Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 66
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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66. Taeseong Department Store VVVIP
Snap.
I snapped my fingers.
‘Hey, Guardian Spirit.’
For some reason, the Grim Reaper didn’t appear right away.
That’s strange?
Snap. Snap. Snap!
Only then did the Grim Reaper appear, sliding out like smoke.
[What’s the matter?]
‘What happened to you?’
[I was taking a moment to appreciate Gyeomjae’s Landscape Painting that you brought earlier.]
Gyeomjae?
Ah, Jeong Seon!
[Sambuyeon Falls was painted quite magnificently.]
‘I didn’t know you liked Joseon Dynasty works. I’ll find other landscape paintings to show you next time, but for now, let’s do reconnaissance first.’
[Reconnaissance? Where to?]
‘Taeseong Department Store President’s Office. I’m curious about what my Aunt is doing right now.’
Grandson said.
Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.
You need to know your enemy to find a way to attack.
* * *
The Grim Reaper quickly looked around the surroundings.
This was the Taeseong Department Store President’s Office, decorated with bold colors and sophisticated furniture.
A woman in her thirties wearing a luxurious dress, flashy accessories, heavy makeup, and a perfectly cut bob haircut.
Aunt slammed the Desk with a nameplate reading 【President Cha Man-yeong】 and spoke sharply.
“Year-end sales are our Department Store’s grades, pride, and flagship performance!”
The year-end regular sale season, packed from Christmas to New Year, was precisely when department stores achieved their maximum sales.
“We’ve been running our year-end appreciation sale for two weeks now. It’s the biggest discount event of the year! When customers open their wallets the most!”
Taeseong Department Store was also plastering the entire store with phrases like ‘Up to 70% Off’, ‘Super Special Sale’, ‘Lowest Prices’, ‘Additional Discounts’, and ‘Price Reductions’.
Naturally, many customers flocked in wanting to buy items at discounted prices, breaking daily sales records one after another.
Perhaps because of this, the first floor of Taeseong Department Store was bustling with crowds of customers, leaving no room to step.
“But sales that were coming in just fine suddenly dropped, plummeting 17% compared to the previous week.”
Aunt tapped the weekly sales reports submitted by each department store section.
This was why the president of Taeseong Department Store had summoned the department store executives since morning to vent his anger.
This was why the executives called to the president’s office kept their mouths shut and hung their heads low.
‘With all these customers flocking in and frantically buying things, for total sales to drop by 17%…’
I had a hunch about what was happening.
‘It seems like the VIP customers who contribute significantly to department store sales suddenly fled en masse.’
There’s something called Pareto’s Law.
It’s the principle that the top 20% of people hold 80% of total wealth, and the top 20% of customers account for 80% of total sales.
This was why VIP customers were important in business.
‘Come to think of it, Taeseong Department Store Luxury Goods Section was also running a year-end special discount event. But this place is way too empty.’
Rich people are still people – would anyone dislike buying the same items at discounted prices?
But Taeseong Department Store Luxury Goods Section had only flies buzzing around, and the luxury section staff were incredibly idle.
‘The entire top floor is completely empty. This means there are fewer imported luxury stores wanting to open here compared to other department stores.’
It meant department store management was difficult.
“Taeseong Department Store’s future might be decided based on this year-end performance. There are already ominous rumors about selling the department store floating around, so instead of rolling up our sleeves and desperately trying to boost year-end performance, are we just going to sit back and ignore everything?”
The executives still kept their heads hung low.
Aunt was fuming.
“Why did VIP customers suddenly disappear like a receding tide? Our Taeseong Department Store Luxury Goods Section only has flies buzzing around, while Wookwang Department Store Luxury Goods Section is packed to bursting?”
The executives just kept their heads down without answering.
“Regular customers who come and go targeting winter seasonal sales are one thing. But once VIP customers leave, they rarely come back. Do you know how much effort I’ve put in all this time!”
No matter how much Aunt tried to make eye contact, they wouldn’t even lift their heads.
It’s just quiet.
Even talking to a wall wouldn’t be this frustrating.
From Aunt’s perspective, this was a situation that would make anyone furious.
“What exactly happened here, and how should we solve this? If you all have mouths, then speak up!”
“….”
“Isn’t that why I pay you salaries? Do you all want to get fired?”
“….”
“Should I go through each of your performances one by one? Or should we just have strategy meetings for five straight hours?”
No one was willing to step up and take responsibility.
“From now on, any executives who can’t answer my questions will be considered incompetent and immediately fired.”
It was a harsh threat.
Aunt pointed her finger at an executive.
“Executive Director Kim, what’s the reason our VIP customers are leaving for Wookwang Department Store?”
“Wookwang Department Store launched a massive VIP marketing campaign.”
“What specifically is Woo-gwang’s VIP marketing strategy?”
“While our Taeseong offers 10% sales, Woo-gwang offers 20% as standard, with up to 35% sales.”
He added in a small voice.
“I hear that if you bring your Taeseong Department Store Membership, they’ll extend your Wookwang Department Store Membership by one year and throw in additional special discount coupons.”
“That means they’re specifically targeting our Taeseong Department Store VIP customers! You knew this and just sat there doing nothing?”
“What could we do? It’s the customers’ choice. We can’t force them.”
Aunt grabbed the back of her neck.
“So we should just sit here with our Eyes wide open and take it? Then what’s Taeseong’s countermeasure?”
“We’ll also exchange with Wookwang Department Store discount coupons. We’ll do 40% sales instead.”
Bang!
Aunt slammed her fist on the Desk.
“If we start that kind of cutthroat competition, Woo-gwang might survive but Taeseong will go bankrupt from losses. Taeseong’s department store market share is already dead last! Our annual losses keep growing!”
That wasn’t the only problem.
“Why do you think Luxury Goods are luxury goods! Are they luxury just because they’re expensive and high quality? It’s because they don’t go on sale! They’re symbols of wealth that ordinary people can’t easily carry around, which is why upper-class customers buy them!
Aunt swept her hair back.
“How long do you think Wooguang can keep up that kind of cutthroat competition? Not much longer! Their class is dropping!”
The executives fell silent again.
“Nevertheless, the problem is that Wooguang has started acting like a crazy bitch, putting flowers in their hair and going wild. What’s the reason?”
They still wouldn’t open their mouths.
Reluctantly, Aunt had to point someone out again.
“Director Song, I asked you what’s the reason Wooguang suddenly went crazy like that.”
“Well, that is, um…”
“Even though Kim Yeo-jin from Wookwang Department Store was cunningly stealing away Taeseong’s VIP customers bit by bit, she wasn’t acting this crazy and wild like now.”
“So, that’s…”
“Can’t you answer because you don’t know? Or can’t you speak even though you know?”
“Ugh.”
“Fine. If you don’t want to speak up, you’ll have to receive a dismissal notice. Then Director Choi will answer…”
“It seems they’re grinding their teeth because the marriage arrangement with Taeseong fell through!”
Director Song answered desperately.
“President Kim of Wookwang Department Store is famous for doting on his nephew Young Master Seong-jun’s fiancée. Since his beloved nephew’s engagement was broken off, it appears he’s started openly retaliating against Taeseong.”
“Ha!”
“You can also see his intention to completely steal away VIP customers and monopolize them while he’s at it. I heard he’s bundling discount sales together with Wookwang Golf Course memberships.”
“Why is he taking out his anger at my department store because Seong-jun’s marriage fell through!”
Aunt shouted irritably and explosively.
“I’m really going to… that damn bitch…! Just wait and see!”
Aunt let out an irritated scream, going “Ahhhhh!”
Aunt huffed and puffed for a while before glaring at the executives.
“Executive Director Kim, what’s the plan to bring back the VIP customers who went to Wookwang Department Store?”
“Competing with prices lower than Wookwang Department Store…”
“I told you! That’s a minus both short-term and long-term. You’re basically advertising that Taeseong is lower class than Wooguang, aren’t you?”
“Ugh.”
“Executive Director Park, what’s your plan?”
“We bundle not only Taeseong Golf Course memberships but also Taeseong Resort usage rights for discount sales.”
“Are you telling me to go beg Madam Jeong right now?”
Madam Jeong is the wife of Taeseong’s chairman, that is, Father’s mother and my grandmother.
“What about Director Choi’s countermeasure!”
“How about secretly spreading rumors and engaging in a public opinion war…”
“You want to start undermining Wookwang Department Store and begin scheming? Because we have no chance of winning if we compete on department store management capabilities? That’s your countermeasure?”
The executives shut their mouths again.
A heavy silence descended upon the Taeseong Department Store President’s Office.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, only the sound of the wall clock echoed heavily.
“Does this make sense? Even if our Taeseong is last in the industry, how can we be so easily toyed with like this? Ha! This is just too frustrating!”
Aunt sighed while pressing her temples.
“Is there really no way to solve this? It’s not that you don’t want to solve it, right?”
I have one, that method!
The unprecedented hit marketing method for middle-aged women that had captivated not only upper-class madams but even neighborhood housewives had just come to mind.
* * *
I cut off Vision Sharing.
A satisfied smile naturally appeared on my face.
‘Well then, shall we slowly begin?’
The first place I targeted was the luxury bag store in Taeseong Department Store’s Luxury Goods Section.
“From here to here. One of each color.”
It took less than 3 minutes for me to sweep clean the luxury bag store and leave.
The luxury bag store employees all rushed out to see me off.
They shouted “Please visit us again!” so loudly the department store shook.
“From here to here. Size 245. In the most popular colors.”
The luxury shoe store employees also cheered with excitement.
I bought one of each type without discrimination – high heels, flat shoes, and boots.
The luxury shoe store employees also all rushed out shouting “We will serve you with our best service!”
Other Luxury Goods Section employees watched enviously while anxiously waiting, hoping ‘Maybe he’ll come to our store too?’
“From here to here. Size 11. In sets of rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.”
The luxury jewelry store employees cheered and rushed out to welcome me as soon as I turned the corner.
I bought sets of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, opals, garnets, and pearls.
“From basics to color cosmetics. The best-selling cosmetics brands.”
“We’ll prepare them by color, purpose, and product type! We’ll contact you immediately when next season’s new products come out!”
The luxury cosmetics store employees smiled as they swept products into baskets.
One entire display counter was emptied in an instant.
The last place I visited was the women’s clothing store.
“From here to here.”
The luxury women’s clothing employees nodded repeatedly with faces so happy they looked like they might faint.
As if they couldn’t even estimate how much incentive they’d receive from selling all this.
It was because women’s clothing had an exceptionally diverse range of products and varieties.
“Customer, do you happen to know the owner’s size?”
“36, 23, 38.”
Just saying this much would have been enough to prepare dresses for hostess bar girls.
“Th-three sizes, I see. Do you happen to know the specific measurements…”
Right. Even the same size isn’t always the same size.
“E cup.”
“Customer, when we talk about women’s clothing sizes, we mean shoulder width, chest circumference, sleeve length… cough!”
The Women’s Clothing Manager jabbed the Young Female Employee in the solar plexus with her elbow to shut her up.
The Women’s Clothing Manager smiled brightly and bowed to me.
“We’ll bring items that match the three sizes you mentioned right away! Do you happen to need women’s underwear as well?”
“Do you have leopard print, black lace, red T-panties sets, silk chemise with fishnet stockings and garter belt?”
“…”
The Women’s Clothing Manager’s mouth fell wide open, and Yoo Jong-tae’s face turned red as he rubbed his face with his hands.
“I mean please select especially sexy and pretty ones. Don’t look at me like that.”
“…I understand exactly what you mean.”
Click-click-click-click-click!
Just then, with the sound of extremely urgent high heels, Aunt burst into the luxury goods section with her bob cut swaying.
“Our department store’s all-time highest sales record-breaking VVVIP customer, where are you? Don’t tell me you’ve already finished shopping and gone home?”
Aunt immediately rushed over in response to my summoning.
“Manager, that person is right here!”
Following the women’s clothing manager’s guidance, Aunt’s eyes turned toward me.
I clasped my hands together and bowed deeply.
“Hello, Aunt.”
“Aunt?”
“I’m Cha Jeong-hyeok. Your younger brother is my father.”
“…!”
Aunt’s eyes widened.
“The big shot new face who appeared like a comet at the department store and turned the luxury goods section upside down with cash! I was wondering whose child this could be, and it turns out it was our house’s kid?”
“Family should help each other out during difficult times.”
Aunt covered her mouth with both hands.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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