Dong Mingzhu & Meng Yutong’s Power Livestream: ¥5 Million RMB Sales and a Potential Gree Comeback?

The recent livestream featuring Gree Electric’s (Gélì Diànqì 格力电器) chairwoman Dong Mingzhu (Dǒng Míngzhū 董明珠) and her former protégée Meng Yutong (Mèng Yǔtóng 孟羽童) is making waves, not just for their public reunion but for its staggering ¥5 million RMB ($694,444 USD) in sales, hinting at future possibilities for Meng and Gree.

This event, which took place on May 23, was their first joint public appearance since Meng Yutong’s departure from the Chinese appliance giant, Gree Electric Appliances.

Dong Mingzhu on Meng Yutong’s Potential Return to Gree: “Why Not?”

During the much-talked-about livestream, a pivotal question arose: could Meng Yutong return to Gree?

Dong Mingzhu’s response was surprisingly open.

“She left not because she maliciously stole company technology or was poached,” Dong stated. “I think, why not?”

This opens a fascinating door for followers of Chinese corporate dynamics and talent management.

Dong Mingzhu further elaborated, “It’s still possible for Meng Yutong to return to Gree after she studies abroad for one year.”

She shared more insights into her perspective:

• “Yutong actually touched me quite a bit.”
• “Gree has a clear rule that it’s impossible to return after leaving.” (Indicating a an exception might be made).
• Dong mentioned they would discuss Meng’s return after her year of study abroad.
• She warmly invited Meng Yutong to participate in Gree livestreams anytime.
• Dong added that Meng Yutong has affection for Gree, attributing her past decisions to youth: “the child is too young.”

Dong Mingzhu also revealed how they reconnected.

She saw news about Meng Yutong’s plans to study abroad and felt compelled to reach out.

Meng Yutong’s excitement was palpable: “I was very happy to receive a message from the chairwoman, I barely slept.”

Addressing online speculation, Dong Mingzhu clarified their relationship.

“What is said online about me and Meng Yutong is groundless.”

“Relationships between people are based on sincerity.”

“To me, Yutong is like a child.”

However, Dong also acknowledged past issues with a direct remark: “When she left, she did indeed make a big mistake.”

“You must adhere to principles in work; emotions are a different matter.”

Source: Gree Livestream

Key Metrics of the Dong Mingzhu & Meng Yutong Reunion Livestream (May 23)

Metric	Value	Source
Total Viewers	2.92 million	Feigua Data
Peak Concurrent Audience	> 30,000	LANJING Xinwen
Sales Revenue (Range)	¥2.5M – ¥5M RMB ($347k – $694k USD)	Chanmama Data / Red Star News
Highest Single-Session Sales for Account in May	Yes	Red Star News
Ranking Briefly Achieved	Top of “Major Appliances List”	LANJING Xinwen

The “Second Dong Mingzhu”: A Look Back at Meng Yutong’s Gree Journey

The connection between Dong Mingzhu and Meng Yutong has been under the public eye for some time.

Back in December 2021, a video featuring the Gree Chairwoman and Meng, then her secretary, at the China Manufacturing Leaders Summit, gained significant attention.

It was at this event that Dong Mingzhu famously stated her intention to “cultivate Meng Yutong into a second Dong Mingzhu.”

This set high expectations for Meng as a potential successor within the Chinese appliance manufacturing giant.

Source: Meng Yutong’s Weibo

However, this “successor,” in whom Gree had placed such high hopes, departed from the company in less than two years.

In May 2023, it was confirmed that Meng Yutong had resigned from Gree.

This development sparked considerable discussion about mentorship in high-stakes corporate environments and succession planning in major Chinese companies.

• Peak Concurrent Viewership: Reunion achieved ~750x increase (30,000+ vs ~40)
• Sales Revenue: Reunion achieved up to 10x average (~¥5M RMB vs ~¥500k RMB)

Livestream Success Metrics: Deconstructing the ¥5 Million RMB Sales Event

The reunion livestream wasn’t just a personal affair; it was a significant commercial success for Gree’s e-commerce strategy.

According to Lánjīng Xīnwén (蓝鲸新闻), the traffic in the Gree livestream room saw explosive growth on the evening of May 23 when Dong Mingzhu and Meng Yutong appeared together.

Explosive Growth in Viewership and Sales

The numbers speak for themselves, highlighting the duo’s incredible drawing power:

• Viewership: Feigua Data (Fēiguā Shùjù 飞瓜数据) reported that the “Gree Mingzhu Selection” (Gé lì Míng zhū Jīng xuǎn 格力明珠精选) livestream room attracted 2.92 million viewers that night.
• Peak Audience: The session saw a peak concurrent audience exceeding 30,000 viewers.
• Sales Revenue: The livestream generated sales revenue as high as ¥5 million RMB ($694,444 USD).
• Ranking: Its sales performance briefly topped the “Major Appliances List” on the platform.

To put this into perspective:

• The livestream room’s typical daily concurrent viewership is only about 40 people. This event represents a roughly 750x increase in peak concurrent viewers.
• Average daily sales for the account are typically around ¥500,000 RMB ($69,444 USD). This single livestream achieved up to 10 times that average.

Chanmama Data (Chánmāmā Shùjù 蝉妈妈数据), a Douyin (Dǒuyīn 抖音) sales data platform, corroborated these strong results, reporting the livestream’s sales were in the range of ¥2.5 million to ¥5 million RMB ($347,222 USD to $694,444 USD), as noted by Red Star News Capital Bureau (Hóngxīng Zīběn Jú 红星资本局).

This was reportedly the highest single-session sales figure for that account in May.

Before this, the highest single-session sales for the account were between ¥1 million and ¥2.5 million RMB ($138,889 USD and $347,222 USD).

This successful event provides a potent case study for influencer marketing ROI and the impact of high-profile personalities in China’s competitive livestream e-commerce market.

Product Performance: Hits and Misses

During this high-traffic livestream, Gree featured a range of products:

• Air conditioners
• Refrigerators
• Electric kettles
• Beauty devices

Selected Product Performance During Livestream

Product	Original Price	Event Price	Units Sold (Approx.)
Gree Microcurrent Beauty Device	¥14,000 RMB ($1,944 USD)	¥9,800 RMB ($1,361 USD)	4

Interestingly, despite the significantly higher traffic and overall stellar sales, not all products flew off the virtual shelves.

For instance, the “Gree Microcurrent Beauty Device,” personally recommended by Dong Mingzhu, had an original price of ¥14,000 RMB ($1,944 USD) and an event price of ¥9,800 RMB ($1,361 USD).

However, it only sold 4 units that night.

This detail offers a nuanced insight: even immense popularity and viewership don’t guarantee success for every product, especially high-ticket items, and highlights the complexities of consumer behavior in livestream shopping.

What This Means for Gree and Influencer Marketing in China

The reunion of Dong Mingzhu and Meng Yutong was more than just a heartwarming moment; it was a masterclass in leveraging personal narratives for brand engagement and sales.

It demonstrates the continued power of authentic storytelling (or at least, perceived authenticity) in connecting with consumers.

For Gree, it potentially signals a renewed, or at least revisited, approach to its brand ambassadors and marketing strategies.

The door seemingly left open for Meng Yutong’s return, even after a public departure and Dong’s candid admission of Meng making a “big mistake,” is a fascinating development in Chinese corporate leadership.

This Dong Mingzhu and Meng Yutong livestream event underscores the potent mix of personality, public relations, and powerful salesmanship that continues to define success in China’s dynamic tech and e-commerce landscape.

References

• 董明珠孟羽童同框直播，带货销售额达500万元！董明珠回应孟羽童能否再回格力… – National Business Daily
• 董明珠孟羽童再度同框直播带货，销售额500万，超日常百倍 – Blue Whale News
• 董明珠孟羽童同框直播销售额500万？回应再回格力：离开时犯了很大的错 – Red Star News Capital Bureau