too generous, resulting in meager project profits, nor too stingy, leaving investors feeling insincere."

After some thought, Mu Yang replied, "We can design a multi-tiered reward system. For small investors, we can provide small gifts such as customized product badges and postcards. These small items are not expensive, but they can make them feel the exclusivity of participating in the project. Badges can be designed into unique shapes related to the product theme, and postcards can be printed with product design sketches or the cultural stories behind them. For medium-sized investors, we can give them the creative products themselves and provide personalized product customization services, such as allowing them to choose the product's color, pattern details, etc. For large investors, we can invite them to participate in the product design process and hold exclusive cultural experience activities, such as visiting cultural relics to gain an in-depth understanding of the source of the product's cultural background, or communicating face-to-face with designers to propose their own creative ideas and incorporate them into the product design. This way, we can meet the needs of different investors while keeping costs under control and let them feel our sincerity."

After finalizing the crowdfunding plan, Mu Yang visited the cultural and creative product design studio. The studio was filled with an artistic atmosphere, its walls covered with design sketches, documenting the evolution of an idea, from initial doodles of inspiration to detailed drafts. Display shelves were filled with various creative models—paper, wooden, and even 3D-printed prototypes—a treasure trove of ideas. Designers were engaged in a lively discussion about a cultural and creative product they were planning to crowdfund.

"Mr. Mu, based on previous market research and creative ideas, we designed this creative figurine based on traditional folk tales. However, through communication with some potential investors, we found that some details still need to be optimized. The current facial expressions of the figurine are not vivid enough, and the body movements are a bit stiff, which cannot well show the charm of the characters in the story." Chief designer Zhang Yue pointed to the figurine model on the table, his eyes revealing his persistent pursuit of perfection.

The conflict between the cultural and creative product design culture's emphasis on uniqueness and the crowdfunding commercial culture's emphasis on market acceptance was highlighted at this point. A young designer frowned, his face full of uncertainty as he asked, "I think the design of this figurine is already very unique, perfectly in line with our pursuit of cultural uniqueness. Its design is inspired by mysterious characters from ancient legends, and its shape is exaggerated and imaginative. But market feedback says it's not practical enough. Should we change the design direction to cater to the market? This is our painstaking work, and I'm worried it will lose its original flavor."

Mu Yang patiently explained, "Uniqueness is the core competitiveness of our products, but market acceptance is equally important. We don't want to cater to the market and lose ourselves, but rather find a fusion point between the two while maintaining cultural characteristics and creativity. Just like this figurine, we can optimize its facial expressions and body movements to make it more vividly reflect the character's personality. At the same time, we can appropriately increase the practicality of the product. For example, this figurine can be designed as a multifunctional ornament. It can be used as a decoration, placed on a bookshelf or desktop to add an artistic atmosphere, and it can also store small items, such as designing a small drawer on the base for earrings, rings and other jewelry. This can not only satisfy investors' pursuit of cultural connotations, but also increase the market appeal of the product, making more people willing to pay for it."

Under Mu Yang's guidance, the designers began refining the figure. Working day and night, they constantly experimented with new materials and designs. To find the material that best captured the figure's texture, they scoured various material markets, comparing over a dozen different plastics and resins. To devise a more creative storage solution, they repeatedly debated and reworked draft after draft, striving for perfection.

With the crowdfunding project launched, Mu Yang began preparing for an investor meeting. The venue was warmly and professionally decorated, with soft lighting casting a shadow over neatly arranged tables and chairs. Projectors, display stands, and other equipment were all readily available. The display stands displayed meticulously crafted product samples, accompanied by detailed product descriptions and cultural background information. Investors arrived one after another, representing diverse industries and backgrounds. Some, dressed in sharp suits, clearly identified themselves as professionals; others, dressed casually, their eyes radiating a passion for culture, clearly enthusiasts.

"Thank you very much for your attention to our cultural and creative product crowdfunding project. Today, I would like to share with you the product development progress, cultural connotations and business prospects." Mu Yang stood on the podium and spoke passionately. His voice spread throughout the venue through the microphone. His eyes swept over every investor, conveying confidence and sincerity.

He detailed the product's journey from conception to design refinement, showcasing the designers' sketches and improved versions of the model. From the initial crude prototype to the refined and vivid finished product, every change embodied the designers' meticulous effort. The investors listened with rapt interest, peppered with questions.

A senior investor, wearing an expensive suit and playing with a pen, asked, "Mr. Mu, I am very optimistic about this project, but there are so many similar cultural and creative products on the market, and you can imagine how fierce the competition is. How can you ensure that this product stands out from the competition? I can't invest blindly, I have to see real advantages." The competition and conflicts between different cultural and creative products on crowdfunding platforms have become the focus of investors' attention.

Mu Yang answered confidently, "Our product has three major advantages. First, it has a profound cultural heritage, and the folk tales we selected are highly recognizable and resonate with the general public. This story, passed down from generation to generation, carries people's yearning for beautiful qualities such as justice and bravery. When consumers see this figurine, it will awaken their deep-seated pursuit of these beautiful qualities. Secondly, our design team, while preserving cultural characteristics, continuously optimizes the practicality and aesthetics of the product to make it more in line with the needs of modern consumers. For example, the multifunctional design mentioned earlier satisfies both decorative needs and practical uses. Finally, through the crowdfunding project, we have established close ties with investors and are able to adjust the product promptly based on their feedback. This deep interaction with the market is unmatched by other products. We did not develop this product in isolation; we created it together with our investors. It is the fruit of our collective hard work."

Despite Mu Yang's thorough preparation, the differences in understanding and value judgment of cultural and creative products among investors' cultural backgrounds were still evident during discussions with them. One investor from abroad, blond and blue-eyed, wearing a stylish casual jacket and speaking with a thick foreign accent, said, "This folk tale is unfamiliar to me, and I don't quite understand the cultural value behind it. Could you explain it further? In our country, people are more concerned with the fashion and practicality of products. It may take some time for them to accept products with such a rich cultural background."

Mu Yang quickly detailed the origins, development, and values ​​embodied in folk tales. Through vivid descriptions and case studies, he helped foreign investors gain a deeper understanding of the product's cultural connotations. He also drew analogies with similar cultural stories from abroad to enhance their understanding. "Just like your country's [examples of similar foreign stories] praise heroes, our story does the same, depicting how the protagonist overcomes difficulties with courage and wisdom to protect their homeland. The figurine captures the most exciting moments of the story. I believe you will also appreciate its charm after understanding it."

During the crowdfunding project, Mu Yang was always nervous. Every day, he would pay attention to the changes in the data on the crowdfunding platform. The first thing he did when he woke up in the morning was to check his phone to see if there was any new breakthrough in the amount of funds raised last night. During his work breaks, he would refresh the page from time to time. Seeing the number of supporters and the amount of funds raised for the project continue to increase, his confidence was gradually growing. However, when the fundraising progress fluctuated, such as slow growth for several consecutive days, he would fall into deep thought, thinking about how to adjust the strategy. Was the publicity not strong enough, or did the reward plan need to be optimized? He would immediately gather the team members to analyze the problem and find a solution.

After a period of hard work, the crowdfunding project was a complete success, raising more than the expected amount. Mu Yang was overwhelmed with emotion, tightly shaking the hands of his team members, tears glistening in his eyes. He knew this was not only a successful fundraising effort, but also a significant sign of market recognition for his cultural and creative products.

"This crowdfunding project for cultural and creative products has made me feel the charm of the combination of creativity and business. Although we encountered many contradictions and conflicts in this process, every time we solved a problem, our product became more perfect. I am full of confidence in the market prospects of this cultural and creative product. I believe that it will definitely set off a wave of enthusiasm in the cultural and creative industry and contribute to the innovative development of the cultural and creative industry. In the future, we will continue to explore more new models that combine creativity and business, create more high-quality cultural and creative products, and let the charm of culture be conveyed to every corner through products." Mu Yang said passionately at the company's internal celebration party. Warm applause rang out from the audience, and everyone's eyes were full of longing for the future.

In the days to come, Mu Yang will continue to lead the team and use innovative models such as crowdfunding to promote the development and promotion of more cultural and creative products, and contribute to the prosperous development of the cultural industry.