Chapter 150: Understanding the Flow

“First, walk me through the overall process. I need to get a grasp of the concept.”

“Okay. First, we select the standout items from this year’s Spring/Summer collection. Once the selection is done, we request display samples.”

“Got it.”

My aunt seemed excited.

The tasks ahead flashed through her mind. And she was even confident that these tasks would proceed exactly as she envisioned. This was the most thrilling and enjoyable moment when working.

“Once the samples arrive, we need to plan the display. We need to create a flow that allows for a detailed view of each item and arrange them to encourage linked purchases, right?”

“Linked purchases?”

“Exactly. If someone buys a hat, they might want matching earrings. If they buy earrings, a necklace catches their eye. A beautiful necklace makes them think of a low-cut dress, and then, of course, they’ll need high heels to go with the dress. That’s what I’m talking about.”

“Isn’t it enough to just put everything on mannequins?”

“That’s for off-the-rack stuff. Our VIP ladies are discerning. They want to pick out each item themselves. Mannequins make them feel like they’re being forced to buy something.”

“They are demanding, really.”

It wasn’t just because of their innate personalities. The overflowing wealth amplified their sense of entitlement. *I’m special!*

“Only the ones who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me are like that.”

If it was a woman on par with my aunt, she was likely from another chaebol family. They would never accept a setup recommended by my aunt. It was a battle of pride.

“So, you visit their homes for that?”

“Yes. On the agreed-upon date, I go and set up the display according to the client’s preferences, and then they make their choices. As clients, they’re the best. They buy multiples of everything. They keep some at home and others at their European villas or New York apartments. They find it a bit of a hassle to carry everything when they travel.”

I knew even this much.

“Ah, how about you go this time? Yes, that would be good.”

Suddenly, my aunt clapped her hands, making me stand up. She circled around me, checking my appearance again, and then smiled broadly.

“The grandson of the Soonyang Chairman, and the son of a movie star and a production company president. A handsome, young heir in the third generation. This is a jackpot.”

“Why would I go?”

“You just need to make an appearance. The experts will handle the rest. Those women won’t be able to resist you. A handsome, young heir in the third generation watching over them—do you think they’ll hesitate? They’ll buy everything in sight. That’s the only thing you have to offer, after all.”

I felt like I was bait, which was uncomfortable, but it would also allow me to get acquainted with them and boost sales. As the person in charge, it was my duty.

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

“That’s unexpected. You’re agreeing so readily….”

“We need to boost sales. Let’s set a new record. Haha.”

As I laughed nonchalantly, the look in my aunt’s eyes changed.

None of her nephews would try to boost sales by selling their smiles. They disliked the work itself, and being subservient was something they would all vehemently refuse.

She must have seen me differently for not minding being subservient.

“Okay, so what happens after the first round?”

“Do you know who the chef from Le Train Bleu is that I mentioned earlier?”

“No. I was wondering about that too.”

“It’s a restaurant on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. A famous chef. He’s bringing his staff over on a private jet.”

“A private jet?”

“Yes. That private jet will be carrying all the ingredients. And then, we’ll display the new products at a hotel banquet hall and gather 100 invitees.”

A banquet for 100 people and an exhibition of expensive luxury goods. Was that what this was?

“Especially the tables, tablecloths, chairs, plates, forks, and knives—everything will be specially sourced. That in itself is a product display.”

“Who are these 100 people?”

“Rich people with small houses.”

“Huh? How can rich people have small houses?”

“Houses and living rooms that aren’t big enough to display dozens of outfits and accessories. And they’re also people who look at chaebol families with envious eyes.”

“So, they listen very carefully and agree to your suggestions? Because they want to be like you?”

“Exactly. The display in the hotel banquet hall is to my taste, you see? When I explain it myself, they usually listen.”

“And there’s another effect too.”

“What is it?”

“Jealousy and competition.”

Terrifying. So women even engage in fierce psychological warfare when shopping.

“The 100 people will be checking each other out and keeping each other in check. The one who makes the most reservations here is the ultimate winner. It’s similar to the atmosphere of an auction house.”

A sudden chilling feeling. Wasn’t this just inducing endless competition?

“If you have time, come and watch. The savage and insane nature of people who hate losing more than death. It comes out clearly through shopping.”

I definitely needed to see it. Wasn’t this a scene where primal desires were laid bare?

“Alright. I’ll be sure to watch. But Aunt, isn’t this just one way of selling goods? How does this lead the trend in shopping?”

“Those people frequent boutiques, so they influence the designers. They’re all VIP clients. Designers have no choice but to cater to their tastes. And that trickles down.”

So, they see a trickle-down effect even in this? Or is it a ripple effect?

“Then how does this connect to the duty-free shops? You know that the important thing is for us to be selected for the duty-free shops at Incheon Airport and in downtown Seoul, right?”

“Of course. What kind of people are the 100 I choose? They’re all people who boast about having some influence in their respective fields. After this event, when we deliver the reserved items to their homes, we’ll casually mention it. If we gather those mentions, it’ll become a tremendous force.”

The greatest power comes from pillow talk, they say….

“Do-jun.”

“Yes?”

My aunt spoke with an unusually serious expression.

“You’ve been ignoring this side of things too much. It might seem crass to you. But those crass things hold the power in this country. You need to build relationships with them like I do. And then use that power.”

Why was my aunt suddenly saying this?

The more power I gained, the more disadvantageous it would be for her.

My aunt saw me looking at her with suspicious eyes and chuckled.

“Don’t be wary. You said it yourself, until we reach our destination, we’re allies. I’ve decided to follow your lead, even if I don’t know how it will end. The fact that I haven’t said a single word about your true nature to your older brothers is proof of that.”

Had she not given up yet?

But I wasn’t particularly wary.

Didn’t Mike Tyson say that everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth?

No matter what schemes my aunt concocted, she would realize it in the end.

That just maintaining a luxurious lifestyle by going back and forth between department stores and hotels was all she could gain.

* * *

Five years ago, the US NASDAQ Composite Index, which was only at 800, surpassed 4,800 when the year 2000 began.

It was like a final, magnificent burst of flames before life ended. Just like the stock price of New Data Technology.

Our country was no exception. The sharp securities brokers in Yeouido predicted the dot-com bubble that would hit Korea and fiercely gathered money for one last killing.

Due to patriotic marketing like the Buy Korea Fund and the Park Hyun-joo Fund, all the funds in the market poured into IT technology stocks, causing a theme stock concentration phenomenon.

Many people had already lost money due to the bursting venture bubble, but as everyone does, those who hoped they would be safe and make a lot of money were still overflowing.

It was a precarious situation like walking on a knife’s edge, but for the people I was visiting today, it was a story from another world. Whether the Korean economy faltered or went on a rollercoaster, they always lived comfortably and peacefully above the clouds.

“How is it? Isn’t it amazing? It’s like a photoshoot!”

A suit made with 100% handcraftsmanship, taking 6 weeks to complete.

For one suit, over 3,000 stitches are sewn one by one for 10 hours, and over 186 production processes, including ironing more than 42 times while making just the jacket, are required.

Because of this, it takes 30 times more effort and time compared to ready-made clothing production, but the price of men’s suits is 50 to 100 times higher.

My aunt and the top MD of the department store had prepared three of the best Neapolitan suits for me: Cesare Attolini, Brioni, and Kiton.

“The saying ‘the model completes the fashion’ fits perfectly. How can all three brands look so good on you?”

The staff who would be working with me for the time being were making a fuss, agreeing with my aunt.

“We’ll be visiting two households today, Do-jun, you just need to make an introduction. Then just watch quietly. These guys will take care of the rest.”

I wasn’t particularly nervous or worried. The places we were visiting today were the homes of chaebol families without department stores or shopping malls. And since their business ranking was much lower than Soonyang’s, there was no need to try hard to impress them.

As my aunt said, the purpose was to make introductions. Having acquaintances would make it easier to approach them when forming business relationships.

“The first stop is the madam, daughters-in-law, and daughters of Ilseong Group. They aren’t too picky, so it won’t be uncomfortable.”

“Aren’t there any male clients?”

“Of course, there are.”

The staff member going with us smiled.

“Only female staff handle male clients. As you know….”

“Male clients tend to act bossy when male staff are present, right?”

“Yes. I guess they want to show off their superiority.”

“Primates naturally form hierarchical societies. It just goes to show that humans are no different from animals.”

“Excuse me?”

“Ah, nothing.”

Ignoring the staff member who was tilting their head in confusion, I leaned back in the car seat.

Ilseong Group, huh….

Wasn’t that the family that would later become in-laws with the President?

Getting on good terms with them meant having another direct line to the President. Someone at Soonyang’s chairman level wouldn’t need to plug in new pipes, but it would be useful until then.

Reaching the top meant not having to do these trivial tasks, I reminded myself once again.

The car headed towards Hannam-dong.

As we entered the Ilseong Group residence, the neatly spread-out lawn immediately caught my eye. A clean garden without any grandiose flair. It reflected the homeowner’s personality.

When we opened the front door, the household staff came out first; the mistress of the house was nowhere to be seen.

Even as the department store staff who came with us took out the neatly packaged goods one by one and laid them out in the living room, they didn’t appear.

“Just a moment, Chief of Staff. I’ll subtly let them know that you’ve come in person….”

As one of the staff members approached someone working in the house to reveal my identity, I pulled them back.

“Just leave it. I want to see what these people are like normally.”

They had said they weren’t too picky, but that was different from being discourteous. The household staff merely stared at us and didn’t even offer a glass of water, showing a stingy disposition.

After more than an hour of painstakingly setting up the display, someone went upstairs to inform them.

But they didn’t appear immediately either. Another twenty minutes passed before the murmuring voices of women began to be heard.

One old lady, three middle-aged women, and two young women.

When their eyes met ours, the staff members who had come with me bowed silently.

As I lightly nodded my head, their gazes all locked onto me. Since over ten people were still bowed, I, standing there blankly, would have stood out.

As I smiled lightly without avoiding their gazes, the old lady opened her mouth.

“We have an interesting young man visiting today.”