"Good Wood is Better Than Good Varnish"

**"Good Wood is Better Than Good Varnish" - The Story of An and Hoa**

An and Hoa were two friends from college, each pursuing different career paths. An was a renowned interior designer, while Hoa was a businesswoman running a chain of home decor stores.

After graduating, An began building her career by opening an interior design firm with a vision of creating unique, high-quality living spaces. She focused on using top-notch materials and exquisite craftsmanship to ensure that each product met the highest standards.

Meanwhile, Hoa opened a chain of home decor stores, offering products from various suppliers. Hoa focused on providing modern designs at affordable prices, but sometimes she had to choose lower-quality materials to keep costs competitive.

One day, An and Hoa met at a furniture fair. An introduced her new collection of interior designs, emphasizing the quality of materials and the craftsmanship in every detail. Hoa also showcased products from her store, particularly attractive decor items made from cheaper materials.

Although An’s products were much more expensive than Hoa’s, their quality and refined design attracted the attention of many customers and journalists. Conversely, although Hoa sold items at lower prices, some customers began to complain about the quality of the products after a period of use.

Despite the clear difference in price and quality, both An and Hoa remained steadfast in their approaches. An never compromised on quality, even if it reduced her competitiveness on price. She believed that creating products with genuine value was more important.

Hoa, aiming to expand her market and attract a mass audience, continued to offer products at low prices, which also meant encountering many quality issues and negative feedback from customers.

Over time, the market began to show a clear divide. An’s products proved their value and became increasingly popular among customers seeking long-lasting luxury and quality. Her projects were consistently praised, and her company’s reputation remained strong.

Meanwhile, Hoa faced many issues related to product quality and negative customer feedback. Despite significant investment in advertising and promotions, the cost-cutting by using lower-quality materials affected the reputation of her store chain.

One day, Hoa decided to visit An to learn about how An maintained the quality of her products. After discussing and receiving An’s tips and experiences, Hoa began to change her approach. She decided to invest in higher-quality materials and improve her production process to offer better products to customers.

This change not only improved product quality but also enhanced the image of Hoa’s store chain. Customers began to notice the improvements and appreciated the care in product selection. Sales started to increase, and customer feedback became more positive.

The story of An and Hoa became an important lesson in the interior design industry and for many other entrepreneurs. It highlighted that true quality and attention to detail are more important than just focusing on appearance and price.

The proverb **"Good wood is better than good varnish"** became a valuable lesson for both An and Hoa, and for anyone working in industries that need to focus on the real quality and value of their products.