24 episodes
“That’s a good analogy. As if they were going to be saturated, they brought in the quantity, then suddenly increased it again and received orders with confidence.”
“It is correct.”
I said raising my thumb.
“Good good. Nice idea. I do that. Something, Mr. Kim, seems to be getting better and better.”
Kim Deok-bae scratched the back of the head as if embarrassed by my praise and said.
“Go, thank you.”
“Then how long do you think it will take for saturation?”
At my words, Kim Deok-bae did the math for a while and said,
“Honestly, at the current pace, I don’t think it will take long. Even if 2,000 skeletons produce shoes 24 hours a day, that’s about 5 million pairs a month, because we don’t just make shoes.”
The reason we bought a large factory was to have a hybrid system that makes everything in one factory.
So, if you invest roughly half of the production in shoes, it would be 2.5 million, but only Rocco alone had already filled a quarter of that amount.
“Okay, okay. Then set standards. When production is saturated, let’s pretend that it’s just a week, and then add five hundred.”
“I don’t think that’s bad enough… No, but if you keep making five hundred pieces, how much do you want to make?”
“Until it becomes.”
“I think that’s why Ceron is bringing all the Chinese shoes. haha. Of course, it sounds like a dream.”
“How many workers are there?”
“Don’t be surprised.”
Kim Deok-bae said with a tired expression.
“There are over a million people working in shoemaking alone, a million people. In any case, one of China’s tactics should be acknowledged.”
I thought I would be surprised by the sheer number of employees and the size of the industry, but I was quite the opposite.
“Girl?”
Is it just that?
That’s what makes the shoe-related industry tens of trillions of dollars in sales?
“Ah… a kid?”
is not it?
If you look at it, large Korean companies would not have hundreds of thousands of employees, including subcontractors, but they would generate hundreds of trillions of sales.
Looking at it that way, it seems that the sales are low compared to the number of employees as it is definitely a low value-added industry.
Anyway, that’s enough to make tens of billions of sales, right?
damn, what do you do?
After all, China’s role as the world’s factory was created by stealing jobs from other countries with cheap labor costs.
don’t feel sorry for it too much
It’s all because I plan to use it for a good place.
“You mean that one million skeletons can eat the entire Chinese shoe industry? No. Skeletons work 24 hours a day, no weekends, so I think 300,000 would be enough?”
“Are you serious?”
“Do you know? Am I really going to make 300,000?”
I was the one who made and carried 500,000 units for combat.
At the very least, a shoe-making skeleton would be fine with 3 million, not 300,000, right?
Kim Deok-bae said with an awkward expression.
“Now I can’t tell if it’s a joke or a serious one.”
“I just think it is.”
I’m too lazy to explain.
just see and feel
I said with a smirk.
“If I have another volume, I’m the guy who doesn’t go anywhere. I’ll see you later, how will it be?”
*
When it became saturated, I added a skeleton that took a little time, and then added it again.
It was a series of simple infinite repetitions, but the effect was enormous.
The shoe makers who tasted Ceron, led by Rocco, pulled out the quantity they would like to give to other factories and pushed them into Ceron.
Thanks to this, Seron is growing at a terrifying speed day by day.
But there was one thing that was disappointing.
“Why do all the mid-tier manufacturers only come up with offers?”
That is, the world’s top ten maker that immediately comes to mind when people think of shoes is no news.
Those makers are the most coveted prey with over ten trillion sales in a year, but they never get a bite.
“It is said that a place like Nice has tens of trillions of sales per year. It would be a whole bunch of money if we could get the quantity there.”
Kim Deok-bae shook his head and said.
“At that level, the position is a little different from that of mid-tier manufacturers.”
“why?”
“Usually, mid-sized manufacturers compete with design and marketing. But when you become a global top maker, you tend to put your technology ahead.”
“It’s technology….”
“We develop and apply various new materials necessary for shoes, and we show off our technology by wearing shoes with our technology to famous sports stars. The problem is that these new materials are not simply developed by manufacturers alone. You developed a new material through technical cooperation or joint research with a partner you have been working with for a long time, but suddenly the production line is moved to us? It’s not that easy.”
It is said that the barrier to entry is thicker for top-tier makers, unlike mid-tier makers who make them with materials widely available on the market.
I said with a sad expression.
“It’s technology.”
If there’s only one thing that Seron lacks, it’s technology.
Our main weapon is the ultimate cost performance that is not found in the world.
“Of course you don’t have to worry. After all, it will be resolved with time. No matter how technical a partnership is, the relationship is never permanent. In the end, if Seron continues to grow, the response will come first. If we build relationships like that, one day, the quantity from that manufacturer will naturally come to us.”
“How are you so sure?”
Then Kim Deok-bae said with a bitter expression.
“…because the Korean shoe industry has been so ruined.”
“ah.”
“A medium-sized maker who has a wide range of motion and is unhappy with a penny gets out first. And top makers with big tech barriers are slowly getting out. It’s a natural cycle for the footwear industry.”
In other words, Seron is the opposite.
First, medium-sized makers come first, then top-tier makers.
“Then, shouldn’t we also have to improve our skills a bit for the future?”
“There is nothing to lose by improving your skills.”
“Should I set up a research lab?”
So, after thinking about it for a while, Kim Deok-bae, who looked at me, said:
“CEO, do you know the Korean Shoes Association?”
“What is it?”
“This association was established when Korea was in the midst of prosperous footwear. Originally, it was an organization representing the interests of shoe companies… Well, now it is virtually invisible. The shoe industry itself, the foundation, has completely collapsed. Still, it is the largest and only organization in Korea with hundreds of shoe factories.”
“Why the shoe association all of a sudden?”
“I’m telling you to talk about technology. The factories belonging to the association have survived the low-cost offensive from China, and they are truly elite. Naturally, the accumulated technology is quite high. Especially with special shoes like safety boots. Wouldn’t it be the fastest way to reinforce the technical skills that Ceron lacks by establishing a technical alliance with those factories?”
“Ohh?”
Shoe factories that have competed with China’s cost-effectiveness with technology.
Of course, even if it were, it would be far short of the technological prowess of a top-tier maker boasting tens of trillions of sales, but it would still be quite a bit compared to Seron.
Kim Deok-bae said with a bewildered expression.
“Actually, I am one of the oldest members of the association, and the association has been contacting me continuously and suggesting that the president join the association. In the meantime, I’ve been rejecting everything in my line because it’s obvious that the CEO’s personality would bother me, but when you talk about technology, I think of it.”
I said with a smirk.
“You understand it well.”
If it wasn’t for technology, I probably wouldn’t have seen it.
What do I regret joining the association?
However, the technical partnership with the association members is quite appealing.
“Most of the members of the association have been in the shoe industry for decades, so they have a lot of connections, so it won’t hurt to be friendly.”
That’s right…
I thought for a while and said.
“Then join. After all, President Kim is also a member, so what will change if I do one more?”
Kim Deok-bae nodded and said.
“haha. All right.”
“You’re not going to annoy me or be like that by being territorial, right?”
“Oh my gosh, you’re terrified. I am a member of the association for 25 years, and my acquaintance there is a truck. Who would dare bother you?”
“Then, please take care of it and take care of it.”
Kim Deok-bae nodded and said.
“All right. I will talk to the association.”
*
Shortly after announcing their intention to join through Kim Deok-bae, I and Kim Deok-bae were invited to hold a welcome ceremony.
By the way.
“Is the welcome ceremony like this really big and grand?”
A shoe association that rented a large hall and hosted a welcome ceremony.
Then, even Kim Deok-bae, who promoted the association’s membership and 25-year member of the association, said with a bewildered expression.
“Hey, this is the first time I’ve ever seen something like this…”
Kim Deok-bae, who was so flustered for a moment, said with a smile.
“Isn’t that the extent to which the position of the CEO has changed?”
“Hmm.”
I said while looking at the banner that said Ceron CEO Han Ji-hyuk’s joining ceremony.
“We’ve come all the way here, let’s go inside.”
When I went inside like that, I saw about 200 people filling the hall.
Then a middle-aged man came up to me and grabbed my hand and said,
“Welcome, Chief Han. This is Yoo Yong-oh, the president of the Shoes Association.”
“Nice to meet you, Chairman.”
Then the people sitting in the hall clapped and shouted.
“welcome!”
“Wow!”
Yoo Yong-oh said with a smile.
“Everyone rushed to the news that a representative joined the association. haha.”
“ah. Yes.”
“Let’s go to the front first, you’re the main character today.”
As I was walking alone, guided by Yoo Yong-oh, I spoke to Kim Deok-bae in a low voice.
“Can you understand the situation?”
Then, Kim Deok-bae, who was greeting his acquaintances in the hall, also said whether he felt strange.
“Something is strange. There has never been such a high attendance rate at the regular general meeting…”
“okay?”
An unprecedented large-scale sign-up event that surprised Kim Deok-bae.
There is even an incredibly high participation rate.
I quietly followed Yoo Yu-oh and said with a smile.
“It’s fun.”
I don’t know the exact situation, but this one thing is clear.
This is definitely not a place to simply celebrate my joining.
I am even more confident because I have endured through envy, jealousy, and hatred for nearly 30 years.
So Yoo Yong-oh sat down at the seat that Yoo Yong-oh had guided, and Yoo Yu-oh went up to the podium, grabbed the microphone, and started talking.
“Now that the main character has arrived, let’s start the welcome ceremony in earnest.”
The members of the association applauded those words like a fever.
“First of all, before we begin the welcome ceremony, we need to re-examine our reality. As you know, Korea was once the world’s second largest exporter of footwear.”
I said to Kim Deok-bae with a slightly surprised expression.
“Second? Are you serious?”
“Yes. There have been times.”
That’s how it has gone down in just a few decades.
rather good
Since Ceron is in the exact reverse order of the Korean footwear industry, the fact that the Korean footwear industry has collapsed quickly means that Ceron can grow that much faster.
At that time, Yoo Yong-oh continued his speech.
“At that time, there were thousands of shoe factories across the country and hundreds of thousands of workers in related industries. But what about now?”
Yoo Yong-oh said with a lamentable expression.
“There are only a little over 300 companies remaining in Korea, and among them, there is not a single business with more than 500 employees. The number of workers, from hundreds of thousands, has now reached the level of 7,000, less than 10,000, and that is not enough, and it continues to decrease with negative growth every year. Everyone said, the Korean shoe industry is over.”
Wow.
I jumped in knowing it was broken, but it really broke.
All of the industries that used to be the second largest in the world collapsed, and the total number of employees totaled around 7,000, and even that is decreasing every year.
So, excluding office workers, how many actual workers are there?
I said in a quiet voice.
“Even if we combine all the remaining factories in Korea, it won’t work for us.”
Kim Deok-bae nodded and said.
“It’s been a while since that happened. Didn’t I tell you, you can’t play games with China and Southeast Asia. In fact, it’s been a while since I’ve survived so far.”
At that moment, Yoo Yong-oh called out.
“However!”
Yoo Yong-oh said with a stern expression on his face.
“At that time, CEO Han Ji-hyuk appeared! And he showed himself that there is still hope for the Korean shoe industry with a new construction method using skeletons!”
“We are taking back the footwear industry from China, which has taken away the entire Korean footwear industry by using cheap labor! Isn’t this the dream we’ve always longed for? Building the Korean footwear industry again!”
“Wow!”
Yoo Yong-oh exclaimed with applause from the members of the association.
“If CEO Han Ji-hyeok shares that power with us, we can all stand up together! By letting the world know that win-win is not just about cheap labor costs! Isn’t it!”
“you’re right!”
“I am confident that CEO Han Ji-hyeok’s joining the association will signal the revival of the Korean footwear industry! Together with CEO Han Ji-hyuk’s skeleton, we will all stand up together!”
As if responding to the president’s words, the association members shouted.
“Han Ji-hyuk! Han Ji-hyuk!”
I said with a smirk.
“I did something and this was it.”
In the end, they turn around and ask to borrow the skeleton.
I’ll just go out.
When are you dealing with so many annoying people?
okay.
What technology is technology.
Just export as usual.
“Wait a moment!”
Kim Deok-bae, who was sitting next to him, jumped up from his seat and said.
“As a member of the association and an employee of Ceron, I would like to say something. President of the Association, this is something that has not been discussed with us before, is it okay to talk about it in public like this?!”
Kim Deok-bae raises his head and says whether he was genuinely angry when he suddenly heard a strange noise while he was trying to sign up.
The members of the association, who were cheering for Kim Deok-bae’s words, began to murmur.
“uh? Wasn’t it just a bit of a talk?”
“what?”
Well?
what.
that reaction.
Did you hear that it was just a story?
At that time, Kim Deok-bae said with an angry expression.
“The skeleton is our core resource, but at the same time, it is the unique ability of the CEO. How is this different from asking the Awakened to share their abilities now!”
Then the president of the association said with a calm expression on his face.
“Come on, calm down. Isn’t it just about discussing possibilities? And I’m not asking to borrow it for free, but paying a fair price…”
“Then you have to make a formal request, how are you going to drive the situation like this!”
I thought as I listened to their conversation.
‘The members of the association are embarrassed by strange remarks in advance. And the president of the association who continues to drive the situation.’
I said with my eyes shining.
“Hey, someone is blowing wind from behind.”
It was clear that someone who coveted the Skeleton’s labor force was having an affair with the association and its members and then driving the situation forward.
“Ohh······.”
I was just going to ignore everything and leave, but that would be a different story.
You dare to plan against me?
If you need a skeleton, you should have knelt before me and prayed.
Then I would have pretended to think of myself in the position of trying to be a good person.
I closed my eyes and thought, ignoring the arguing between the president of the association and Kim Deok-bae.
‘how will we do it.’
It was burdensome to deal directly with me, so I put the association first.
The reason for this is that there is also wind, but all the members of the association are so greedy for a hand called a skeleton that is shaken by the wind.
then······.
I said with a smirk.
“Shall I just eat the association?”
If I eat only the association, the soles of Korean shoes are completely mine.
At the same time, it’s like taking all the weapons the guys who cheated on you from behind.
The reason I didn’t enter the Korean domestic market in the first place was because I was concerned about the backlash of existing companies. If I devour the whole association, I will make all the existing companies on my side, so there is no need to notice any more.
I turned my head to look at the faces of the other members of the association.
The members of the association, who were embarrassed by receiving the wrong remarks, grew darker as the argument between Kim Deok-bae and the president of the association grew longer.
“…you mean you won’t lend it to me after all?”
“The good things are that only they want to write.”
“shit.”
The more the association president and Kim Deok-bae argue, the more negative the atmosphere is toward Seron.
It’s like we’re becoming selfish people.
Perhaps this is the situation the guys behind them were aiming for.
“Even though······!”
I said holding the arm of Kim Deok-bae, who was still angry.
“Stop it, Mr. Kim.”
If we argue any further, it’s only us that loses.
“Yes?! But, sir!”
“You can stop.”
I got up from my seat and said.
“The President of the Association.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It seems that there is a communication problem with each other.”
I said with a bright smile.
“Why don’t we break up today for now, get together sooner or later and see each other again?”