Chapter 303: Mutual Speculation

Regarding the management of the bookstore, although Akiwara Yuto had many experiences from later generations in his mind, from a practical standpoint, he was still somewhat high-minded but low-skilled.

For instance, he was not very familiar with the consignment collection system practiced uniformly across the bookstore industry, nor with the situation regarding the inability to change book prices at will.

But after talking with Sugihara Aisa, he gained a deeper understanding of many inside stories of the bookstore industry.

At the same time, after hearing Akiwara Yuto’s second-hand bookstore plan, Sugihara Aisa also revealed a thoughtful expression.

As a veteran bookstore employee, she was very clear about the difficult current situation facing new book sales due to the economic recession.

She just didn't expect that Akiwara Yuto would actually believe that while the new book market was withering, the second-hand book market would further rise.

The other party even claimed that in the next ten-plus years, the number of second-hand bookstores across Japan would reach several thousand.

Regarding this judgment, Sugihara Aisa did not know if it was credible.

But intuition and experience told her that if the economy continued to wither, it was very likely to reach this point.

"Ms. Sugihara, regarding the staffing aspect, do you have any relevant suggestions?" Akiwara Yuto asked.

According to the previous second-hand bookstore plan, at least 43 or more second-hand bookstores needed to be opened across the country.

Based on a configuration of at least 3 employees per bookstore, he needed at least 130-plus people.

Hearing this question, Sugihara Aisa subconsciously thought of the industry gathering she had attended a few days prior, and subconsciously thought of a solution.

"Akiwara-sensei, according to your requirements, you want to have many franchise bookstores, right?"

Akiwara Yuto replied: "That's correct, but if we do franchising now, there probably won't be many people participating."

To get others to take out real money for franchise fees to participate in the second-hand bookstore business, one must first create a few benchmarks.

But Tsutaya Bookstore currently only has one showroom bookstore, and it only operates in new books.

So in the early stages, he planned to fully invest his personal capital to run the second-hand bookstores as direct-operated stores.

Sugihara Aisa gently bit her lip and hesitantly offered an opinion.

"If there is no problem with the capital, I suggest we could do a loan business."

"Loans?" Akiwara Yuto felt a bit puzzled, but still said: "Tell me about it."

"Akiwara-sensei, your plan is to attract others to join by operating successful direct-operated stores. But what if we could manage to get a few successful franchise stores up and running from the very beginning?"

Sugihara Aisa paused, then continued: "If we could provide loans to some people with relevant needs, and then set up standards to let them open bookstores, it would undoubtedly be the most time-saving and labor-saving method."

And once the business is on the right track, their profits can repay your loan amount."

Akiwara Yuto heard this suggestion and asked again: "People with relevant needs? For example?"

Sugihara Aisa explained: "The bookstore industry has been sluggish these past two years, so many of my friends were forced to leave this line of work to engage in convenience store work or other industries. But in fact, many people still hope to continue dealing with books.

I think that as long as you give them a chance, they will put much more effort into managing book sales than ordinary employees."

Akiwara Yuto laughed in spite of himself; he had already understood the implication behind Sugihara Aisa’s words at this point.

That is, he would lend the money intended for opening direct-operated stores to some of Sugihara Aisa’s friends or peers, letting them open their own respective bookstores.

Then, once the bookstore business was on the right track, they would repay him.

However, although Sugihara Aisa might have her own "selfish motives," this method did indeed have a certain degree of feasibility.

First, the cost of direct-operated stores is too high, requiring rent, labor costs, and so on.

But if it is in the form of lending to others to franchise, a lot of money can be saved on labor costs.

Besides that, these bookstore managers would also have a higher level of motivation when working for themselves.

Akiwara Yuto was tempted, but after thinking about it, he felt he still needed to ask someone in the banking industry to see if there were any loopholes.

"Ms. Sugihara, regarding your suggestion, I still need to consider it further."

Seeing her disappointed expression, he added: "Ms. Sugihara, please come back in two days to sign the agreement. I have no more issues; welcome to Tsutaya Bookstore."

Although he didn't directly agree to the other party's suggestion, he still understood the principle of giving a slap and then a sweet date.

Sure enough, upon hearing that she was officially hired, Sugihara Aisa’s face immediately regained its spirit.

Her suggestion was just to help her friends.

But being hired and obtaining a high salary was something that concerned her personally.

After finishing the interview, Akiwara Yuto left the publishing house in a private car, watching the scenery constantly receding on both sides, and he subconsciously began to think.

Although he was not on good terms with the two companies, Tokyo Sales and Japan Sales, because of their previous cooperation, the two sides still maintained a relationship of being together in appearance but divided in spirit.

Therefore, the sales of the mystery stand-alone books were currently still steady.

However, what new tricks would the Keihan Publishing House come up with?

……

While Akiwara Yuto was thinking about his competitors, the intelligence department of Keihan Publishing House held a meeting regarding the latest developments at Tsutaya Bookstore.

A thin man wearing a loose suit stood up and said, holding a document.

"Executive Director Hosome, as far as we know, Akiwara Yuto seems to be scouting for suitable bookstore operators recently."

Hearing the content of this intelligence, Hosome Reiko, acting as the executive director, furrowed her brows.

Bookstore? What is Akiwara Yuto trying to do?

Could it be that because the stock intake from the distributors has decreased, he intends to create his own terminal sales channel?

But he should have spent all his savings buying the publishing house from Akutsu Goichi, right?

She was a bit puzzled, so she asked her subordinate: "How much money does Tsutaya Bookstore have in its account right now?"

The thin man replied: "According to the market sales data statistics for these two months, their current income should be around 140 million yen."

Hosome Reiko thought for a moment, even more confused.

If calculated solely by the rent and labor in Tokyo, operating a medium-sized bookstore would cost at least around 10 million yen.

And the biggest cost is undoubtedly the cost of stocking books.

The thin man seemed to see through her thoughts and added: "Executive Director Hosome, the movie *Memories of Murder* has now brought the other party a large amount of capital gains; it is enough to open 50 or more bookstores."

Hosome Reiko shook her head: "The other party shouldn't be opening bookstores."

The bookstore industry is currently in the dead of winter, and one can hear news of closures every day.

Opening a store at this time is undoubtedly asking for trouble.

But it really is strange, what exactly does Akiwara Yuto want to do?

Perhaps, I should send someone to take a look?