Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 128 Resource Integration (Seeking monthly votes, recommendations, and continued reading)

Chen Bingwen picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and glanced at everyone before saying, "My proposal is: focus on Japan while probing North America. What are your opinions?"

"Mr. Chen, compared to Japan, the North American and European markets are larger and have greater potential. I think it would be advantageous for us to focus on the North American market as our primary development target first!"

As soon as Chen Bingwen finished speaking, Fang Wenshan offered his opinion.

There was silence in the conference room for a moment.

Ling Peiyi, Gu Yongxian, Zhou Zhiyuan, and Li Ming all looked at Chen Bingwen, waiting for his response.

Chen Bingwen felt no displeasure at Fang Wenshan's remarks; on the contrary, he felt a sense of relief.

This is exactly what he wants!
The most dangerous thing for a team is if it's always just one person's voice.

Fang Wenshan's willingness to voice dissenting opinions, and his focus on the potential of core markets, demonstrates that he has not only given serious thought to the issue but also possesses independent business judgment.

This atmosphere of daring to question and challenge is far healthier than being subservient and blindly agreeing.

If he makes all the decisions and the rest of the team are just execution machines, then Chen's will never truly grow into a resilient organization.

What he needs are capable individuals who can stand alone and have strategic vision, not yes-men.

Chen Bingwen nodded, signaling Fang Wenshan to continue: "Director Fang, tell me your reasons."

"First, market size. North America, especially the United States, is the world's largest single consumer market with strong per capita purchasing power, and its beverage market size far exceeds that of Japan."

Capturing North America means huge sales and profit potential.

Secondly, the ripple effect. The North American market has global influence, and successfully entering North America has a strong demonstration and driving effect on subsequent entry into English-speaking markets such as Europe and Australia.

Third, brand prestige. Establishing a foothold in the mainstream North American market is of paramount importance for enhancing Chen Kee's global brand image and value.

Fourth, the technological barriers are relatively low. North American consumers are more receptive to new things, and although the functional beverage market is not as mature as the cola market, it already has a foundation and doesn't have the deep taste and cultural barriers of the Japanese market.

He paused, then added, "As for the risks, they certainly exist."

But high risk is often accompanied by high reward.

Our 'Pulse' flavor was tested in a blind taste test with 4800 people in North America, and the acceptance rate was as high as 96.7%, proving that the product itself is competitive.

With the right strategy and sufficient investment, it is entirely possible to break into the North American market.

Fang Wenshan's views are clear and powerful, representing the business mindset of a considerable number of people who pursue economies of scale.

Chen Bingwen listened patiently, but did not immediately refute. Instead, he turned his gaze to the others: "Director Ling, Attorney Gu, Professor Zhou, Manager Li, what do you think?"

Ling Peiyi pondered for a moment before speaking, "I agree with what Director Fang said about market size and brand effect."

North America is indeed a huge pie.

However,” she changed the subject, “Chen Sheng’s proposal to focus on Japan while testing the waters in North America, I believe, is more in line with our current situation and risk tolerance.”

She looked at Vincent Fang and argued, "Director Fang, you are right that the North American market has huge potential."

However, turning potential into actual sales requires huge investment and a long nurturing period.

As you know, Coca-Cola's bottling plant system naturally harbors suspicion and resistance towards new brands, especially foreign ones.

To get them to truly invest resources in promoting 'Pulse', we need to incur channel costs and marketing expenses far exceeding expectations.

This investment is too risky for our current size.

She then analyzed the advantages of the Japanese market: "Looking at Japan, we have Toho and Toho, our 'local' joint venture partner, and the perfect opportunity presented by the release of 'Drunken Master'."

Suntory has strong channel execution capabilities, which are relatively controllable.

More importantly, Jackie Chan became a sensation in Southeast Asia because of "Drunken Master". If this process can be repeated in Japan, his endorsements and product placements in movies can save us astronomical advertising costs and bring huge initial traffic and trust endorsement.

This is a resource that money can hardly buy.

After hearing Ling Peiyi's words, Chen Bingwen silently gave her a thumbs up in his heart.

This is the perspective an operations director should have: considering all factors, analyzing the pros and cons, and taking a long-term view.

Instead of analyzing it solely from the perspective of products and markets.

Li Ming, as the marketing manager, also expressed his opinion: "It is true that the North American market is large, but the competition is also more intense."

We need to build brand awareness from scratch, which is a huge challenge.

Although the Japanese market is mature, its market size is relatively small. I think it is more reasonable for us to start with Singapore and gradually upgrade the market we need to develop.

Coupled with the momentum from "Drunken Master," it's easier to generate buzz and attention in a short period, thus breaking through the current predicament.

After listening to everyone's remarks, Chen Bingwen spoke again, "Director Fang, I understand your emphasis on the North American market."

Making the pie bigger is the goal of every company.

But for businesses, especially those like ours with a relatively shallow foundation, we can't just focus on how big the pie is; we need to see if our tools are long enough to steadily cut our slice, rather than choking on the pie or having our tools broken.

He stood up, walked to the world map on the wall of the conference room, and pointed to Japan: "The Japanese market is the 'knife and fork' that we can currently control the most."

Dongbao Donghe is our joint venture partner, Suntory is a controllable channel, "Drunken Master" is a ready-made and powerful marketing nuclear weapon, and Jackie Chan is a highly influential spokesperson.

With the right timing, favorable location, and harmonious relationships, all three are in place! This is a fleeting opportunity! Seize it, and we can leverage a mature, high-end market with relatively little investment!

What does it mean to gain a foothold in Japan?
This means we can quickly recover funds and accumulate valuable international operating experience.

More importantly, it can help us build strong brand momentum!

A brand that succeeds in the demanding Japanese market will face far less resistance when entering North America and Europe!

He looked around at everyone, his gaze finally settling on Vincent Fang: "Director Fang, I understand your desire for the North American market; it's a dream come true."

But reaching the stars and the sea requires a sturdy ship and ample supplies.

Japan is the perfect shipyard for us to build this ship and stockpile these supplies!

"Taking Japan will give us a springboard and the confidence to launch expeditions into North America and Europe!"

Fang Wenshan remained silent for a moment, then finally exhaled slowly, "Mr. Chen, I understand."

You are considering the overall picture and risk control.

I admit that I focused too much on the absolute size of the market and neglected the risks and resource allocation at the execution level.

The Japanese market is indeed a more stable and efficient choice for us at this stage.

Chen Bingwen smiled and said, "Very good."

Now that everyone has reached a consensus, the current product promotion strategy is:
Focus primarily on Japan, proceeding steadily and surely; in the North American market, wait for opportunities, take small, rapid steps, accumulate experience, and never be reckless!

After speaking, he sat back in the main seat and began to assign specific tasks.

Ling Pei-yi was in charge of overall coordination, responsible for finalizing all joint marketing details for "Drunken Master" before and after its release with Toho, Toho, and Suntory!

This includes tasks such as creating posters, trailers, interstitial advertisements, cinema lobby displays, ticket and drink bundled packages, and media press releases.

Li Ming was responsible for liaising with Suntory's channel manager to ensure the distribution of Pulse and bottled sugar water.

Fang Wenshan was assigned by Chen Bingwen to serve as the regional head of the North American market.

"Director Fang," Chen Bingwen looked at Fang Wenshan and emphasized, "Your task is to conduct preliminary investigations. Strive to establish 1-2 core pilot sales points in each of the five cities of New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Toronto by the end of March."

First, utilize Coca-Cola's distribution channels to distribute the product and gather real market feedback.

At the same time, we established connections with Coca-Cola's bottling plants and distribution channels to understand logistics costs and terminal sales speed.

During this trial sales phase, we're not focused on sales volume; our main focus is on data and feedback from various sources.

“Understood, Mr. Chen.” Fang Wenshan nodded and confirmed, “I will personally follow up to ensure the authenticity of the data and feedback information.”

With the market development tasks clearly assigned to each individual, the meeting room was filled with a sense of tension, as if a battle was about to begin.

Chen Bingwen looked around and said with a smile:

"Everyone, the Chinese New Year is just around the corner."

During the Lunar New Year, Hong Kong Island will be closed for holidays, but the markets won't wait for us.

In the Japanese market, the release window for "Drunken Master" is shortly after the new year, which is a golden opportunity that will not come again if missed.

Trial sales in North America also require time to expand and be observed.

Therefore, this period before the Spring Festival is our last preparation time!

All work must be completed within this timeframe, including basic infrastructure and initial deployment!
Raw materials are in stock, production lines are debugged, marketing plans are finalized, channel communication is in place, and legal documents are complete!

What I want is for everyone to be up and running immediately after the Spring Festival holiday, ready to launch the first battle of the new year!

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable determination.

"Understood!" Ling Peiyi was the first to respond, her voice crisp and clear.

“Received!” Fang Wenshan replied immediately.

"We guarantee to complete the mission!" Zhou Zhiyuan, Gu Yongxian, and Li Ming responded in unison. An invisible fighting spirit rose in the conference room. There were no grand words, only concise responses and solemn expressions, but everyone was clear about the burden on their shoulders and the urgency of the time.

After the meeting.

The participants carried out various preparatory tasks according to their respective responsibilities.

Chen Bingwen was responsible for overall coordination and command, including drafting the joint marketing plan for Japan, the site selection report for the North American pilot sales point, the production and quality inspection report, and the signing of legal documents.
All of this required his careful review, one by one.

The intense work lasted for a whole week.

In Japan, Ling Pei-yi's team and Toho Towa have basically finalized the release date for "Drunken Master" on February 11 (weekend).

The joint marketing plan was detailed down to the design of each poster, the number of seconds of the ad slots, and the style and quantity of items displayed in the cinema lobby.

Li Ming and Suntory have also initially finalized a list of 500 stores for the first batch of distribution, and are currently conducting final confirmation.

As the Lunar New Year of 1979 drew closer, the festive atmosphere on the streets and alleys of Hong Kong Island gradually intensified.

Shops hung red lanterns and pasted Spring Festival couplets, and pedestrians seemed to walk more lightly.

That evening, Chen Bingwen finally finished reviewing the last document that required his signature.

Leaning back in his chair, he let out a long sigh of relief.

The most important deployment and preparation work before the Spring Festival has finally been completed within a very short timeframe, with the framework established and preliminary implementation completed.

The remaining details of execution and the post-holiday sprint will require the team to implement them.

He glanced at his watch; it was already 5 p.m. on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month.

The company officially starts its holiday tomorrow.

He stood up, put on his coat, and said to his secretary, Ali, "Ali, tell Liu Ermeng to go to the Kwun Tong factory."

Kwun Tong Factory.

The factory area was much quieter than usual, with most workers having gone home for the holidays, and only a few employees on duty and finishing up were still there.

Chen Bingwen did not go to his office first, but went straight to the production workshop.

When he left home this morning, Wang Qiaozhen repeatedly told him to bring his cousin Shuisheng home with him when he returned home tonight.

Therefore, his main purpose in coming to the Kwun Tong factory was to pick up Wang Shuisheng.

From afar, he saw Wang Shuisheng and an experienced worker carefully inspecting the cleaned production line, with Wang Shuisheng taking notes in a notebook.

Compared to when he first arrived, Shui Sheng is much stronger now. His skin is still a healthy dark color, but his eyes have lost the timidity and confusion he had when he first arrived, and have gained more focus and confidence.

He was dressed in a clean technical staff uniform, with his company name tag pinned to his chest, meticulously completing the final inspection before the Spring Festival.

"Brother Shuisheng," Chen Bingwen called out.

Shui Sheng looked up at the sound and saw Chen Bingwen. His face immediately lit up with a delighted smile: "Awen? What brings you here?"

He quickly greeted the old master and hurried over.

"I came to visit and also to pick you up for dinner; it's our family reunion today."

Chen Bingwen smiled and looked him over. "How are you doing now that you've been promoted to technician? Are you adjusting well?"

Shui Sheng rubbed his hands a little shyly, but his eyes shone with light: "I'm adapting well. The factory workers are willing to teach me, so I'll learn and work as much as I can."

Manager Gao and Manager Zhong said I was a hard worker and a quick learner, so they let me try learning the skills on the job. It's really nothing special, just a matter of being attentive.

The experienced craftsman next to him chimed in with a smile, "Mr. Chen, Shuisheng is indeed a promising young man!"
He is hardworking, quick-witted, and nimble-fingered. Now he can handle simple equipment debugging and troubleshooting on his own.

His colleagues at the factory all respected him.

Chen Bingwen nodded with satisfaction.

From his initial role as a raw material warehouse worker to his current role as a technician involved in production line maintenance, Wang Shuisheng's diligence and hard work have been evident to him.

This kind of growth and recognition gained through one's own efforts is far more valuable than mere care from relatives.

"Good, very good." Chen Bingwen patted Wang Shuisheng on the shoulder. "Go change your clothes, and come home with me in a bit."

After picking up Wang Shuisheng, Chen Bingwen instructed his driver, Liu Ermeng, to drive the car back to Weiye Building.

They found Zhao Gang and his group in the security department office.

"Chen Sheng!" Upon seeing Chen Bingwen, Zhao Gang immediately stood up, and the other two also stood up straight.

Although they have retired from the military and started working, they still maintain this habit that is ingrained in their bones.

"Relax," Chen Bingwen waved his hand, and seeing that only Zhao Gang and two other team members were there, he asked, "Where are the others?"

"Reporting to General Manager Chen, two people are on patrol, and two are taking turns resting in the dormitory."

Zhao Gang reported in a loud voice.

Chen Bingwen nodded.

He noticed several lunchboxes on the office desk, clearly a makeshift dinner.

"Today is the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, the family reunion dinner." Chen Bingwen looked at them, his tone calm but not dismissive, "Don't eat cold food here."

Invite everyone to my house for dinner.

Zhao Gang was stunned for a moment, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He immediately said, "Mr. Chen, this...this is against the rules. Our duty is to protect your safety."

We'll take care of our New Year's Eve dinner here ourselves; we wouldn't want to disturb you and your family's reunion.

“What rules or regulations?” Chen Bingwen laughed. “The New Year is the biggest rule.”

As for safety, just arrange the shifts; it'll only take the time it takes to eat a meal. The sky won't fall.

You've come from the north, and this is your first time spending the Lunar New Year on this unfamiliar Hong Kong Island. How can you expect to be all alone?

"Listen to me, all of you go. That's an order."

Zhao Gang's lips moved, but looking into Chen Bingwen's sincere eyes, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to say "against the rules."

He straightened his back and said in a deep voice, "Yes! Thank you, Mr. Chen! I'll arrange it right away!"

He quickly picked up the internal phone and notified the team members to assemble downstairs.

Soon, the two cars drove towards Sham Shui Po, one after the other.

Ahead was Chen Bingwen's car, with him and Wang Shuisheng sitting inside.

Behind them was the company van, carrying Zhao Gang and six others.

Jindu Garden.

Oh dear, everyone's here!

Come in quickly, come in quickly!
"Is it cold outside?" Wang Qiaozhen asked warmly, her face beaming with a smile as she wore an apron.

Chen Guofu smiled and took out the prepared beer and soda: "Great! Everything's good! Come on, sit down, don't stand!"

Shui Sheng, naturally familiar with the place, helped fetch the bowls and chopsticks.

Zhao Gang and the others seemed a little flustered. They were led to seats, where they sat up straight and repeatedly said "thank you".

"We're all family, don't be shy!" Chen Bingwen said with a smile as he poured them beer. "Once you're in Hong Kong, you're part of Chen's family, one of us."

How can I let you spend the first year of the new year in the dorm all alone?

"Relax, everyone, make yourselves at home."

This simple sentence made Zhao Gang and the others relax their tense shoulders slightly.

At the dinner table, there was some initial awkwardness, but after a few beers, the atmosphere quickly warmed up.

When Chen Guofu asked about the New Year customs in their hometown, Zhao Gang became more talkative, describing the dumplings, firecrackers, and ice lanterns of the North, which aroused everyone's curiosity.

Shuisheng would occasionally chime in, telling interesting stories from the factory.

Wang Qiaozhen kept piling food onto everyone's plates, saying, "Eat more, eat more! Look at you all, working so hard, you need to eat more to nourish yourselves!"

Seeing his parents' happy smiles, seeing Shui Sheng's gradually brightening expression, and seeing the festive ease and warmth on Zhao Gang and the others' faces, Chen Bingwen felt a rare sense of peace and contentment.

The complexities and pressures of the business world seem to be temporarily dispelled by the warmth of home at this moment.

Isn't all this struggle to protect this warmth and let more people around us feel it?
He raised his glass: "Come on, it's Chinese New Year! I wish everyone a smooth and peaceful new year! And I also wish Chen's Restaurant even greater success!"

"Happy New Year!"

"Wishing Chen's business great success!"

(End of this chapter)