Chapter 100: A Single Hair Pulls the Whole Body

Busy to the point of madness—this was the situation at Dongling High-Tech. Although they had experienced it once before with the electronic pets, when it came again, it still made Tao Zhiliang feel incredibly busy.

Inside the Dongling High-Tech Electronic Industrial Park, the production lines for Shenzhou phones had increased by another three. Digital cordless phones would not be phased out within the next ten years, or perhaps even thirty years.

Once the Shenzhou digital cordless phone business stabilized, it could be treated as a cash cow, continuously providing cash flow for Dongling High-Tech, and could be maintained for twenty or thirty years.

Tao Zhiliang had now been promoted from a production line team leader to a production supervisor. He was managing the five Shenzhou phone production lines in the electronic industrial park. He had to continuously increase production capacity and set up new lines, so naturally, he was busy to the point of not having a moment to rest.

But for Tao Zhiliang and the staff of the electronic industrial park, while it was truly busy, the increase in wage income was also a fact. Tao Zhiliang's fixed wage had now risen to 800 RMB. Plus position allowances, meal subsidies, transportation subsidies, bonuses, etc., Tao Zhiliang's wage last month exceeded 2,000 RMB!

Although this wage still couldn't compare to foreign companies, Tao Zhiliang was already quite satisfied. Even the wages of people in Pingyang municipal units, and even those in the provincial capital, were far inferior to Tao Zhiliang's, not to mention the various prizes like washing machines and air conditioners that Dongling High-Tech also issued to him.

For other production line staff, although their wages weren't as high as Tao Zhiliang's, calculated out, the average also exceeded 1,000 RMB. The premise for all this was continuously increasing production capacity and being able to sell all the units!

Even with increasing wages and giving outstanding employees rewards like color TVs, washing machines, air conditioners, and refrigerators, the cost of Shenzhou phones was still much lower than Ximen'. This was also the reason why Shenzhou phones could give those sales personnel high commissions in Europe.

To continuously increase production capacity while ensuring product quality, wages and rewards must be guaranteed for production staff. One couldn't just make the horse run without giving it grass; there was no such logic in the world!

"Recruit people who know English, German, French, and other languages as soon as possible and send them to Zhang Ao!"

Inside Dongling High-Tech headquarters, Li Dongling said to Ren Yuefeng. Zhang Ao was spreading his stall across the entire European market, and manpower was in short supply. Compared to Ximen, Shenzhou's foundation in Europe was truly too thin.

Even if they wanted to build a team in Europe, it would take time. By contrast, sending a batch of people from the country to support them would be much faster. Now for Shenzhou phones, time was money; they had to snatch the phone market at the fastest speed!

"We have now issued public recruitment announcements through multiple media outlets and newspapers. If it weren't for the language restrictions, it's estimated that the positions would already be filled!"

Ren Yuefeng said. He wasn't worried at all about whether they could recruit so many people who knew English, German, and French. The country never lacked various talents; it just depended on the cost and price of recruiting them.

Now was a period of "going abroad fever." Many people were breaking their heads wanting to go abroad, mostly concentrated on studying abroad. Otherwise, why were training institutions led by New Oriental so popular? The main reason was that after training, the probability of going abroad increased.

Those who wanted to go abroad longed to live in big villas, buy good cars, and live the modernized life they imagined after going out.

Even taking a step back, if they couldn't make it abroad, they would be snatched up by major units, state-owned enterprises, and private enterprises upon returning home. Now even university students were precious, not to mention returnees. Some units and companies would even specifically emphasize how many returnee talents they had when promoting themselves, using it as a performance to show their strength.

Under this social trend, it was understandable why so many people wanted to go abroad, because there was truly profit to be made. Who would do things without benefits?!

Against this background, Shenzhou phones recruiting personnel for overseas offices, with wages still paid according to the wage levels in places like Britain, one could imagine how many people would sign up.

Since the publication of the newspaper, the recruitment offices set up by Shenzhou in Yanjing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen had almost had their thresholds broken. Every day, long queues formed from morning until night. Even after closing, some people were still unwilling to leave, because going abroad through the Shenzhou company was far stronger than them struggling to try their luck and not knowing when they would be able to go abroad.

This recruitment of personnel for overseas offices by Shenzhou was even regarded by many as an opportunity to change their destiny. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they wanted to grab it even if it meant fighting for their lives.

As for whether these people recruited by Shenzhou would run away after arriving overseas, Li Dongling wasn't worried. The wages Shenzhou paid them were paid according to local wage levels. Wasn't that more than what they would earn by working illegally and washing dishes for others?!

"The sales team and network Zhang Ao built in Europe need to be preserved. This time in Europe, it's all thanks to him!"

"Yes!" Hearing Li Dongling's words, Ren Yuefeng couldn't help but feel a bit of emotion. Zhang Ao was truly the kind of person who could fight tough battles. His performance in Europe this time completely exceeded his expectations.

Ren Yuefeng felt that perhaps only in the current wild era in the country could such a fierce general like Zhang Ao appear. People in Hong Kong or other places, going to Europe to do brand research, market surveys, etc., would then give up without fighting, because from the perspective of the cards, Ximen was almost a winning hand. No matter how one played, they were going to win!

But who could have imagined that Zhang Ao would forcefully pull teeth from a tiger's mouth, go head-to-head with Ximen, and even flip it over and occupy the upper hand? However, Ren Yuefeng glanced at Li Dongling. He knew clearly that Zhang Ao daring to make such a big commotion in Europe was inseparable from Li Dongling's full support.

Selling one unit and giving a 30 USD commission—would Franker dare to do that? If he dared to mention it, the Ximen board would have him roll out immediately. But Zhang Ao did it. Li Dongling gave him enough authority. Only Ren Yuefeng knew how much support Li Dongling had given Zhang Ao during this period, almost regardless of cost, so that he could fight Ximen!

"Dongling High-Tech needs to establish its own sales channels and have its own sales stores in Europe, America, and other places!"

Li Dongling said to Ren Yuefeng. This time in the competition with Ximen, Shenzhou was truly too passive. If Shenzhou phones hadn't made a commotion, big malls like Metro, Carrefour, and Media wouldn't have stocked Shenzhou phones at all.

Now was the era of "channel is king." If one wanted to sell goods, they had to sell through chain retail stores like Metro, Carrefour, Walmart, Best Buy, Fry's Electronics, etc. Even in the e-commerce era, these channels might weaken, but they wouldn't disappear!

Even if they had to wait for the e-commerce era, Dongling High-Tech couldn't just watch for these ten or twenty years and do nothing. Without its own sales channels, Dongling High-Tech would face this situation again when releasing new products in the future, being manipulated time and time again!

Ren Yuefeng nodded solemnly. In fact, not only now, but as early as when he was in Hong Kong, he had already discovered the weakness of having no overseas sales channels. But wanting to establish a set of overseas sales channels wasn't an easy thing. Otherwise, people in Hong Kong would have already gone to do it.

"Wanting to establish our own sales channels and chain stores overseas requires a large investment. This is a heavy asset investment. In addition, it also requires enough brands and suppliers!" Ren Yuefeng reminded Li Dongling.

Opening stores overseas requires buying land, renovation, recruiting personnel, and most importantly, recruiting major electric appliance brands to join, with enough suppliers to provide goods.

"Besides building stores ourselves, we can also acquire other retail stores. Regardless of how much is invested, Dongling High-Tech needs to have its own overseas sales channels!"

"As for the source of goods, as long as Dongling High-Tech's channels can be established, there will be enough sources of goods!"

Regarding the source of goods, Li Dongling wasn't worried. In the future, in any store globally, could there be no domestic brands of refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, etc.? Which domestic electric appliance brand didn't want to go overseas? As long as the stage was set, they could naturally invite actors to perform.

"In the early stage, Dongling High-Tech's main goals are in the country and Europe. Establish sales channels in the country and Europe. After standing firm, then enter other markets in North America!"

Li Dongling also knew what Ren Yuefeng was worried about. If the investment was too large, it would drag down the entire Dongling High-Tech. As long as they could have the two major markets of the country and Europe, Dongling High-Tech's retail stores could basically survive.

As for North America and other markets, the competition was much more intense, with giants like Walmart and Best Buy. Without sufficient preparation, rushing in would probably result in paying a painful price. Fighting with those giants in America required even more caution.

"Ronaldo, you're going to get rich!"

Ronaldo, who had just finished a match, returned to the locker room and was pulled away by Ma Dingsi. Looking at the excited Ma Dingsi, Ronaldo rarely saw him, who was always steady, show this expression.

"Do you know how many companies want to find you for endorsements now? Adidas, Nike, Reebok, Puma all want to have you!"

"And a large batch of companies for drinks, clothing, cars, coffee machines, etc., all want to find you for endorsements. From today on, you will become a walking money-printing machine in the football world!"

Ma Dingsi said, unable to hold back. The hot sales of Shenzhou phones in Europe turned Ronaldo from an advertising poison into a hot commodity.

More importantly, this endorsement allowed Ronaldo to complete a breakthrough. Previously, those football stars at most endorsed advertisements related to sports products, but this time Ronaldo endorsed phones, a product outside of sports products. The more Shenzhou sold, the more it showed Ronaldo's ability to drive sales in Europe. Regardless of whether this was his true strength, numerous brand parties were willing to believe it. Since the monthly sales of Shenzhou phones were announced, Ronaldo's market value had skyrocketed.

Hearing Ma Dingsi' words, Ronaldo couldn't help but grin, showing his two big front teeth. He was now like Ma Dingsi, only wanting to praise Shenzhou. Not only for advertising endorsements, but his next transfer fee, because of his commercial value, would create an unprecedented transfer fee!

"Quick, Ronaldo, we have to attend a Shenzhou phone promotion meeting today. We're running out of time!"

Ma Dingsi pulled Ronaldo and ran outside. During this period, as long as it was rest time, Ma Dingsi would pull Ronaldo everywhere to hold autograph sessions and do promotions for Shenzhou phones, simply more dedicated than the Shenzhou side. He did all this not for Shenzhou, but for Ronaldo and himself. The more Shenzhou phones sold, the more expensive Ronaldo's advertising endorsement fee would be, and the higher the commission Ma Dingsi would get. He was earning USD for himself!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 101 =====