Chapter 52

Wu Su and Fan Cheng were very famous figures in domestic OEM factories.

The couple had been running sports shoe OEM factories in the southeast coastal area, and since the 80s and 90s, they had accumulated great prestige. Moreover, the couple operated with integrity and did things fairly. Whether it was upgrading the production chain or the welfare benefits for employees, they were benchmarks in the industry.

It was precisely because of their investment in all aspects that they could not keep the unit price as low as other OEM factories. Under the current economic situation, especially with the continuous transfer of domestic production lines to Southeast Asia, they encountered great economic difficulties.

Since this year, they had lost a large number of orders.

This time, they ran from Zhongguo to the United States just to strive for Nike, which they had been cooperating with, to continue to contract orders to them. For this, they even gave up a large part of their profits.

After all, so many workers in the factory were waiting to start work; this was a matter for hundreds of families.

However, the cold American streets were heartless.

Fan Cheng and Wu Su were turned away repeatedly.

Then, they made a decision; they wanted to establish their own brand, no longer earn low OEM fees, and no longer work for foreign brands.

However, the road to establishing a brand was so arduous, they were very sad.

At this time, they received a call from their cousin. The cousin said he wanted to cooperate with them and said it very nicely. But they had suffered under him before and didn't trust this person's character. So, they refused flatly.

Then, they received calls from domestic brands one after another.

From their conversations, they realized... their son who was in the United States had actually soared into the sky and become an NBA superstar.

They were simply stunned.

When they saw reports about Fan Xi on American TV, when they saw their son's poster outside Staples Center, the most famous basketball arena in Los Angeles.

They couldn't help but believe everything that was happening in front of them.

They had processed basketball shoes for Nike; they knew that the price of basketball shoes was very high, and the workmanship requirements were the strictest.

So, Wu Su called her son at this time.

Fan Xi picked up the phone in surprise; he hadn't been in touch with his mother for a long time. He originally thought that since he had become so famous in Zhongguo, his parents should have known long ago.

But who knew... his parents had been overwhelmed by their careers recently and hadn't paid attention to this. Fan Xi had been in the United States for so long, even friends his parents knew couldn't easily link the two. Only that cousin who was painstakingly drilling for profit realized this, but he was insidious and cunning, wanting to use Fan Xi to get rich.

Therefore, it led to the couple only now knowing that their son had become a superstar.

As soon as the phone was connected, Fan Xi said happily to his mother: "Do you know? Mom, my childhood dream has finally come true. I have made it into the NBA, and I am very famous. I don't have to go back to inherit the family business."

Fan Xi was particularly excited.

His voice made his parents on the other end of the phone silent for a while. Wu Su thought: Son, there might not be a family business for you to inherit. However, thank God, you finally realized your dream. I heard that the salary of NBA players is very high. Now that you have become a famous player, Dad and Mom don't have to worry about you in the future.

Seeing his mother silent on the other end of the phone, Fan Xi said: "What? Are you unhappy? Mom, I promise you, I will not only play well, I will also complete my studies, and I will continue to learn. I will not let myself become someone who knows nothing but playing ball."

Wu Su was very moved; her son's sensibility even made her shed tears.

She said happily to her son: "Xiao Xi, Dad and Mom are in Los Angeles now. We all want to see you. You haven't been home for the New Year for two years."

Fan Xi hurriedly stated his location. He didn't expect that mother and son were heart-to-heart, and they were actually in the same hotel.

Fan Xi hurriedly went down to find his parents. Fan Xi found his parents on the top floor, and he jumped up and down in the hallway excitedly.

Family reunion was something Fan Xi was very happy about.

Just then, someone ran out and said: "Keep it down, we are having a meeting inside."

Fan Cheng and Wu Su heard this voice and looked over, their faces changed greatly. It was actually the Nike executive they had been wanting to contact.

And that executive was also shocked; he didn't expect that Fan Xi, whom the entire Nike senior management was looking for, was actually staying in the same hotel as him.

He hurriedly ran over excitedly.

At the same time, Wu Su and her husband also ran over excitedly.

Fan Cheng stretched out his right hand from afar, wanting to shake hands with this vice president named Doug Robert.

Who knew, they went straight to their son. Robert stretched out his hands from three meters away and held Fan Xi tightly: "Jack, we finally found you. We tried every possible way to contact you."

Fan Xi was a little stunned, contact me?

He didn't think he was worth contacting.

Then, he introduced himself, saying he was a senior vice president of Nike, and then said the president was also in Los Angeles.

As he spoke, he led Fan Xi toward the conference room. Fan Xi understood what was going on.

But he didn't want to talk about the contract with Nike so early. He just wanted to reunite with his family and share the warmth of family.

Who knew, Fan Xi's parents seemed very eager to chat with this vice president.

Fan Xi was good at observing words and colors, so he pulled his parents aside to chat.

Wu Su told her son that they came this time to talk about cooperation with Nike.

Once Fan Xi heard this, he understood a little.

So, he told this senior vice president: "I still have something to talk about with my parents. After we finish talking, we will communicate with you again."

Fan Xi had been taught by his mother since he was a child to know himself and the enemy, and not to make decisions easily.

Now, he must understand his parents' needs and situation before he can contact Nike, so as to avoid misjudgment.

The senior vice president was a bit reluctant.

At this time, Fan Cheng handed him a business card, saying that he was the boss of a domestic Sucheng sports shoe manufacturing factory, and he came here to talk about an OEM contract with Nike.

Once Robert heard this, he immediately understood.

He knew that Fan Xi would not leave today.

He also asked in surprise: "Jack is your son?"

"Absolutely authentic!"

Hearing Fan Cheng's affirmative answer.

Robert's attitude immediately changed 180 degrees. Many people say that Americans are not flexible, but in fact, they are the best at being flexible. They are more servile to people who can bring them benefits than Zhongguo people.

This is why many Hollywood movie stars, when the box office is high, producers lick their butts, and once the box office flops and they have no appeal, those producers will be condescending and bossy.

They don't think this is a strange thing; they think this is a high efficiency.

Obviously, Robert now wants to have high-efficiency cooperation with Fan Cheng and his wife.

After Fan Xi and his parents returned to the room.

Robert also returned to the conference room. He told the executives who were having a meeting: "I found Jieke Fan!"

Wow!!!

There was a cheer at the scene.

They were all excited about this. President Phil Knight even stood up happily and said: This is good news, let's contact him immediately, we must not let other brands get there first.

At this time, Robert continued: "There shouldn't be such a possibility. Because Jack is in this hotel, and he is staying next door."

"Then why don't you hurry up and invite him over." Phil Knight said anxiously.

Robert said: "There was a little accident. Our investigation into him was not detailed enough. He is actually the son of the boss of one of our OEM factories. And we gave up renewing the contract with this OEM factory a month ago."

This sentence caused an uproar at the scene.

Phil Knight was a very shrewd operator; he grasped the key to the problem: "Then can we still repair the relationship with this OEM factory now? Also, what is the production quality of this OEM factory? What is the reason we gave it up?"

"They came to the United States this time just to repair the relationship with us. So, I think this problem is not big if we continue to give them orders."

Robert looked through the materials and gave a very accurate evaluation: "The quality of this OEM factory is very high, and the production equipment is the highest among our several OEM factories. It's just that their quote is 0.5% higher than other OEM factories."

0.5%.

This number lingered in Phil Knight's mind.

This is a number that is neither big nor small.

Now all sports brands are compressing OEM costs. Phil Knight hesitated for a long time and said: "Tell Jack, if he can sign an endorsement contract with us, we can let his parents continue to OEM, and even let his parents specifically OEM his sneaker series."

"Then the publicity department can follow up with reports, which will make the increased costs quickly compensated for in the selling price. Consumers now like to hear stories."

Phil Knight was a shrewd entrepreneur; he grasped two keys.

One is to let Fan Xi understand that only by signing with Nike will Nike hand over the OEM contract to his parents. The second is in terms of operation; he knows the psychology of consumers too well, and the ability to tell stories has indeed become the basis for brand premium. Now it is wonderful story material; Fan Xi's fans must really want to wear a pair of sneakers personally made by Fan Xi's father.

They all thought Phil Knight was extremely brilliant.

Phil Knight also asked his assistant to wait at the door of Fan Xi's room. As soon as Fan Xi came out, he would invite him to the conference room.

At this time, another vice president reminded him: "Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te will come over soon to discuss cooperation with us."

Phil Knight waved his hand: "It doesn't matter. They are a rumored couple, and there is no conflict or contradiction in interests. It just so happens that the arrogant Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te team can know that we are a company that values sports stars, not a company that is led by the nose by entertainment stars."

After Fan Xi and his parents entered the room.

His parents told Fan Xi about their current situation exactly as it was. At this time, they no longer treated their son as a child who needed protection.

They were very happy to see that Fan Xi could stand on his own and share their worries.

Fan Xi thought about their problems seriously.

Then he told his parents: "Nike gave me an offer of 7 years and 100 million US dollars. They hope to sign me as an endorser. They are very attentive to me, fancying my court ability and image, as well as my appeal all over the world."

Fan Xi's parents knew their son had become famous, but they didn't expect that he was so famous that Nike, which was calculating, would give 100 million US dollars.

My God!

Fan Cheng counted with his fingers for a long time and said: "We have been OEMing for Nike for twenty years. Even if the assembly line works in three shifts, it is difficult to get this number from them."

Wu Su asked her son: "Is your fame really so great now? I heard that the most famous people in the American basketball world are Kobe Bryant and Le Bu Lang Zhang Si. How do you compare with them?"

"Now, they are definitely stronger." Fan Xi said very seriously: "After all, this is my first season."

"I am now teammates with Kobe, and he has a very good relationship with me. We are the most important players in the Lakers' backcourt. Last night, I just buzzer-beated the Heat led by Le Bu Lang Zhang Si."

"So, brand owners are very optimistic about the player's potential and commercial value. I think my potential has not been fully developed, and there is room for improvement in commercial value. So, actually... I don't really want to sign this 100 million US dollar contract. Before, I even rejected a contract of 1 billion RMB!"

Fan Xi said this sentence calmly.

Then he saw his father Fan Cheng widen his eyes, open his mouth, and his breathing became rapid.

Fan Cheng had been a boss all his life. Although his net worth was said to be over 100 million, it was difficult for him to take out 10 million in cash. And once the order was cut off, there was even a risk of bankruptcy.

But I didn't expect that his son was only 19 years old.

Actually rejected a sponsorship of 1 billion RMB, and was dissatisfied with the 100 million US dollars given by Nike.

Although it is said that the waves behind push the waves in front, this wave behind was too fierce, and his myocardium was a little infarcted.

His wife Wu Su had better psychological quality and a clearer mind. She patted her husband on the shoulder and let him drink some water to calm down.

Then, this wise mother asked Fan Xi: "Xiao Xi, do you really have such great confidence in yourself?"

Fan Xi nodded affirmatively.

Ever since he got the energy halo in his brain, he had never doubted his ability.

And this brave and wise mother had never doubted her son either.

Wu Su made a decision that even her husband couldn't believe: "Then, I decided not to renew the contract with Nike. I cannot let their renewal become a bargaining advantage to kidnap my son."

As soon as Wu Su said this, Fan Xi was awestruck.

Fan Cheng was a bit conservative and said: "But, 100 million US dollars is really a lot. And if we can stabilize the relationship with Nike through this matter, we will also have a continuous stream of income."

"No."

Wu Su shook her head firmly.

She said: "Perhaps, we should change our thinking. We have worked for American companies all our lives, and the money we earned is negligible. They provide a design drawing and a logo, and we work hard to produce for them. As a result, they want to take away 90% of the profits, and we don't even have 10%, and they turned us away because of a 0.5% price difference."

"This year, they compress 5%, and next year they compress another 5%. We have never had dominance and bargaining power."

"Didn't you say you want to build a brand?"

"Now the opportunity has come."

Wu Su said decisively.