Chapter 341: Man Has No Intention to Harm the Tiger, but the Tiger Has a Heart to Harm Man

Developing domestic printer projects might not make money in the early stages. This was almost certain. Wanting to completely catch up with old players in a new track required time, technology, experience accumulation, etc., and couldn't be achieved overnight.

Opening chain printing shops could not only serve as a sales and after-sales channel for printing equipment but also earn funds for the printer project, letting the printer R&D project lose less money. Of course, if operated well, relying on selling printing consumables, advertising design, selling stationery, maintenance, and after-sales services, it might even be profitable!

After all, for printers, what makes the most money? Machines are getting cheaper and cheaper, and some brands even prefer to lose money to rush sales. The money lost is earned back from consumables like toner, ink cartridges, printing chips, printing paper, and drums. The profit margin is generally over 30%, and the profit of chips is over 80%. The only thing that can compete with it is the famous hyaluronic acid.

Why could HP printers dominate domestic sales? Technology and stability were indeed one aspect, but when HP printers entered the country back then, the market share was far inferior to brands like Japan's Canon.

But subsequently, HP started a violent road of frantically opening stores in the country, with a growth rate of 1,000 stores per year in the country for three consecutive years. These stores were not only computer sales and after-sales stores but also sales points for HP printers.

Technology was qualified, performance was stable, and after-sales were convenient. Naturally, it made HP printers invincible in the country. Even in the e-commerce era, no matter how many printers were sold on online e-commerce platforms, when problems arose, after-sales were still needed offline. HP's early layout in this regard occupied an absolute advantage compared to other brands.

Hearing that he had to open chain printing shops and promote the stores to streets and alleys in major domestic cities, Wang Jizhi was stunned for a long time before reacting.

"This..."

This was completely different from what he thought. He just wanted to develop printers, so how did he get involved with the livelihood of a million boat workers?

Collecting his mind, Wang Jizhi said to Li Dongling, "If we want to open chain printing shops offline, I'm afraid the investment is not a small amount, and... I'm not good at managing this!"

Wang Jizhi said truthfully. When he was at Sitong, he wasn't good at management and was mainly responsible for R&D. Management was mainly handled by Duan Yongji. Otherwise, how could he have been robbed of power by Duan Yongji?

And to open so many chain stores, it was considered a heavy asset investment. The money thrown into this was not a small amount. Sitong had also engaged in real estate, so Wang Jizhi understood this quite well.

Developing printers, opening printing shops, plus the equipment purchased, and the wages paid to personnel—the expenses added together were definitely not a small amount. Wang Jizhi knew that such a big plate simply wasn't something he could handle!

Li Dongling felt a bit more at ease with Wang Jizhi after hearing this. Wang Jizhi clearly didn't have such great ambition and only wanted to manage his one-third of an acre of R&D. That was a good thing for the printer project.

The thing a company fears most is having multiple commands, or all parties fighting for the right to speak and power. It wouldn't take long for the inside to become a mess.

"Wang Gong, after the printer project is established, you will be responsible for the printer project's R&D, and the printer brand management, production, and offline printer shops will be managed by professional managers!"

As for offline printer shops, Li Dongling prepared to adopt a method of direct operation plus brand franchising. But store acquisition was necessary. Even for franchisees, they needed stores provided by the company, under the guise of brand management.

Acquiring stores might cost quite a bit in the early stages, which was a heavy asset investment, but it was still the same sentence: as long as the location was chosen well, the stores would become more and more valuable. Even if the stores were sold off one day, they could still make a big profit!

Just like McDonald's, it looks like it's selling fast food on the surface, but the most profitable thing for McDonald's is collecting rent.

McDonald's buys the stores and then rents them to franchisees. Besides authorization fees, it also earns rent, earning two portions of money at once.

For the graphic printing shops that Dongling High-Tech wanted to do, it was the same. It looks expensive now, but wait a few years and look again, it will be a cabbage price.

At that time, there would be no need to worry about rent. Without this biggest burden, the costs provided to customers for printing fees, maintenance fees, etc., could all be much lower than rival stores. Why would there be no business? Fighting a price war could roll the opponents to death, and by the way, make other printer brands not sell well!

Hearing Li Dongling's words, Wang Jizhi felt relieved. Looking at Li Dongling, who was full of ambition, he said, "Li Zong, the printer project is the last project of my life. I will definitely not let Li Zong down!"

"I believe in Wang Gong!"

Li Dongling said, "However, Wang Gong, the printer project should still be based on stability. We can first acquire a copier manufacturer and develop copiers first. As long as they can be developed and placed in our own brand's printing shops, we don't need to worry about sales!"

Domestic copiers can already be produced domestically now, but the technology is not as good as Japan's. However, acquiring a domestic printer manufacturer and launching our own brand of copiers is no problem. We can directly let the printing shops open for business first, and then improve the technology.

As for laser printers and inkjet printers, they are two lines now. Who can occupy the upper hand in the future? Not to mention now, even after another ten or so years, it's hard to completely distinguish the winner.

Having our own shops is the benefit of this. As long as the developed products are not too bad, they can all be purchased by the shops. Regardless of whether it's the left hand pouring into the right hand, just ask, were the machines sold? Was there sales volume? Did we pay taxes? Did we provide jobs?!

"It seems Old Wang and Li Zong have reached a big deal!"

Duan Yongji came over and said to Wang Jizhi, who was talking happily with Li Dongling, with a hint of probing in his words.

"Don't bother yourself, Old Duan!" Wang Jizhi retorted impolitely.

"Li Zong, do you want to have a meal together tonight? There are a few old friends, and I happen to introduce them to you!"

Duan Yongji originally just said this casually. Li Dongling's refusal just now had already made it impossible for the two sides to become allies. This was just a polite remark, and he wasn't prepared to really invite Li Dongling to this meal.

Li Dongling certainly wouldn't go to this Hongmen Banquet. "Don't bother Duan Zong. Tonight, I already have an appointment with Director Gu of the Ministry of Economy and Trade!"

Hearing Li Dongling mention Gu Xiguang, Duan Yongji's face changed slightly. Li Dongling was also telling him calmly that although he and Boss Liu and others were local snakes in Yanjing, Dongling High-Tech also had a foundation in Yanjing.

Sitong and his President Duan had quite a few connections in Yanjing and had the support of powerful figures, but if they really wanted to wrestle with Dongling High-Tech, compare whose thighs were thicker?

If they really fought, Li Dongling actually wanted to see who the Ministry of Economy and Trade, the Foreign Exchange Department, the NDRC, the Tax Department, the Electronic Industry, the SDIC, and other departments would support at the critical moment!

Duan Yongji laughed dryly and said, "Since Director Gu has an appointment, then I won't disturb you, lest Director Gu waits for a long time."

Li Dongling and Wang Jizhi got on the golf cart and drove toward the outside. After the golf cart drove away, Zhang Yue saw the smile on Duan Yongji's face disappear visibly, and then it became gloomy.

"He refused to join the Taishan Industry Research Association!"

After dialing a phone call, Duan Yongji said directly to the person on the other end of the phone.

"It seems someone doesn't want to be our own people. Alas, a piece of sincerity shines into the ditch!" A sigh came from the other end of the phone. If Academician Ni were here, hearing this sound, he would definitely be very familiar with it.

"Notify the members of the Taishan Industry Research Association in Yanjing. Everyone gather tonight to discuss countermeasures!" The person on the other end of the phone said.

Duan Yongji hung up the phone and said to Zhang Yue to the side, "Hold a member meeting tonight!"

Zhang Yue looked at Duan Yongji's face, and for a moment, he was hesitant to speak. He knew the mentality and personality of old cannons like Duan Yongji and Boss Liu. They were of the grass-roots generation. If they lost their ground, they would definitely find it back.

But if they really went against Dongling High-Tech, Zhang Yue was really unwilling. Just as he said to Li Dongling, only companies doing foreign trade knew how difficult this industry was.

And Dongling High-Tech, which could become the domestic private company that earned the most foreign exchange, was really fought out with swords and guns, and it was fought out against foreign brands. Zhang Yue was really unwilling to face such an opponent.

Seeing Zhang Yue's expression, the old Jianghu Duan Yongji knew what he was thinking. He shook his head and said, "Man has no intention to harm the tiger, but the tiger has a heart to harm man. Even if we don't treat Dongling High-Tech as an opponent, do you think Dongling High-Tech won't compete with us in the future?"

Zhang Yue opened his mouth. Thinking of the members of the Taishan Industry Research Association, especially companies like Sitong and Lenovo, they had no intersection with Dongling High-Tech now, but who dared to say that Dongling High-Tech wouldn't enter industries like computers in the future and become Lenovo's opponent?!

Out of the golf course, when getting into the car, Li Dongling said to Wang Jizhi, "Director Gu of the Ministry of Economy and Trade will inspect Tianya Net. You come over at that time and talk to Director Gu about the printer project and the plan for chain graphic printing shops!"

Whether it was engaging in domestic printers or chain graphic printing shops, it wasn't a small project, and it needed support from the city government and some units. Especially the chain printing shops, if they were engaged, they would relate to a large batch of jobs. How could the Ministry of Economy and Trade not care?

If they could have the Ministry of Economy and Trade lead the support and attract support from departments like banks and industrial machinery, it would allow the printer project to get support in terms of funds or policies, which would definitely be a benefit.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 342 =====