Rebirth Tokyo 1986

Chapter 29 Who is the host and who is the guest?
"But if we do this, we will offend the distributors. When new suitcases appear on the market, the distributors are likely to retaliate."

Before Masato Takeshita acquired Matsumoto Manufacturing, the factory produced mature luggage products and was highly dependent on the power of channels.

It can be said that for Matsumoto Manufacturing at that time, distributors were God. If you don’t curry favor with distributors, it is easy to have a backlog of inventory and unsell products.

Suzuki Zensuke has worked in this channel-oriented environment for more than 40 years, and has formed a fixed mindset in his mind that channel partners should not be offended.

"Don't worry, that kind of situation won't happen."

In the early post-war period, Japan was in a state of disrepair and the distributors in the market were basically state-designated companies, so the power of the distributors was unprecedentedly strong.

At that time, we really couldn't afford to offend channel dealers.

It is different now, there are many private stores of all sizes in the market. Even if there are distributors who really want to make things difficult for Matsumoto Manufacturing, they simply cannot afford the price.

Besides, few people in this world can resist money. As long as the brand of Fengya luggage is well-known enough, there will be a steady stream of distributors who will choose to follow suit.

"This is the president!"

Zensuke Suzuki was very worried, but he had no choice but to follow Masato Takeshita's instructions.

"Xiaolin-san, let's go and persuade the president together. If we do this, we will offend all the distributors."

Zensuke Suzuki still did not give up, and found another vice president of the company, Hiroaki Kobayashi, the head of the marketing department, hoping that he could join him in persuading the president.

"I think this is good. Since our products are selling well, we should be more aggressive."

Kobayashi Hiroaki strongly agrees with his president's point of view.

Dealers, if you offend them, you offend them.

As long as a company's products are good enough, there will never be a shortage of distributors.

"Ah, it seems that I am really old. From now on, I will just take care of production, and you can take care of the marketing yourself."

Hearing Kobayashi Hiroaki say the same thing, Suzuki Zensuke realized that it was his own problem. He was a little depressed at this time, lamenting that he could not keep up with the pace of the times.

"No, an old man in the family is like a treasure. I believe that even President Takeshita would agree with this view. We young people are too radical, so we still need you to help put the brakes on."

"Haha, that's all I can do."

Kobayashi Hiroaki's flattery helped Suzuki Zensuke recover a little. He patted the other party on the shoulder and walked out of the marketing department shaking his head.

After Zensuke Suzuki left, Hiroaki Kobayashi immediately informed everyone of the president's instructions.

"What? Pay first, then deliver? Didn't we agree on that just now?"

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Kadokawa. This is a new order from the company. I'm sorry to trouble you."

"Okay, then leave me 300 pieces and I'll transfer the money right away."

Kadokawa Tatsuya instinctively wanted to get angry because no small company in the market would dare to do this, but the money quickly calmed him down.

The suitcases made by Matsumoto are the only ones on the market. If you want to make money, you have to buy from here.

Kadokawa Tatsuya comforted himself in his heart: "It's better to pay it in advance. Making money is more important."

"Thank you Mr. Kadokawa for your understanding. We will complete the shipment as soon as possible after receiving the payment."

"Okay, Mr. Kadokawa."

The front desk staff of the marketing department was extremely busy at this time. Not only did they have to deal with difficult customers, but they also had to explain that the factory had no choice but to do so. Matsumoto Manufacturing was a small family business and could not afford to purchase raw materials. They could only collect payment from everyone in advance so that they could produce suitcases that met everyone's needs in the shortest time.

It doesn’t matter whether you believe this reason or not. What’s important is that with such a reason, channel dealers can have a way out and continue to maintain a harmonious situation where both sides are happy.

After the payment was made on delivery, Matsumoto Manufacturing's financial difficulties were instantly resolved. It can even be said that Matsumoto Manufacturing had never fought such a prosperous battle before.

"Director Miyamoto, you should immediately arrange for people to purchase materials for 20 suitcases. At the same time, don't forget to inspect more raw materials and prepare in advance for the next two major brands, Shuying and Linglong."

As soon as the payment was received, Songben Manufacturing began its expansion, adding one more high-end Fengya production line and purchasing three each of the mid- and low-end Shuying and Linglong production lines.

In this way, Matsumoto Manufacturing can initially cover the three major markets of high, medium and low prices, laying the foundation for future expansion.

"Yes, President!"

The logistics minister, Shinji Miyamoto, took out his notes respectfully and did not dare to relax at all.

The logistics department is a lucrative department, and he was very worried that he would be transferred to another position, and finally had to give up this lucrative job that could earn him a lot of extra money.

"Okay, that's all, go get busy."

Masato Takeshita also knew that there was corruption in the logistics department, but now was the most critical moment for the company, so he was too lazy to pursue it for the time being to prevent panic among the company's employees.

Of course, he did not pursue the matter for the time being, which was also related to the fact that Shinji Miyamoto paid attention to his eating manners.

He would not pass off inferior goods as good ones, and even paid more attention to the raw materials of bags than others. He mainly made money from projects that were indispensable to the company but not too important.

For example, office supplies such as A4 paper, pencils, ballpoint pens, and water dispensers in offices and workshops, etc. The prices of these items are not much different among manufacturers, and receiving a certain amount of rebates will not affect the company.

"Yuriko, ask Minister Yagyu to come over."

"Yes, President!"

Yagyu Masano, the head of the company's HR department. Takeshita Masato planned to promote him directly to the position of vice president once things were stable, and then lead him out of the HR department in the form of a promotion in name only and a demotion in reality.

I will feel at ease only when such an important department is in my own hands.

"Hello, Director Yagyu! This is the president's office. The president wants to discuss something with you."

"See you!"

Upon hearing that the president had summoned him, Yagyu Masahiro did not dare to delay and immediately went to the president's office with his notebook.

"It's like this, Director Yagyu, the company is about to expand, and there will be a problem with manpower. You should start recruiting now, with the goal of doubling the size of the company, which means recruiting 2 people."

"1000 people?"

"Yes, 1000 people."

The market size of luggage is so huge that 1500 people would not even make a dent. If he was not worried that too many new people would affect the quality of the factory's products, he would have wanted to expand to 5000 people in one go.

"Yes, President."

As soon as he returned, Masahiro Yagyu posted the recruitment information in the newspaper and explored the potential of the talent market in order to complete the task of recruiting more employees as soon as possible.

"Well, that's all. Minister Yagyu, you go ahead and get busy."

Masato Takeshita tactfully gave the order to leave, saying that he had a lot of things to do and had no time to chat.

(End of this chapter)