The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 187



Only Krnovel

Episode 187 Brand value (1)

I had to adjust my flight time twice.

As I was talking with Steve, I lost track of time, and somehow I ended up boarding the flight to Korea 10 hours late.

“What time is it in Korea?”

“It’s 8 a.m.”

“I guess I have to go straight to work. “This time, I returned to Korea late at night and tried to rest at home, but my plan went awry.”

I went on a business trip to the U.S. accompanied by secretarial staff.

When he told me that I was going back to work, his eyes started fluttering.

“Please just guide me to the office and leave immediately. “I will just do some simple work and then leave work.”

“Oh, no! it’s okay.”

“You’re not planning on making me a bad employer, are you? “I will tell the secretary, so take a break for two days and then go to work.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

While having this conversation, we completed immigration inspection and walked to the arrival hall.

However, even though it was early in the morning, the arrival hall was crowded.

“Let’s see if any idols enter the country today?”

“I have never heard of such a report.”

I didn’t pay much attention and went out to the arrivals hall.

That moment! Cheers erupted, and camera flashes exploded here and there.

[Vice President Kim Min-jae! Please give your thoughts on the WWDC joint speech!]

[Is it true that all of Taewoo Electronics’ new products are compatible with the iPhone?]

[Please tell us more about what Steve said about being the person who inspired the iPhone!]

These were the people waiting for me.

Well, reporters could do that.

Because WWDC was such a big event, it was something that even Korea would be interested in.

But why those people?

[Aaaah!]

[Vice President! i love you!]

[Please take a look here!]

There were many people who looked like idol fan clubs.

I was curious and whispered to the secretarial staff.

“Have you mobilized people at the group level?”

“Absolutely not! Rather, only the minimum number of people are deployed to avoid excessive protocol.”

So they gathered at the airport voluntarily.

Is there a reason why it’s suddenly like this today when it wasn’t like that before?

Could it be because you gave a joint speech with Steve?

“For more details, please tell us you will distribute a press release.”

“All right. Then we will open the way.”

Let’s go outside the arrival hall.

More people crowded in, and I was barely able to get out of the airport with the help of a waiting security guard.

I was more discouraged than the long flight.

I stared out the window blankly while going from the airport to the office, and it wasn’t until I returned to the vice president’s office that I came to my senses.

“Director of Planning, what happened while I was in the United States?”

“The joint speech was broadcast live, and Steve’s remarks at the developer meeting were reported several times on public news.”

“This isn’t the first time we’ve collaborated with Apple, but the response this time is different.”

“Taewoo Electronics’ new product is receiving a lot of attention. In particular, we are constantly receiving inquiries about new product launches from customers who own iPhones. And the Vice President’s fan club was officially established.”

Fan club?

What kind of entrepreneur’s fan club is created?

In fact, in the case of Chairman Jang Young-joo and Association President Jang Myeong-jun, entrepreneurs are so popular in Korea that they are running for president.

“I guess the planning office didn’t take the lead in creating the fan club?”

“Absolutely not. Even if I want to, I don’t have the ability to do it. The majority of the Vice President’s fan club are in their teens and 20s. “These are people of an age that the planning office cannot mobilize.”

“Please make sure the schedule is not leaked in the future. It’s okay for me to have a hard time, but if an accident happens, I’ll be in trouble.”

“I will pay more attention to schedule management. We will also deploy additional security personnel.”

This is the end of the fan club story.

Many more important topics remained.

“Preparations for the launch of Taewoo Electronics’ new product are going well, right?”

“Simultaneous launch is scheduled in Korea and the United States starting from the end of this month. And the launch in Europe and China could also take place no later than next quarter.”

How to row when the water comes in.

We had to release home appliances that work with the iPhone as quickly as possible before the iPhone 3’s popularity cools down.

“There will be no problems with production, right? “It would be difficult if something unfortunate happened, such as a shortage of supplies.”

“We are planning to produce more than twice the amount of existing electronic products. “We are hoping to avoid inventory issues rather than shortages.”

I paid a lot of attention to the quantity issue.

Since Innophone, there have been more than a few times that we have been troubled by supply issues.

Therefore, production orders for iPhone-compatible home appliances were slightly excessive.

“Producing a large initial quantity will not cause inventory problems. If it doesn’t work out, we can just reduce the next production volume.”

“We are already shipping some to sell in our U.S. stores. “I can assure you that there will never be a shortage problem.”

You’ll find out when the release date arrives.

Will there be a shortage or an inventory problem?

***

Taewoo Electronics new product release date.

I visited the Taewoo Electronics store located in Jamsil with Taewoo Electronics CEO Woo Seong-il.

“Quite a lot of customers have been visiting since the morning.”

“There are even customers who have been waiting all night since last night.”

“Are you saying that I stood in line all night long to buy home appliances, not even to buy an iPhone?”

“People were lining up even before the store opened, not only at the Jamsil store but at most stores across the country.”

Home appliances were expensive items.

Therefore, the number of people with enough purchasing power to stand in line and purchase was limited.

“I guess it’s for sightseeing. “Please issue instructions to stores across the country never to neglect potential customers.”

“I will!”

I entered the crowded store.

A large number of customers were filling the store, and for safety reasons, no more customers were being allowed inside.

“It looks like there are more customers wanting to purchase than we thought.”

“Please wait a moment. “I will bring the store manager.”

President Woo Seong-il urgently called the store manager.

The manager who was serving customers was so shocked that he ran towards us.

“S-sorry. There were so many customers that I didn’t know the vice president and president were there. I’m really sorry.”

“It’s our fault for coming when we were busy. How are today’s sales okay?”

“It’s best! “Since I took charge of the Jamsil store, we have been recording the highest sales.”

It seems that customers only enjoy window shopping.

You could see how much sales had increased just by looking at the store manager’s bright expression.

“It looks like the new product is getting a good response.”

“It’s not good. “In particular, among customers who own iPhones, there are quite a few who buy new products without asking.”

“You’re busy, but I took up too much of your time. Just go ahead and go. “Let’s go and see a little more.”

I sent it back without bothering the busy store manager any longer.

I walked in front of the new refrigerator with CEO Seong-il Woo.

Then he pointed to the sticker attached to the upper left corner of the refrigerator.

“The unit price of a sticker like that would be less than 1,000 won, right?”

“I’m buying in bulk, so it won’t even cost 100 won.”

“But people boldly buy products worth over 1 million won just because they have that sticker on them.”

Apple-shaped sticker.

It was a sticker that symbolized a product compatible with Apple and signified a product made through collaboration with Apple.

“I didn’t know there were so many rich people in our country. “I never thought I would buy all five types of home appliances just because they are Apple compatible.”

“We’ll talk about the rest when we get back to work.”

Even while I was in a moving car, reports continued to come in from stores across the country.

Not only the Jamsil branch, but all stores nationwide have delivered the good news that the all-time record has been broken.

“It is said that stores in outlying areas are also crowded with customers.”

“It seems that customers from crowded urban areas are visiting stores in suburban areas.”

We entered the company while talking.

But an unexpected person was waiting for me in front of the vice president’s office.

“What’s going on, President Ahn Deok-hwan?”

“I came here without contacting you because I had something to discuss with the Vice Chairman and President Woo Seong-il.”

“Please come inside.”

Ahn Deok-hwan, president of Taewo Construction.

Having made a name for himself in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he quickly took control of Taewoon Construction and was managing the company stably so that Taewu Construction could run smoothly.

A person like that suddenly came to visit me?

As soon as I entered the vice president’s office, I asked him the reason.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing different, I came here because I wanted to install Taewoo Electronics’ new home appliances as optional home appliances in a high-end apartment that is being completed this time.”

“It’s the same group’s job, so of course it has to be done that way. “It is also strange to fill apartment home appliances made by Taewo Construction with home appliances from other companies.”

“But then I received a call saying they were out of stock. “You must receive your home appliances before you move in.”

I looked at President Woo Seong-il next to me.

He scratched his head and made excuses.

“I think the person in charge made a mistake. “I said we would talk after checking the sales trend of new products, but I think it was conveyed in a wrong way.”

“Hmm, maybe there is a shortage of production?”

“It is difficult to make an accurate prediction as today’s sales have not yet ended, but sales volume is likely to be higher than predicted by Taewoo Electronics.”

President Woo Seong-il’s intentions were clearly visible.

I guess they were trying to tame Taewoo Construction CEO Ahn Deok-hwan.

So, they would have said that they do not have any home appliances in stock for the apartment.

However, we have come to a situation where there may be a shortage of home appliances to supply to apartments due to a lack of inventory.

“If production becomes insufficient, supply to apartments first, even if it means reducing the amount supplied to home appliance stores.”

“I will.”

“But didn’t you boast to me that there would be no shortage of production?”

“… We will take action to ensure there are no problems. “We will produce more products through night shifts and extra shifts.”

Since the inventory shortage had not yet occurred, I could not inquire further.

However, the moment a stock shortage occurs, CEO Woo Seong-il will step down from his position.

Not only was his lack of ability a problem, but he would also be punished for trying to engage in a meaningless power struggle with the president of another affiliate.

***

next day.

The planning director visited the vice president’s office with a sales report for Taewoo Electronics’ new product.

“We achieved the highest sales in the history of Taewoo Electronics. “The response was very enthusiastic not only in Korea but also in the United States.”

“It won’t just last one day, right?”

“It is said that many customers are already lining up at stores across the country today. The planning office predicts that the response will continue until the first half of this year. And with the iPhone 3 being released next month, sales may increase further.”

Even with the iPhone 2, Taewoo Electronics’ new products could be used.

However, after installing the app, it could only be used through touch, and starting with the next version of the iPhone, it could also be operated through voice recognition.

“Sales will definitely increase. “Wouldn’t there be a disruption in production?”

“Starting today, all Taewoo Electronics factories have started working overtime. “But if the current trend continues, we will have an inventory problem.”

“Foreign factories will also have to start working overtime.”

“Additional plant construction is needed to fundamentally solve the production problem.”

We were already thinking about building additional factories.

In particular, he was planning to build a factory abroad, and Vietnam, where his grandfather had worked hard, and India were potential locations.