Traveling through the Tokyo bubble era

Chapter 212

Eri Kitahara had planned to wait until after the CES show to leave.

But on the last day of the exhibition, a call from Neon in the early morning forced her to return to Tokyo early.

Yasuko Sawaguchi also returned to Neon with Eri Kitahara.

The two bought a bunch of things in big bags and small bags. Not to mention the cost of buying these things, the air freight alone cost a lot of money.

After Hideki Hanyu got up in the morning and sent the two off, he returned to Las Vegas and went to the exhibition again.

After coming to Las Vegas for so many days, everyone else went out for a stroll, but he was busy with work.

Not to mention casinos, I haven't even been to various shows in Las Vegas, which has been famous for a long time.

What strippers, vacuum performances, he said he didn't know anything.

The exhibition was supposed to be closed today, so he should relax a bit.

As a result, that reporter Li contacted him again, and made an appointment to watch the performance at night and then conduct an interview.

This matter had been promised before, so naturally he couldn't break his promise.

But before accepting the interview, I still have to finish this exhibition.

Elf Entertainment made a big splash at the exhibition, and the rewards were naturally huge.

Let me talk about the four games that come with promotion.

Many people only pay attention to novelty electronic pets, and even the technology media are reporting news in this regard.

But in fact, there were quite a few people who came to experience these four games at the Fairy Entertainment booth.

Even due to the limited booth area, only two machines were prepared for each game.

It caused the experiencers to queue up more seriously than electronic pets.

Those sellers certainly won't miss out on this popular game.

On the last day of the exhibition, Fairy Entertainment America had already signed an order of 4000 yuan for substrates with the seller.

It doubled the 2000 yuan predicted by Michael Katz and directly created sales of more than 500 million US dollars.

In this period of depression in the American game market, this is undoubtedly a big order.

The reason why such results can be achieved, of course, is the quality of the game.

After all, these four games were all carefully selected by Hideki Hanyu.

And after this order was won, Elven Entertainment America, Inc., also initially became famous in America.

Compared with games, Elf Entertainment's electronic pet Poké Ball has attracted more attention.

But after all, it is a new product, and dealers are much more cautious before making a decision.

Although several major retailers in America have shown great interest, they are still negotiating.

Just when Hideki Hanyu felt that they would have to negotiate with these retailers for a long time.

Maybe we have to wait until the Poke Balls sell well to impress these retailers.

Things took a turn for the better.

The afternoon exhibition had just begun, and a man named Bratt Anderson came to the Fairy Entertainment booth and expressed his desire to meet the manager of Fairy Entertainment.

Backstage at the booth, Hideki Hanyu and Michael Katz met with each other.

This is a white man in his 30s, tall and with a shrewd air about him.

After Hideki Hanyu and Michael Katz expressed their welcome.

The white man said straight to the point.

"Hello, both of you. My name is Bratt Anderson. I'm the operations manager of the Best Buy store. I'm here this time because I hope to cooperate with Elf Entertainment on electronic pets."

"Best Buy? Why have I never heard of this store?" Michael Katz looked puzzled.

Michael Katz, who has worked in the retail industry for many years, knows all the sellers in North America, not to mention.

But as long as there is a small-scale seller, it is impossible for him not to have heard of it.

However, unlike Michael Katz, Hideki Hanyu's eyes lit up when he heard the name.

You may not be familiar with Best Buy, but if you want to say 'Best Buy', many people must have heard of it.

In the future, the world's largest retail group of household appliances and electronic products.

The person in front of him named Bratt Anderson seems to be the CEO of Best Buy Group in the future.

As for why he remembered, it was entirely the decision of the 'Best Buy Group' to withdraw from the Huaxia market in the future, which was issued by the other party.

It also caused a lot of discussion at the time.

Although Hideki Hanyu has never been to 'Best Buy' to shop, he has seen related news.

Seemingly seeing Michael Katz's doubts, Bratt Anderson explained, "This is the name we just changed. We used to call it Sound of Music."

Hearing this name, Michael Katz suddenly realized.

He knew Sound of Music, which started in Minnesota in the 60s and developed into a chain of stores across the United States.

Originally, it sold audio components, and later entered the field of video products. Last year, it began to involve in computer sales.

The number of the other party's stores in America is about , which is not small.

But Michael Katz had a doubt and had to ask it out.

"As far as I know, you seem to only deal in music video products and computers."

After Michael Katz asked, Brat Anderson continued to explain.

"The reason why we changed our name to Best Buy was to decide to change our business strategy, because we saw the market potential of consumer electronics and were ready to expand our business scope."

Having said that, Brat Anderson pointed to the booth outside and said.

"I think the market potential of electronic pets is huge, and it can be the first flagship product after Best Buy's transformation.

At that time, it will be in all Best Buy stores in the United States, and it will also be in our first superstore.

We'll give it the biggest publicity possible, and we'll cover the publicity costs, which is great news for Elven Entertainment, isn't it? "

After Bratt Anderson finished speaking, Hideki Hanyu did not speak.

He is not familiar with the current 'Best Buy', and even less familiar with the retail industry in America.

So it's better not to interrupt, and leave everything to Michael Katz.

"What are we giving?" Michael Katz asked.

After so many years in the retail industry, Michael Katz knows very well that there is no pie in the sky, and there is no free lunch at McDonald's.

"Elf Entertainment will sign an exclusive contract with Best Buy stores for the sales of electronic pets." Bratt Anderson said.

"Mr. Blatter, although Spirit Entertainment is a small company, it is not a rookie. This is absolutely impossible."

Michael Katz refused without hesitation.

Once this exclusive contract is signed, it seems that the goods can be quickly distributed throughout North America, and you don't even need to pay for the promotion.

But during the contract period, it means that Elf Entertainment sold the right to sell electronic pets to the other party.

If something unpleasant happens at that time, even if the contract is signed with a guarantee clause, the other party will still have various ways to handle Elf Entertainment.

Spirit Entertainment wants to work with big retailers, but doesn't want to lose its autonomy.

But he also knew that the first time the other party spoke was just a test, it would never be the final condition.

So after refusing, he quietly waited for the other party's answer.

"As long as Elf Entertainment agrees to sign a sales exclusive contract, in addition to the publicity costs, the cost of promotional discounts for electronic pets will also be borne by Best Buy Group."

"That's not what we care about. We are an independent company, not a production plant of the Best Buy Group. It is impossible to serve only the Best Buy Group."

"Then how about the exclusive period is tentatively set to one year?"

"It's too long, we'll give it a month at most."

"It's impossible. The one-month exclusivity period doesn't mean anything to Best Buy Group, at least for a year."

"Elf Entertainment can extend the exclusive time of sales, but Best Buy cannot settle payments according to the current cycle."

"How long does Elf Entertainment hope to settle the payment?"

"A payment cycle of days."

"God, what are you kidding, we can't even count the sales in half a month."

"What does this have to do with sales, you just need to pay me for the purchase."

"If we don't count sales, how can we determine the quantity of purchases? Mr. Michael, you are not the first day in this industry, right?"

……

On the side, Hanyu Hideki watched the two of them arguing with each other.

At the beginning, I was still talking about sales exclusives.

But as he talked, he found that Michael Katz had unknowingly added other conditions.

In addition to the repayment cycle, there are also conditions such as the distribution of promotional activities and the cost of promoting products, after-sales recycling, and so on.

Hanyu Hideki understood.

Michael Katz cared a lot about exclusive sales time, but as long as it wasn't too much, he didn't care.

Michael Katz seems to want to take this opportunity to help Elven Entertainment get some 'conditions' from the Best Buy Group.

Once the Best Buy Group agrees to these 'conditions', and the electronic pet can be successful.

When the exclusive time of the Best Buy Group ends and other retailers want to negotiate, these 'conditions' must be accepted in full.

After seeing this, Hideki Hanyu felt very fortunate that when he bought the company, he kept Michael Katz.

As expected of a veteran who has been in the retail industry for many years, he has rich experience, is ruthless, and has a perfect ability to seize opportunities.

Best Buy Group wants to transform and expand its original business scope.

I feel that the electronic pet is a hot item, and I want to bet on the electronic pet, and use the sales exclusive to help the transformation take the first step.

And Michael Katz soon noticed the plans of Best Buy Group.

Backhanded use of Best Buy Group's plan to help Elf Entertainment win the 'conditions' that cannot be obtained from other retailers.

In the previous life, Nintendo obtained these 'conditions' after negotiating with the success of the FC console.

As for Elf Entertainment, after electronic pets are popular, they can naturally talk about these 'conditions'.

But it will undoubtedly take a long time, at least a year.

But now with the Best Buy Group delivering to your door, the time to fulfill these 'conditions' has been greatly shortened.

But even if both parties want to reach a cooperation.

Michael Katz and Bratt Anderson still talked for more than an hour.

And nothing has been negotiated yet, but we just made an appointment to continue the discussion tomorrow.

In the end, when Brat Anderson left, it seemed that he was still very upset because of Michael Katz's conditions.

However, after the other party left, Hideki Hanyu and Michael Katz were both happy.

"It seems that our sales scope is more than three cities."

Hideki Hanyu said to Michael Katz with a smile.

He could see that Brat Anderson was going to win the exclusive Tamagotchi.

The unhappy expression when he left at the end was just a negotiation technique.

"That's right, this Mr. Blatter should be from the sales industry and has a lot of experience."

Hideki Hanyu could see it, and so could Michael Katz.

"What is Mr. Katz's bottom line?" Hideki Hanyu asked directly.

It's just him and Michael Katz backstage at this point, so there's no need to worry about who's going to hear it.

"I hope the exclusive time is within six months, and the payment cycle can be negotiated for one month. As for other conditions, we can talk about how much."

Michael Katz answered.

"Then I will leave everything to Mr. Katz." Hideki Hanyu said.

Knowing that Michael Katz knew what was most important, Hideki Hanyu was relieved.

"Mr. Hanyu, don't worry, I will not let go of such a good opportunity." Michael Katz looked excited.

"In this case, the contact with other retailers will be suspended first." Hideki Hanyu said.

"It's okay, I don't know the characteristics of the neon retail industry, but America's retail industry pays more attention to long-term sales. As long as electronic pets are popular, they definitely don't mind waiting a few more months."

Michael Katz explains.

Hanyu Hideki looked at his watch and found that the exhibition was about to close.

He knew that it would be fine to stay any longer, and he didn't need a big boss to do things like clean up the exhibition.

Thinking of going to accept an exclusive interview with reporter Li later, he decided to take a step ahead, bid farewell to Michael Katz and left.

When he just walked out of the exit of the exhibition, he happened to bump into Iwata Satoshi who was about to come in.

Looking at the stack of promotional comics of "Pokémon" in the other party's hands, he asked casually, "Could it be that Iwata-san is posting promotional comics?"

"Chairman Hanyu, I just went to check out with the temporary workers who hired pretend dolls. These promotional cartoons are the rest of them."

"Looks like there's a lot left," Hanyu Hideki said.

"Yeah, sales of Pokémon comics in America have not been very good," said Iwata.

Hideki Hanyu certainly knows what Iwata-san said.

America's comic book releases are completely different from Neon's.

Neon's comic magazine, with more than 400 pages in one issue, more than ten or twenty stories, issued at a fixed time.

Because of the extreme cost reduction, a copy only sells for more than 200 yen, which is simply the price of cabbage.

If publishing houses want to make money, they rely entirely on single volumes and peripherals.

And most of America's comics are mostly one story, about twenty pages, three dollars a book, and more copies will be printed if they sell well.

"Pokémon" has been serialized three times in America so far, and the total sales volume is not even , which can be said to be appalling.

Before the exhibition started, the "Pokémon" comics did not attract as much publicity to the Fairy Entertainment booth as the "Game Base" magazine.

Many people were attracted because of the gimmick of "Game Base" bragging about electronic life.

Hideki Hanyu looked at the thick stack of promotional comics left in Satoru Iwata's hands.

He felt that it was time to consider how to increase the sales of "Pokémon" comics in America.

It's not that he wants to count on "Pokémon" to sell comics to make money.

It's because the experience of "Toma Gezi" in Neon made him understand that it is impossible to prevent competitors from dividing up the electronic pet market by relying on the electronic pet product alone.

With the help of comic stories, Tama Gezi was able to stabilize sales after other manufacturers launched competing products and counterfeit products, so that they would not plummet like in the previous life.

So he understands that there is only one way to make consumers only look for the products of Genie Entertainment.

That is, they need to be clear that Spirit Entertainment is not selling electronic pets, but an IP.

When everyone recognizes the story mode of "Pokémon", then the electronic pet Poké Ball will become unique.

After all, Nintendo used the Switch game console to prove that no matter how rubbish the hardware is, as long as the exclusive game is fun, players will buy it.

Tears of the Kingdom can drop to 20 frames on Switch, dare you believe it!

So there is absolutely nothing wrong with crossing the river by feeling the old man.

But the biggest problem facing Hideki Hanyu is how to increase the popularity of "Pokémon" in America.

Think of the Transformers project that Hasbro of the United States and TAKARA of Japan have begun to cooperate.

Hideki Hanyu understands that the road of toys plus animation is definitely the best way to promote.

But before that, the manga must be somewhat famous, otherwise, even if the toy company is willing to cooperate, the conditions will probably be very poor.

If only I could use some method to increase the popularity of the auxiliary Pokémon.

Simply relying on electronic pets, the promotion is too slow.

Next to him, Satoshi Iwata saw Hideki Hanyu standing silently, as if he was thinking about something, and tried to ask, "President Hanyu, if there is nothing wrong, I will go back to the booth first."

"Go get busy."

Seeing that Satoru Iwata was about to leave, Hideki Hanyu suddenly asked, "Iwata-san, how do you think we can increase the sales and popularity of Pokémon comics in America?"

"President Hanyu, I'm not familiar with the manga market in America," Iwata said.

"It's okay, you can say whatever you want, I just want to find inspiration to solve the problem." Hideki Hanyu said.

"I think the sales of Pokémon comics are not good. Perhaps the style is not suitable for America. If you just want to simply increase sales and popularity, it may be feasible to find a popular comic to cooperate with and make a bound book for sale."

Hearing Iwata Satoru's suggestion, Hanyu Hideki muttered to himself, "Shouldn't the price be increased if the quantity is increased?"

Iwata Satoshi didn't hear what Hanyu Hideki said, but he couldn't ask the boss, so he just said, "President Hanyu, if there is nothing else, I will go back to the booth first."

"Go and do your work." Hanyu Hideki waved his hand.

After Iwata left, Hanyu Hideki got into the car driven by Marco, thinking about Iwata's suggestion all the way.

Looking for a popular manga to collaborate with, what is the most popular manga in America today?
That is of course the superheroes of DC and Marvel.

As for the third dark horse comic that everyone is familiar with, it has not yet been established.

DC is backed by Warner Group, so how could it be interested in Fairy Entertainment.

As for Marvel, this will not be the era when his own son will go all out for a big sale in the future. Even if Hanyu Hideki wants to buy a superhero, it will be useless.

If you can't rely on others, you can only rely on yourself.

What he relied on to make a fortune, of course, is the memory in his mind.

When it comes to American comics, DC and Marvel come to mind.
Is it really necessary to copy a superhero?

The problem is that many comic characters he is familiar with have already been born at this time.

While Hideki Hanyu was thinking hard, the car happened to pass by a huge outdoor billboard.

This is a billboard for a hotel that features its own aquarium.

When Hanyu Hideki glanced at the billboard, his eyes widened suddenly, and then he patted his head.

"How did I forget this manga!"

I saw many animals moving in the water on billboards and advertisements promoting hotel aquariums.

Among them were a few unremarkable turtles.

　Thank you Xuanwu for your reward

　　Thank you for the 400 book coins rewarded by Slow Travel Books
　　Thanks to Du Majin for the reward of 1500 book coins
　　
　
(End of this chapter)