Reborn in 2005, starting with repairing mobile phones

Chapter 155 Taking over the flagship store, recruitment plan?

The next day.

Lin Dong was sitting at his desk looking at the design drafts sent by the decoration company.

The computer screen displays a rendering of the flagship store, featuring a white, streamlined ceiling, warm yellow lighting shining through the walls, and a white marble-patterned tabletop with rounded corners.

He looked at it for a while, felt that something was wrong, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Several resumes sent by headhunters were spread out on the table. He flipped through them, then put them down again.

Uncle Cai knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Uncle Cai pushed open the door and came in, holding a folder in his hand and smiling.

"Mr. Lin, good news. The owner of the 2500-square-meter property has agreed. The price is as you said, 20.5 million yuan, with a 30% down payment and the remainder to be paid off in 24 installments. We can sign the contract now. The owner heard we wanted to buy it and came all the way from Hong Kong; he's in the reception room."

Lin Dong minimized the design draft, closed his resume, and stood up.

"Then go there now and sign."

The two left the office and headed towards the reception room.

Pushing open the door, a Hong Kong man in his fifties stood up, dressed in a dark blue suit, his hair neatly combed, and the watch on his wrist gleaming discreetly under the light.

Upon seeing Lin Dong, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes; he probably hadn't expected the boss of Oriental Technology to be so young.

But he quickly suppressed his surprise, smiled, and extended his hand: "Mr. Lin, it's an honor to meet you. You are a handsome and promising young man."

Lin Dong grasped his hand and smiled, "Mr. Huang, you're too kind."

Mr. Huang held Lin Dong's hand tightly, looking him up and down, praising him repeatedly: "I've been doing business in Hong Kong for decades and have seen many young people, but Mr. Lin is the first one who has achieved such success at his age."

Truly a dragon among men, a formidable young talent!

Lin Dong felt comfortable with the praise, but he knew in his heart that this was the style of the older generation of Hong Kong businessmen.

If I make you feel comfortable first, then it will be easier to discuss business later.

Judging from his demeanor, this Mr. Huang's business must be quite large.

The two sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Mr. Huang changed the subject, pointing out the window: "Mr. Lin, let me tell you, when I bought this location, I was optimistic about the development of Futian CBD."

Look at this location, at a crossroads, with glass on three sides and a small plaza in front.

This place will definitely become the city center of Shenzhen in the future. My judgment has always been very accurate.

Lin Dong picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly asked, "Mr. Huang, with such a keen eye and such a high regard for this location, how could you bear to sell?"

Mr. Huang was stunned for a moment, and the smile on his face froze for half a second.

He sighed and waved his hand: "Well, to be honest, Mr. Lin, something happened at home and I urgently need money. This shop has been listed for more than half a year, and there are many inquiries but few offers."

"Only you, Mr. Lin, are truly sincere in wanting to buy." He paused, looking at Lin Dong, "Meeting you today, I can see you are indeed an exceptional person. I believe you will do an even better job in this position. Carry it forward, good job, Mr. Lin."

Lin Dong smiled and said, "Definitely."

The contract was on the table, and both lawyers had checked the terms; there were no problems.

Lin Dong signed and stamped the document.

Mr. Huang signed and stamped the document.

They shook hands, took photos, and exchanged contracts.

From this moment on, that 2500-square-meter glass house belongs to Oriental Technology.

Mr. Huang put the pen in his pocket and said warmly, "Mr. Lin, I'd like to treat you to dinner tonight to celebrate."

Lin Dong shook his head: "Mr. Huang, you're too kind. I have other things to do today. I'll treat you another day."

Mr. Huang didn't insist. He packed his things and prepared to leave.

Lin Dong saw him to the door.

This Hong Kong person makes people feel comfortable with their words and actions. They praise people without being exaggerated, discuss matters without getting bogged down, and they have a perfect sense of proportion.

Lin Dong rarely encountered someone so compatible, so he casually asked, "Mr. Huang, what kind of business do you run?"

Mr. Huang paused for a moment.

He turned around, looked at Lin Dong, hesitated for a few seconds, and then said, "To be honest, Mr. Lin, I'm in the export trade. I mainly deal with the European and American markets, specifically electronic products."

He sighed, "Business has been tough these past two years. The European and American markets are shrinking, and orders are dwindling. I've invested a lot of money, and now I'm facing a cash flow problem. I had no choice but to sell this shop."

Lin Dong didn't say anything.

He knew what Mr. Huang meant by "not easy to do".

In 2005-2006, China's foreign trade exports did indeed experience a difficult period.

With weak demand in European and American markets and significant pressure on the RMB to appreciate, many export business owners are struggling to stay afloat.

But Lin Dong also knew that in a few years, when the global economy recovered, the foreign trade industry would experience a major boom.

Those who persevered have all made a fortune.

He glanced at Mr. Huang, his tone becoming serious: "Mr. Huang, you should stick with this business."

Mr. Huang was taken aback: "Mr. Lin also understands foreign trade?"

Lin Dong smiled but didn't explain: "I was just saying. Your judgment is accurate; you should be better than me."

Mr. Huang looked at him for a few seconds, waved his hand, and said with a smile, "Okay, thank you for your kind words, Mr. Lin. See you again sometime."

He turned and left.

Lin Dong stood at the door, watching his figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

He recalled the reluctance in Mr. Huang's eyes when they signed the contract; selling the shop wasn't what he wanted, but he had no other choice.

Lin Dong withdrew his gaze.

In business, everyone has their own difficulties.

Back in his office, Lin Dong sat down, picked up a piece of paper, and began to do the accounting.

The account originally held 3000 million.

The down payment for the house was 615 million, leaving 2385 million.

The renovation will cost money. He asked the designer about the 2500 square meters. The first floor will have 1500 square meters for showroom and sales, the second floor will have a 500 square meter VIP experience area, and 500 square meters for office and storage.

The total cost, including design, construction, materials, furniture, lighting, and a prototype, is approximately 300 million.

He set aside a budget of 400 million.

After deducting 400 million, 1985 million remains.

On Anderson's side, the initial payment of 750 million for aluminum needs to be set aside.

After deducting 750 million, 1235 million remains.

1235 million is enough to last until the press conference. Eight months, with monthly expenses of about 1.5 million, totaling 12 million over eight months. Just enough, with no room for error. Then there's hiring people and paying salaries, which will be another expense.

He rubbed his temples.

Fortunately, once the aluminum arrived at the port and was sold, the money came back.

Hold on for now.

He put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.

The shop has been bought, the renovation budget has been set aside, and the down payment for the aluminum materials has also been set aside.

Next, it's about people.

A shop won't automatically become a flagship store.

It requires people to decorate, recruit, train, open, and operate the business.

Where do we find these people?

He picked up the pen on the table and wrote on the paper: Store Manager, Assistant Store Manager, Experience Consultant, Administration, Finance, Warehouse Manager, Cleaning Staff,

Security guards. They were listed one by one, and after counting them, there were more than twenty positions.

He stared at the list, his mind racing through candidates.

The store manager should be recruited from outside; they need to understand retail, management, and customer service.

The assistant store manager position can be filled by recruiting from Shenzhen University; they are young, energetic, and willing to learn.

Experience consultants should also be recruited from Shenzhen University; they need to have a good image, strong communication skills, and a fast learning speed.

Administration, finance, and warehousing positions can be filled from within the company; Uncle Cai has connections there.

Cleaning and security are outsourced.

He put the order down.

We haven't found a store manager yet; the headhunter recommended a few, but we're not satisfied with any of them.

The assistant store manager and experience consultant positions could be a great option.

Students at Shenzhen University are young, enthusiastic, have strong learning abilities, and are attached to the school.

They studied at Shenzhen University, so they knew who Lin Dong was and what Oriental Technology was.

They trust him. People recruited from outside might only stay for two years before leaving.

Junior students from Shenzhen University can work there for four years, and after graduation, they might stay on as store managers.

Moreover, these people are not just for this one store.

If we open stores in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing in the future, where will the store managers and regional managers come from? They'll come from this first batch of people. Recruit and train as many as possible now, so that we'll have enough people available when we open new branches.

He picked up a pen and wrote a word on the paper: Shenzhen University. Then he drew a circle around it.

He picked up his phone, found Principal Wang's number, and dialed it.

At this moment, in the president's office of Shenzhen University.

Principal Wang was having tea with Chen Guo.

A purple clay teapot sits on the coffee table, the tea soup is golden yellow, and the aroma is wafting.

Chen Guo picked up his teacup and had just brought it to his lips when Principal Wang's phone vibrated. Principal Wang glanced at the screen, his brow twitched slightly, and he gestured for Chen Guo to be quiet before answering the call.

"Lin Dong? What made you think of calling me?"

"Principal Wang, it's been a long time." Lin Dong's voice came through the receiver. "How are you doing?"

"Everything's fine. How about you? How's work?"

"It's alright, let's keep going."

The two exchanged a few polite words.

Principal Wang held his teacup, not in a hurry to ask about important matters.

He knew Lin Dong must have something to say when he called.

Lin Dong is not the kind of person who chats idly.

Sure enough, Lin Dong changed the subject: "Principal Wang, I would like to recruit a group of students from Shenzhen University."

Principal Wang put down his teacup: "Recruit students? For what?"

"Join my company."

Principal Wang raised an eyebrow.

This kid is here to help the school solve its employment problem.

A smile appeared on his face, but his tone remained steady: "Great, that's a good thing. I support Shenzhen University students getting some experience at your company."

Lin Dong continued, "However, it's not an office job."

Principal Wang's finger paused on the teacup for a moment.

"It's sales. Selling mobile phones."

Principal Wang remained silent.

There was a two-second silence in the office.

Director Chen listened from the side, his hand holding the teacup suspended in mid-air, not daring to move.

He knew that the words "selling mobile phones" carried special weight for Principal Wang.

It doesn't look good for students from Shenzhen University to go out and sell mobile phones.

Lin Dong seemed to know what he was thinking and immediately replied, "Of course, it's only temporary. Our students from Shenzhen University are all top-notch, regardless of their abilities. How could we let them sell phones forever?"

Principal Wang's eyebrows slowly relaxed.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and waited for Lin Dong to continue.

Lin Dong smiled and continued, "Principal Wang, this is what I'm thinking. This phone of mine isn't one of those knock-offs on the market; it's a brand-new smartphone with a full touchscreen and no keyboard."

When the press conference is held, it will definitely cause a sensation.

But as sensational as it may be, what if users get the phone but don't know how to use it?

Someone needs to teach them.

These salespeople aren't selling goods from a counter; they're experience consultants.

When customers come in, chat with them, teach them how to swipe the screen, how to open the app, and how to take photos. Whether they buy anything or not is irrelevant. But the customer remembers the person, the store, and Dongfang Technology.

Principal Wang narrowed his eyes slightly, but didn't move his hand holding the teacup.

"These experience consultants must all have a deep understanding and passion for mobile phones to do their jobs well."

Moreover, starting from the grassroots level, how low can one's future position be?

The positions of store manager, regional manager, and vice president are all empty. First come, first served. Principal Wang, these are all key personnel.

Principal Wang's lips slowly curved into a smile.

He put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, and listened as Lin Dong continued.

Lin Dong said a few more words, each one perfectly chosen—praising the students of Shenzhen University, praising Principal Wang's effective leadership, and extolling the promising prospects for cooperation between Shenzhen University and Oriental Science and Technology University. Principal Wang listened attentively, nodding frequently, his eyebrows and mouth practically pointing to the sky.

Director Chen sat to the side, dumbfounded.

He had followed Principal Wang for so many years and had never seen Principal Wang show such an expression.

This kid's skill level is above mine.

I'll have to ask him to teach me a couple of tricks another day.

After Lin Dong finished speaking, he asked one last question: "Principal Wang, are you right?"

Principal Wang nodded: "Hmm, not bad, not bad."

He hesitated for a moment, then sat up straight and his tone became formal: "Alright, I'll have Chen Guo fully cooperate with you. What kind of students do you need? Third- and fourth-year students, you can transfer them as you like."

Lin Dong thought for a moment: "No specific major is required, but you need to have a good appearance, strong communication skills, and a fast learning speed. Ideally, you should be curious about new things and passionate about technological products."

"Okay," Principal Wang said. "Any other requirements?"

Lin Dong paused, then said seriously, "Principal Wang, what I want are the elite of the elite."

I will dedicate myself to training them, and they must meet the hiring standards of Dongfang Technology.

This way, we can first generate buzz at the school, and within three days, we'll accept as many applicants as possible. I'll personally go there and select the best candidates from among the promising ones. I'll choose the very best of the best, picking one hundred people. The rest will be considered in the next batch.

After hearing this, Principal Wang smiled.

This kid certainly has a big mouth.

But he likes it.

"Okay," Principal Wang said. "Chen Guo will fully cooperate and do his best to get it done."

Lin Dong said on the other end of the phone, "Thank you, Principal Wang."

I hung up the phone.

Principal Wang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and the tea had gone cold, but he didn't care.

He looked at Director Chen and said with a smile, "You know, we were just talking about him when he called. He even helped us solve our students' employment problems. Not bad, not bad."

Director Chen tentatively asked, "Principal Wang, are you so optimistic about Lin Dong? Are you comfortable letting our students follow him in starting a business? You know, the reputation of mobile phones isn't very good these days. There are all sorts of news stories about counterfeit phones, and a lot of them are badmouthing domestic mobile phones."

Moreover, I heard Lin Dong say that he was making a new type of mobile phone, something innovative, starting from scratch. That's risky—"

Principal Wang put down his teacup and looked calmly out the window.

Outside the window, the Shenzhen University campus is shaded by green trees, and students stroll by in twos and threes.

He observed for a while, then slowly spoke: "Lin Dong may have an ordinary background, but his abilities and ideas are extraordinary. His future achievements will likely be no less than Xiao Ma's."

He stood up, picked up the thermos on the table, walked to the door, glanced back at Director Chen, and said, "Let's go, you should get to work. Let Lin Dong see the capabilities of Shenzhen University."

Director Chen responded and quickly followed.