"Too slow!"
The "Happy Fishball" chain company has rented a floor in the commercial area of Haicheng, covering an area of over 100 square meters, which includes a small office exclusively for Li Zhi. The company headquarters has a team of seven employees, including a cleaning lady.
In the past two weeks, 'Happy Fishball' has opened seven branches, with only one store located outside the university town. It's not that Li Zhi doesn't want to expand; however, finding prime locations is challenging, and acquiring them requires a significant financial investment.
With a total of eight branches, the scale is not too large, but the business income is still considerable. The eight branches can generate a monthly revenue of around three million, with half of it contributed by the flagship store at Haicheng University.
Currently, there are fifty-six employees in the eight branches, each with a basic salary of 3000 yuan, not including bonuses.
After a busy half-month, Li Zhi was feeling overwhelmed. He had only managed to open eight branches, and they were all at a "micro" level. To be honest, being the boss was quite exhausting for Li Zhi.
If it weren't for Su Feier's ambitious plans, it would have been more suitable to leave all of this to her. Usually, with the Su Group's brand, many things would have been much easier.
The idea was good, but unfortunately, others were not fools.
Dong Xiaorou pushed open the office door and walked in, looking expressionless.
"Manager Dong, you finally came," Li Zhi said eagerly, standing up from his chair.
Dong Xiaorou looked at him and calmly asked, "You insisted on calling me over, what's the matter?"
"Come, have a drink of water," Li Zhi said, offering Dong Xiaorou a glass of water. "Is everything finished at the factory?"
Dong Xiaorou nodded without speaking, took the paper cup from Li Zhi's hand, and sipped some water. She was actually quite thirsty.
"You studied business management, right?" Li Zhi asked, smiling.
"Why?" Dong Xiaorou raised an eyebrow, knowing from his smile that it wasn't going to be good news.
"Applying what you've learned." "Talents like Manager Dong need to be nurtured," Li Zhi said seriously. "Therefore, after careful consideration, I have decided to give you more responsibilities and promote you to the Chief Executive Officer of 'Happy Fishball', in charge of brand promotion and the expansion of branch operations!"
Before arriving, Dong Xiaorou already knew what Li Zhi wanted her to do. It was difficult to find another suitable candidate to work for him, and it was not reliable to hire from a headhunting company in the short term.
"What about the factory?" Dong Xiaorou asked calmly.
Li Zhi thought for a moment and scratched his head, "You can continue as the factory manager."
"I have to manage the factory and also oversee 'Happy Fishball'." "I just want to ask, Mr. Li, what are you going to do?" Dong Xiaorou looked at Li Zhi and asked.
Li Zhi touched his nose and said with a smile, "Me?" I have more important things to do.
"Chasing girls?"
"Ahem, well, am I that kind of person?" Li Zhi chuckled.
Dong Xiaorou didn't argue with Li Zhi. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Regarding the factory, there shouldn't be any problems in the short term." The production line's utilization rate is less than thirty percent, resulting in excessive production speed and inventory buildup. If we aim to increase production in the future, the demand for raw materials will also rise. The fish market in Yutou Island Village may not be able to meet the factory's demands. We need to plan for this as soon as possible!
After a brief pause, she looked up at Li Zhi and asked, "Do you have any specific requirements for the fishball shops?" For example, determining the number of branches to open in the short term, deciding on implementing a franchise model, and strategizing the distribution of benefits among franchisees are key considerations.
Li Zhi thought for a moment and said, "You can manage the factory." Haicheng's fishing resources are so abundant that it's not difficult to find tens of thousands of catties of fresh fish in a day. As for "Happy Fishball," let's start by opening more branches to expand market share and enhance brand awareness. As for the franchise model, let's wait. Currently, there are not enough individuals familiar with our "Happy Fishball" brand. "In addition, if we start franchising now, we will need to establish our own cold chain logistics network, which our current capital cannot handle!"
Dong Xiaorou didn't say much about this issue. These were decisions that the boss, Li Zhi, needed to make, and not something she, as an employee, could decide.
"Sophie's two million, when do you plan to pay her back?" Dong Xiaorou suddenly asked.
It's shameful not to repay debts.
But without Sophie's two million, Dong Xiaorou's food factory wouldn't be able to purchase new equipment, and 'Happy Fishball' wouldn't have been able to open seven branches in such a short time.
"At the end of the month, leave the money for me," Li Zhi said with a wry smile. Sophie hadn't been pressuring him for the money, but she had warned him that he would regret it. He didn't know if she was just saying it or if she was already taking action behind his back.
In any case, when the enemy comes, we must meet them head-on. Li Zhi couldn't simply give away his company for nothing.
Ding Ling~!
Li Zhi's phone rang.
He picked it up and saw that it was Huang Youwei, the portly manager of the Star Moon Bay Hotel. In the past two weeks, Li Zhi's phone had been constantly ringing because of this old man. It started with two calls a day, then five calls a day, and now he was receiving dozens of calls from unfamiliar numbers every day.
"When will it end?" Li Zhi answered the phone, sounding annoyed.
Huang Youwei's voice came through the phone, crying and pleading, "Brother, you are my real brother, no, my real big brother, my real father, can you help me, I can't go on…"
Li Zhi laughed, feeling helpless. "Can't go on?" Hurry up and call your wife. Where did she put the savings at home? Do you have any illegitimate children? Tell her everything clearly. "What's the use of telling me these things?"
"..."
"Now only you can save me, big brother." Please help me this time, and I'll be your slave in the next life. Can you do it? Huang Youwei was quite skilled at begging and willing to say anything.
Li Zhi chuckled and said, "Don't be ridiculous." "With your stature, even if you were my slave, what could you do?"
Dong Xiaorou suddenly reached out and pulled Li Zhi's sleeve. Li Zhi looked at her in confusion, only to see Dong Xiaorou mouthing the words 'need money'.
As Li Zhi gazed at her bright red lips, he was stunned, feeling a sudden reaction in his body. Damn, what was this enchanting woman trying to do? He couldn't resist the temptation.
Dong Xiaorou suddenly kicked his leg, giving him a disapproving look. What was this guy thinking in broad daylight?
"Well, Huang Youwei, it's not that I don't want to help you, but... oh well, considering your pitiful state, I'll help you this time." To process five hundred catties of fishballs, the cost is two million. To proceed, you must provide the raw materials, make an upfront payment, and work will commence thereafter. This is a one-time offer! Li Zhi said.
Huang Youwei was surprised. Li Zhi had been reluctant to agree for the past half month, so this was unexpected. Two million dollars was expensive, really expensive, but there was no other choice. Even if it were five million for five hundred catties, he would still have to take it. Compared to the reputation of the Star Moon Bay Hotel, two million was nothing, and it wasn't even his money.
During the past two weeks, the wild yellow croaker fishball industry has faced significant challenges, resulting in Huang Youwei losing at least ten pounds. If Li Zhi had not agreed, he might have forced his way into the "Xiao Rou Food Factory."
"Alright, two million it is!" Huang Youwei gritted his teeth and agreed. He had no choice. After half a month of begging and pleading, Li Zhi had finally agreed.
Scarcity creates value, and this principle is understood by everyone.
Now, it was the Star Moon Bay Hotel that was asking Li Zhi for help in processing the fishballs, unlike when Li Zhi had visited to promote his product at their doorstep.
"By the way, Li Xiong, does your factory also produce fishballs?" Huang Youwei suddenly asked.
"Yes, what's the matter?" Li Zhi nodded.
Huang Youwei asked tentatively, "You see, it's not convenient to ask you to help process the fishballs." "Can you sell us some of the ordinary fishballs produced by your factory?"
"Do you also need regular fish balls?" Li Zhi asked in surprise.
Huang Youwei nodded and said, "Yes, we need them." How could we not? Wild yellow croaker fish balls are now selling for over ten thousand dollars per plate. "It's not something that everyone can afford to eat."
Compared to those tycoons, ordinary customers made up the vast majority.
Li Zhi smiled and said, "Initially, the factory's regular fishballs were meant for internal consumption only, not for external distribution." But, since I'm so familiar with Brother Huang, I can sell you some. "How about 210 yuan per catty?"
Huang Youwei almost spat blood. He knew that Li Zhi had opened a "Happy Fishball" specialty store and had specifically gone there to eat. One fishball costs five yuan, and ten fishballs make up a catty, so the retail price is only fifty yuan per catty. This guy was asking for 210 yuan per catty. And he called it a friendly price? Was there anyone more deceitful than this?
"210 yuan per catty, isn't that a bit expensive?" Huang Youwei asked tentatively.
Li Zhi said indifferently, "It seems a bit expensive, but you don't have to buy it." Alright, let's leave it at that. Oh, and please hurry up and transfer the two million to my bank account. "I need the money urgently!" With that, he hung up the phone.
Huang Youwei cursed under his breath and looked up at Zhao Xueying, who was sitting in the chair.
The manager's expression seemed grim, but upon learning that Li Zhi had agreed to assist in producing another batch of wild yellow croaker fishballs, she visibly relaxed.
Who would have thought that the top-notch Star Moon Bay Hotel in Haicheng would be at the mercy of a rascal like Li Zhi?