Chicago, once the world's tallest building, now the tallest building in North Arica, once the world's largest private retail enterprise, the headquarters building of Sears. Roebuck, the observation platform on the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower.
The whole thing feels like it's floating in the air, standing on the observation platform made entirely of glass. Even though he has overco his fear of heights, Feng Yiping still feels a little dizzy.
Huang Jingping, who is holding his hand, is also a little nervous. Her full attention is on the beautiful view in the distance, and she only occasionally glances at the glass floor below her feet.
The glass beneath their feet is more than 400 tres above the ground, and anyone who isn't particularly brave would feel a little unsteady walking on it.
Michael and Hong Haoran, standing in the middle of the hall, seed to be seriously discussing sothing very important, and ignored Feng Yiping and their invitation.
The one who felt the best was Jin Ling, who had been strolling around leisurely. 'In this kind of weather, you should be able to see the surrounding four states,'
If you are so relaxed, don't cross your arms. This action doesn't an that you are actually a little nervous?
Mr Flynn, sent by Sears to receive them, kept the standard smile of a departnt store attendant and stood by with the standard stance of a departnt store attendant.
After Feng Yiping had finally shown off his fearless courage, he ca back holding Huang Jingping's hand and said, 'Sorry to keep you waiting,'
'It's my duty,' Flynn said with a smile, 'I just received notification that Vice President Thomas has returned to the company and is waiting for a few people,'
'Sorry, then we'll go down now,'
It seems that once you reach a certain level, it is really difficult to separate work and life.
Of course, Feng Yiping and the others didn't just co on this trip for sightseeing. They mainly ca to Sears to visit and learn.
The retail industry is not a good place to hang out. Kmart, which once held the top spot in the US retail industry for more than ten years, is now on the verge of bankruptcy, which is also a good warning for them.
Sears, a century-old company, is still going strong, although it is no match for the upstart Wal-Mart. Since they are in Chicago, they need to learn from Sears.
Vice President Thomas is a short, middle-aged man with a diterranean hairstyle. He looks like the organised, calm type who would remain composed even if Mount Tai were to collapse in front of him.
This is very much in line with the temperant of their century-old company.
Only a young bull like Youjia will plough the land with all its strength, and from ti to ti, it will even charge at others with its horns.
'Please sit down,' Mr. Thomas said politely but with so distance.
From a general perspective, as the vice president of a company with annual sales of more than 40 billion US dollars and ranked 59th on the Fortune Global 500 list last year, it is already considered a favour to take the ti to et with Feng Yiping and his entourage at this ti.
As for his attitude at this ti, Feng Yiping can also understand that, regardless of the profit margin, the two companies are now like a giant and an infant, completely not on the sa level.
But hey, don't laugh at the young and poor! Back then, Sears simply didn't take Wal-Mart seriously, but now it has left him in the dust by dozens of streets.
And Wal-Mart is having a hard ti in the mobile internet era. The path my buddy is insisting on now represents advanced productivity and production direction, and a future coback is a certainty.
'We have read Mr. Feng's masterpiece carefully and were very inspired,'
'That's my pleasure,' Feng Yiping said.
'Your speech yesterday was also very good,' said Thomas, pointing to the Chicago local newspaper on the conference table. 'Unfortunately, I wasn't there yesterday,'
Yes, a large company like Sears, which has opened stores all over the place, also needs to use maps to analyse the location of its stores, so they are also NAVTEQ custors.
'Thank you. In fact, I admire your company even more. It has been established for hundreds of years, but it still maintains this rapid growth,'
No matter if it's in China or abroad, small talk seems to involve mutual flattery.
Thomas was quite flattered to receive a personal complint from the author of a best-selling business book. 'The most important thing is to adjust the company's business strategy in a tily and decisive manner according to the situation. In this regard, I have to say that your proposal of the blue ocean strategy has opened a door for us,'
Although he was a little conceited, he had agreed to do sothing beforehand, and he did it very well. Using a standard slide show, he introduced the history of Sears and briefly described the asures they had taken to remain unshaken for a century.
Jin Ling listened while looking at Feng Yiping, 'How co so of your ideas and practices are exactly the sa as theirs?'
Isn't it so? For example, Sears' three managent principles: First, buy low and sell low by paying in bulk and in cash, but ensure quality.
Paying in cash ensures a lower selling price, and this is what Youjia did from the beginning.
Second, reduce sales costs by minimising freight costs, but ensure quality and quantity.
At Feng Yiping's insistence, Youjia actually went even further, not only setting up an independent logistics company to reduce transportation costs, but also reducing sales costs through a system of ticulous inventory managent.
Third, increase overall profitability through small profits and quick returns, but ensure quality.
Feng Yiping's promotion of holiday sales is for this purpose.
In addition, selling large quantities of self-made goods is the direction Youjia is working towards.
However, in addition to building its own factories, Sears also has many cooperative OEM manufacturers, entrusting them with the production of so designated goods, while Sears is only responsible for sending staff to the production line to supervise and conduct subsequent acceptance checks.
This is sothing that can be considered after the town's industrial park is built.
It is not good to have all the factories run by one family. It is only by driving everyone forward that developnt can be fast.
As for store construction, Feng Yiping's approach is similar to Sears's. Both can be built on their own, and both have their own design and decoration companies.
Therefore, Thomas's laborious introduction actually contained nothing new for them.
However, it was not without effect. After listening to this speech, they also strengthened their determination to continue implenting it in the future as Feng Yiping intended.
'So the strategy we've adopted is already the sa as these international giants?' Jin Ling said after bidding farewell to Sears.
'In so respects, we're even better than them,' said Hong Haoran.
'That's because their companies are so big that it's not as easy for them to direct and adjust as it is for us,' Feng Yiping said, being modest, of course.
Having completed the scheduled itinerary, Feng Yiping stayed an extra day and ca to this financial centre. Naturally, he had to stockpile so ammunition for the future. An event like 9/11 only happened once in the United States, and it would be a sha to miss it.
...
The signing of the contract with deCarta was very low-key, with no outsiders invited and the original team all retained. There was just an extra office in the company.
However, Feng Yiping estimated that after sorting out his mories and identifying so future trends in electronic map technology, which would beco the direction of deCarta's future research and developnt, he would not have much ti to spend in this office.
Whether it was Harvard or Stanford, further studies at their business schools would certainly not be easy.
'What are your requirents for the president here?' Jin Ling asked.
'Our weak link here is mainly in governnt relations. According to the rules of the ga here, the giants are all seeking to exert a reasonable and legitimate influence on governnts at all levels through various public relations companies and their own connections.
The US governnt, unlike our country, does not provide supernational treatnt to foreign investnt. For companies with Chinese capital backgrounds like ours, the requirents will only be stricter. Therefore, in addition to other requirents, this vice president should preferably have experience working in Washington, DC, and preferably have good connections in both the political and business worlds,'
Feng Yiping can handle the company's developnt strategy on his own. What he needs is still soone like Jin Ling, who can integrate the influence of multiple parties and perfectly execute the matters assigned by Feng Yiping.
'It is definitely not easy to find such a person,' Jin Ling said.
Of course it's not easy.
After the US president retires, they are all very active. For example, forr President Mr. Clinton is giving speeches all over the place this year to make money—the "zip door" incident cost him a huge amount in legal fees.
Other retired senior officials, such as secretaries of state, usually go to consulting companies, and ministers can also make a glamorous transition to beco presidents.
However, with Jiasheng's current conditions, it is very difficult to hire such big nas, and although it is possible to pay a high price, it is very unnecessary.
'At present, everything has been arranged, and there is no urgency. Just entrust it to the major headhunting companies,' Feng Yiping said.
'That's what we have to do,'
...
On the way ho, Jin Ling, who was still driving, suddenly said without warning, 'Do you know what? Technology is developing so quickly these days that what you said couldn't be done might be possible in the future,'
Feng Yiping was confused. What was she talking about?
Huang Jingping guessed what Jin Ling was talking about. 'Really, Jin Ling, can n give birth too?'
'It should be possible in the future, but only after sex-change surgery,'
Feng Yiping, ...
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