"Outside, it's different from being at home." Sophie's 20 million, all for you. Additionally, we will withdraw one million in cash from the local branch of Happy Fish Balls. "Will this money be enough?" Li Zhi looked at her, contemplating his strategies for the Japanese market.
If "Happy Fish Balls" can become popular in Japan, not only can the funds be replenished domestically, but the reputation can also be enhanced. With the current level of information, it will be much easier to operate in the future. The tendency to worship foreign things is still strong in the hearts of the Chinese.
"I won't need that much!" Dong Xiaorou smiled and shook her head. She thought for a moment and said, "It's not possible to withdraw that much cash from the local Happy Fish Balls." The 20 million in cash is enough for me for now, but I need to transport a batch of fish balls from the domestic market. Without a source of goods, I'll be at a loss even if I have the ability!
"No problem!" Li Zhi said with a smile. "Just contact the express delivery company directly." If that doesn't work, we'll just charter a plane and airfreight them over!
Dong Xiaorou considered and said, "Exporting fish balls from the domestic market to Japan seems to involve a lot of regulations." "Actually, I'm more inclined to invest in building a factory directly in Japan. Even if it's not in cooperation with Da Zhi Ming Fisheries, we should build our own." Of course, there's no need to rush the first step. Just building a small-scale factory to produce fish balls should be sufficient.
"Agreed!" Li Zhi thought that what Dong Xiaorou said was right. Exporting fish balls from the domestic market to Japan not only incurs hidden costs but also involves numerous procedures. It's easier to establish a fish ball manufacturing plant in Japan. Japan's fishing resources are well-developed, self-produced, and locally sold, aligning with Happy Fish Balls' international strategy.
"I will provide you with a set of factory construction drawings."
Dong Xiaorou stared at Li Zhi and said softly, "The issue of confidentiality must be taken seriously!"
The production process and formula of "fish balls" are the foundation of the success of "Happy Fish Balls." Just like the Coca-Cola company, both companies rely on their "secret recipe" for their livelihood, leaving no room for error.
"Don't worry, it's a fully automated production line." I will install the program on a laptop. The mechanical drawings of the production line are only superficial. Without the intelligent program in the computer, even if the other party obtains the drawings, they won't be able to produce fish balls," Li Zhi said with a smile.
The intelligent program is provided by the Nebula I9 Intelligent Factory System. Without Li Zhi's permission, no one else can use it. Even if the intelligent program is removed, Li Zhi still has a method to trigger the program's self-destruction to prevent the 'fish ball manufacturing technology' from being leaked.
Even without Dong Xiaorou's reminder, Li Zhi knew what to do. The incident of the factory equipment being robbed had already alarmed Li Zhi.
After discussing some details, the specific decisions would have to be made by Dong Xiaorou after she arrived in Japan.
Li Zhi suddenly thought of a question and couldn't help but ask curiously, "It seems like you don't feel any worry or fear about going abroad."
"Why should I be worried or afraid?" Dong Xiaorou asked.
Li Zhi blinked a few times and said, "Isn't it normal to feel worried and afraid when suddenly going to a strange place?"
Dong Xiaorou smiled calmly and said, "Who told you that this is my first time going to Japan?"
"Not the first time?" Li Zhi was stunned.
Dong Xiaorou smiled and shook her head. "No, I studied in Japan for two years, so this country is not too unfamiliar to me!"
"…"
Li Zhi rolled his eyes and said with a wry smile, "Why didn't you tell me about this before?"
Dong Xiaorou shrugged and said nonchalantly, "What's there to tell?" "It's not a big deal, and besides, you never asked me."
Li Zhi stared at her and pretended to be angry, "Alright, Dong Xiaorou, spill it." "Is there anything else that I, as your boss, don't know about? Confess, and you'll be treated leniently." If you don't tell the truth today, I'll spank you!
"Ah, you scared me!" It was the first time Li Zhi realized that Dong Xiaorou's acting skills were also top-notch. Looking at her pitiful face, Li Zhi almost believed it was real.
After lunch, Dong Xiaorou cleaned up the dishes and went to the kitchen. Li Zhi wanted to follow and cause trouble, but Dong Xiaorou smiled and pushed him away.
"Don't make a fuss!"
The seductive aura made Li Zhi's blood rush to his head. Since Dong Xiaorou didn't want him in the kitchen, Li Zhi decided to take a shower in the bathroom.
…
While Li Zhi and Dong Xiaorou were enjoying their time at home, Sophie was frowning in the office of Happy Fish Balls. Today, the company's staff discovered that within a radius of no more than 100 meters from the 28 branches of Happy Fish Balls in Haicheng, storefronts were undergoing renovations, whether across the street or next door. In fact, the renovations had started a few days ago, but no one paid much attention. Now, these storefronts had already put up signs.
Open Smile Fish Balls!
Yes, Open Smile Fish Balls, with only one word different from 'Happy Fish Balls', and the decoration style was quite similar to 'Happy Fish Balls'.
Being able to open 28 chain stores in Haicheng, regardless of the location, and managing storefronts, was definitely not something that an insignificant person could accomplish.
The only family in Haicheng that had both the ability and a grudge against Li Zhi and Dong Xiaorou was the Zhao family.
Zhao Sihai had made a move. His first step was not to take the lives of Li Zhi or Dong Xiaorou, but to cut off the source of their development. If "Happy Fish Balls" were to fail, it would be challenging for Li Zhi to stage a comeback. Without money and recognition, Li Zhi would amount to nothing in the future.
Whether the Zhao family thought this way, Sophie didn't know, but that's how she thought. Without "Happy Fish Balls," what else did Li Zhi have?
Ding Ling!
Li Zhi's phone rang, and even Dong Xiaorou, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, heard it. She poked her head out from the kitchen and called, "Your phone is ringing!"
Li Zhi also heard it from the bathroom. He looked at the time. It was two o'clock in the afternoon, and it wasn't yet time for work at Happy Fish Balls.
"Hello, this is Li Zhi!"
Sophie sat in her office chair, rolled her eyes, and thought to herself, "I called you myself, and you still don't know who I am." What a pretentious, despicable, and malicious jerk. Although she didn't know what kind of image she had in his mind, Li Zhi definitely didn't have a good impression of her.
"The Zhao family has made a move!" Sophie wasted no time and got straight to the point.
Li Zhi frowned, walked to the window, and pulled the curtains to darken the room. "What did the Zhao family do?"
Within the vicinity of the 28 Happy Fish Balls branches, they have opened 28 'Open Smile Fish Balls' branches. "The scale of the storefronts surpasses that of Happy Fish Balls, and the decoration style is very similar, with a strong deceptive nature," Sophie said with a serious expression.
Business tactics?
Li Zhi felt relieved. If the Zhao family wanted to compete with him in the market, he wasn't too afraid. No matter how much they imitated, they could only be copycats. Was Happy Fish Balls afraid of imitation and competition?
Always imitated, never surpassed.
"Create this advertisement slogan and display it at the entrance of all branches by tomorrow." "Since the Zhao family has made a move, we have no choice but to respond," Li Zhi said calmly.
Sophie also knew that Li Zhi wouldn't come up with any good ideas. She made the call to inform Li Zhi and let him and Dong Xiaorou know the news.
After a brief acknowledgment, she hung up the phone. She would have to figure out a solution for Happy Fish Balls on her own!
The competition between Happy Fish Balls and Open Smile Fish Balls was too intense. Not only that, but the decoration styles of the two stores were almost identical. People who didn't know the inside story would think that the two stores were 'twin' brothers. A significant portion of Happy Fish Balls' customer traffic would be redirected to Open Smile Fish Balls without their knowledge.
Taste is important, but not everyone is familiar with Happy Fish Balls. If Happy Fish Balls sell for five yuan each, how much would Open Smile Fish Balls sell for if they are fifty cents each?
Sophie was most worried about price wars.
If Open Smile Fish Balls could enhance their taste, Happy Fish Balls' market would undoubtedly face more competition. From the current popularity, it would gradually become ordinary, and then lonely.
Unless Happy Fish Balls also started a price reduction promotion!
The Zhao family had strong capital and could afford to operate Open Smile Fish Balls, but Happy Fish Balls couldn't. It was like an adult fighting a newborn baby; they were not on the same level. If a price war were to start, Happy Fish Balls would be no match for the Zhao family. They could afford to lose money, but Happy Fish Balls couldn't.
A storm was coming!
Sophie knew that she couldn't act recklessly at the moment. She could only take it one step at a time. Happy Fish Balls was in a weak position, both in terms of store size and support. Happy Fish Balls couldn't compete with Open Smile Fish Balls. The only advantage Happy Fish Balls had was the unique taste and texture that couldn't be imitated.
But in terms of pricing, did Happy Fish Balls still maintain their advantage?
After washing the dishes, Dong Xiaorou came out and looked at Li Zhi, who was deep in thought at the bedside, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Li Zhi looked up at her and smiled, shaking his head. "Nothing much, Sophie just called and mentioned that the Zhao family has taken action." They've opened Open Smile Fish Balls branches near our Happy Fish Balls stores. The size of the storefronts is larger than ours, featuring a similar decoration style, following the imitation route.
Dong Xiaorou furrowed her brows and walked over to sit beside Li Zhi. "The Zhao family wants to crush 'Happy Fish Balls' directly!"
"Yes!" Li Zhi nodded and said with a smile, "There's nothing strange about it." "With the temperament of the Zhao family, they definitely won't tolerate us."
"Are you still able to laugh about it?" Dong Xiaorou asked Li Zhi.
Li Zhi shrugged and playfully pulled Dong Xiaorou into his arms, saying, "What's there not to laugh about?" "We have to face the challenge. Without competition, there is no motivation." Is Happy Fish Balls afraid of competition? No, we're not afraid. Today it's the Zhao family, and tomorrow it might be the Wang family, the Zhang family, or the Sun family. To grow, we need to go through storms. Even if the Zhao family does not emerge, others will come to stir up trouble. "When faced with others' interests, people often become envious."
"But what do we do now?" Dong Xiaorou lay in Li Zhi's arms like a gentle kitten, not struggling, but simply holding Li Zhi's hand to prevent him from moving.
"I don't know," let Sophie figure it out. After all, the company is not just ours; she has a stake in it as well. If I'm paying her such a high salary every year, it's not for nothing, right? "If she can't solve such a small problem, then she should leave!" Li Zhi said nonchalantly.
Dong Xiaorou scolded Li Zhi for making her laugh and said softly, "You, standing there and talking without thinking, poor Sophie is not having an easy time!"
"What does her difficulty have to do with me?" "I'm not her father, and I don't owe her anything!" Li Zhi laughed and said, "Besides, it seems like your move might have hit the mark." "We might have stumbled upon the right path!"
Dong Xiaorou thought for a moment and asked, "Are you talking about the Japanese market?"
"Yes, it's the Japanese market," Li Zhi nodded with a smile.
Dong Xiaorou didn't say anything. Both of them understood that opening up the overseas market was necessary. Dong Xiaorou leaving Haicheng could be considered as being forced by the Zhao family. She chose to leave because she didn't want to involve Li Zhi. The people of the Zhao family despised her more than they despised Li Zhi.
"In this world, nothing is unchangeable." There's a saying, "The river flows east for thirty years, and then west for thirty years." "Zhao Sihai has been dominating the business world of Haicheng for thirty years, and now it's time for a change," Li Zhi muttered to himself as he held Dong Xiaorou in his arms.
In troubled times, heroes emerge. Without a fight, how can one conquer the world?