Chapter 372: Green Forest
Chapter 372: Green Forest
Towards the end of April, Lu Jiaxin's shop in Causeway Bay was finally renovated according to her specifications. She visited the store over the weekend and was pleased with how it turned out.
Zhang Sining reported, "Boss, the signboard is ready. We're just waiting for Miss Xu now."
The day after Lu Jiaxin turned eighteen, she had Zhang Sining register a clothing company named Green Forest, so the store was also directly named Green Forest.
Lu Jiaxin said, "She called me yesterday. She's secured twelve brands and said she'd be back today. She left the remaining few brands for her assistant to negotiate."
Zhang Sining asked, "Boss, what about the celebrities you mentioned? Mr. Zhang's agent said he's on vacation, but Miss Guan and Miss Wang have agreed."
Her brother was now a popular celebrity, so his schedule was probably packed. He would need Xu Yue to negotiate personally. As for Guan Meiren and the Most Beautiful Xiaoqian, they were only slightly famous at the moment, unlike their later immense popularity, so they readily agreed.
Lu Jiaxin nodded, "No rush. We'll wait for Manager Xu to handle it when she's back."
The next day, after school, Lu Jiaxin found Xu Yue waiting for her at the apartment. Xu Yue briefed her on the results of the European trip. She had not only secured the twelve brands Lu Jiaxin mentioned but also acquired four additional niche brands. Due to their niche nature, the agency fees were relatively low.
Xu Yue shared her thoughts, "Boss, I was thinking that since we're doing retail, aside from clothes, shoes, and socks, we should also offer hats, scarves, leather bags, belts, and the like."
Lu Jiaxin nodded, "Yes, we should have those. But let's take it slow since our store hasn't officially opened yet. We shouldn't bite off more than we can chew."
With Lu Jiaxin's ample financial resources, she readily agreed with Xu Yue's suggestion.
Subsequently, Lu Jiaxin brought up the topic of inviting celebrities to shoot advertisements. "You'll need to travel frequently for work, so we'll need someone to manage the company."
Xu Yue had no objections as long as the division of labor was clear. "I'll contact Mr. Zhang's manager tomorrow and sign contracts with Miss Guan and Miss Wang. We can schedule the shoot for the day after."
After finishing, she looked at Lu Jiaxin and said with a smile, "Boss, our clothing line targets young people, and you're the most beautiful school flower in Hong Kong. I believe the effect would be amazing if you were to model for us."
Lu Jiaxin declined, but an idea sprang to mind, "We could invite school flowers and school grass to be our models. The effect might be even better than hiring celebrities."
If regular people wearing their clothes could rival the appeal of celebrities, they would surely be more popular. However, they could only try this approach after their company gained some reputation. For now, they should focus on celebrities to attract attention.
Xu Yue thought it was a great idea and jotted it down immediately.
In the evening, Lu Jiaxin called Su Heyuan and got straight to the point, "My store's renovations are complete, and we'll be opening soon. We still need a manager, and I'd like to invite your sister to join us. I'm not sure if you're willing to let her go."
Although she could find capable people through a headhunting company, she really liked Susan's strong business skills and honest character. Having her help manage the store would give Lu Jiaxin peace of mind.
Upon hearing that she wanted Susan, Su Heyuan teased, "Jiaxin, you're also the second largest shareholder of Qi Rui. Why are you trying to poach from your own company?"
Lu Jiaxin laughed, "You have a good grasp of everything big and small in Qi Rui, so you don't have to worry about your subordinates playing tricks. If your sister leaves, you can take some time to find a suitable replacement. You also know my situation. My studies take up most of my energy, and I have to manage my investments. I need a reliable person to help me manage the company."
Su Heyuan didn't mind Susan working for Lu Jiaxin, but he felt that her talents would be underutilized. "Jiaxin, Qi Rui's profits last year were 65 million. My eldest sister owns 3% of the company and took home a total of 2.55 million in salary and dividends. How much are you offering to poach her away?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "I'll discuss the specifics with your eldest sister directly. As for the amount, that's private and not something I can disclose to you."
Su Heyuan immediately assured, "As long as my eldest sister agrees, I have no objections."
Su Heyuan was a man of action, and the next day, he called Susan into his office to discuss the matter. "If you're willing, let's have lunch together tomorrow, and you can talk to them in person."
The following day was Saturday, and Lu Jiaxin was available.
Susan was speechless. She had never witnessed someone poaching an employee right in front of their boss, only to have the boss not only not stop them but also facilitate the process.
Leaning back in his chair, Su Heyuan smiled and said, "The success of Qi Rui today is all thanks to Jiaxin. I merely handle the daily operations, a task that any competent manager could perform."
His home appliance factory was also doing well, but its profits paled in comparison to Qi Rui's. It was worth noting that he initially only held 37% of the shares in Qi Rui. He was grateful that he had heeded his aunt's advice; otherwise, he would have been left out of both the clothing company and last year's foreign exchange dealings, resulting in significant losses.
Susan understood the implication of his words. "Aren't you afraid that Miss Lu's company will thrive and eventually compete with Qi Rui for market share?"
Surprisingly, Su Heyuan wasn't concerned at all. "Her store sells European and American brands and targets the young people of Hong Kong. Our company's products, on the other hand, are mainly exported to Southeast Asia. However, her ultimate goal is to establish her own brand."
Susan asked the same question that Xu Yue had posed. "Then why not create a brand directly?"
Su Heyuan shared Lu Jiaxin's timeline with her. "She has classes from Monday to Friday, tutoring sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as Saturday mornings. She also owns a real estate company and has made numerous investments."
Susan understood that Lu Jiaxin simply didn't have the time. "With her talent in fashion design, why doesn't she apply to a fashion school? With her abilities, she could excel without even attending classes."
Su Heyuan smiled. "I've brought this up with her several times, but she insists that being a designer restricts her freedom and that others would interfere with her work. Being a boss is different; everyone has to listen to her. In fact, I think she's quite successful as a boss."
"Eldest Sister, working with Jiaxin may not offer the same salary as Qi Rui initially, but the potential for growth is definitely there. Think it over, and let me know by the end of the workday."
"Okay."
The next day at noon, Su Heyuan took Susan to a Japanese restaurant, a favorite of both of them. Upon arriving, they saw that Lu Jiaxin was already there, having arrived earlier.
After exchanging greetings, Su Heyuan said, "Jiaxin, we're all family here. Just tell my eldest sister directly about your plans, and let her decide if she wants to join you."
Lu Jiaxin didn't hold back in front of Su Heyuan and briefly shared her plans with Susan.
Susan found her ideas novel and challenging. Considering that Qi Rui had flourished under Lu Jiaxin's leadership, she decided to join her team.
Noticing Susan's interest, Su Heyuan asked directly, "Jiaxin, how much salary are you offering my eldest sister?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "The store manager, Xu Yue, has an annual salary of 500,000 HKD plus a 2% stake in the company. As the manager of Green Forest, you will be at the same level and receive the same salary."
Susan didn't make an immediate decision. "I'll think about it."
(End of Chapter)
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