National Tide 1980

Shopping was like this, and the next item carefully arranged by Ning Weimin - a haircut, made Zou Guodong feel even more like a dream.

You know, in this era, the most high-end barber shop in Beijing is still recognized as the "Silian Barber Shop" in Wangfujing.

If we had to find another barber shop of similar quality in the capital city, there would be only one high-cost place that is not well known to outsiders.

It is the internal barber shop between Buildings A and B of the Capital Hotel, which is dedicated to serving the upper-class people from China and abroad.

Apart from this, the other state-run barber shops in Beijing are actually not ranked high, and they are all about popular barber shops.

The so-called personalized hairstyle can only be a perm for women and big sideburns for men.

As for the small hair salons from Huacheng, after all, they have just emerged in the capital and do not have much time to develop.

Both scale and equipment are quite limited, and the hardware conditions are still far behind those of state-owned large stores.

Although the so-called fashionable hairstyles in the current society, such as Huo Yuanjia's hair, Sachiko's hair, Afro... were all introduced to the capital by Huacheng masters in these hair salons.

In terms of craftsmanship, they are somewhat newer than the old masters of state-owned barber shops.

But the problem is that whether it is beauty and hair salon products or a series of "washing, cutting and blow-drying" services, these hair salons are all following the routines of Hong Kong City.

However, Hong Kong City learned from Japan.

It was Zheng Mingming who had just signed a cooperation agreement with Pierre Cardin to jointly run a school in the capital, the future godmother of beauty and hairdressing in the capital.

She also started her education in beauty and hairdressing at the famous Yamano Aiko School in Japan.

So, if the hair salons in Beijing were to be compared with the hair salons in Tokyo, it would be like second-hand Li Gui meeting the real Li Kui, and they would not be on the same level at all.

The fact is that contemporary Japan is indeed the fashion leader in Asia.

The beauty and hairdressing industry here in Tokyo is highly mature and the most developed.

It has always been imitated, never surpassed.

Therefore, regardless of Zou Guodong, he can still afford to spend twenty or thirty yuan in foreign exchange coupons in the capital to experience the special class treatment of foreign guests in the barber salon of a hotel in the capital.

But even this top-notch domestic experience, with its absolutely high consumption, cannot be compared with the experience of Tokyo’s mature hairdressing industry.

To be honest, after the two got their things back to the apartment, Zou Guodong was taken to a hair salon called "Alika" near Akasaka by Ning Weimin.

As soon as he entered the store, he was dumbfounded.

Because here, with an area of ​​nearly 200 square meters and an open space created with glass curtains, people can feel comfortable and relaxed just by looking at it.

What's more, this shop not only has hairstylists who are more fashionable and eye-catching than the customers, but also has melodious background music.

It also provides a variety of thoughtful and considerate services that are completely unimaginable.

While waiting, the dedicated reception staff will even thoughtfully prepare a drink for the guests on the spot at the customer's request.

Cappuccino and hot chocolate are the most popular varieties in the cold winter.

In addition, there is a wall of bookcases filled with fashion magazines in the store, allowing customers to choose and read at will to pass the boring waiting time.

All in all, being in such a barber shop is more comfortable than staying in the lobby lounge of a five-star hotel. It is very different from domestic barber shops.

Not to mention, another key point is that in this store, all the staff can speak English.

Your English proficiency is not just about answering words and phrases, but also to a level where you can easily chat with customers.

Even the price list and descriptions of promotions are in English.

Therefore, it is widely loved by foreign customers.

Not only are many foreigners who stay in Tokyo long-term customers of this store, but in front of him, Zou Guodong also found that half of the customers were blond and pink-faced.

And when Zou Guodong and Ning Weimin finally sat down at the barber's seat, what happened next surprised Zou Guodong indescribably.

Because first of all, he discovered that in this store, people wash their hair while lying down, not the traditional way of washing their hair by sitting by the shampoo basin and rubbing their heads.

Secondly, this shop also has original massage and stress relief technology.

Integrating the techniques learned from professional shiatsu masseurs into hair washing and head massage can make people experience unprecedented comfort.

It has to be said that this is the first time Zou Guodong has experienced this feeling, and the fatigue from today's trip has been completely relieved.

What's even more convincing is that the barber's skills are indeed excellent, and his work attitude is extremely serious, responsible, gentle and patient.

An hour later, both Zou Guodong and Ning Weimin appeared in the mirror with a completely new look.

Looking at it themselves, they felt that their hairstyle didn’t seem to have changed much.

But he just looks a lot more fashionable and younger.

Especially for Zou Guodong, the rustic charm he brought from mainland China completely disappeared after such a move.

For this reason, the more he thought about it, the more magical it became.

Even when he saw Ning Weimin taking out 21,000 yen to pay the bill, he didn't show much surprise.

I don't know if it's because Ning Weimin paid the money but he doesn't feel any pain, or because he feels it's really worth the money.

Anyway, as soon as he went out, he couldn't wait to communicate with Ning Weimin about his feelings after the experience.

"I said, this shop is the highest level in Tokyo, right? It's amazing! Not only is the environment good, the service is good, but the barbering skills are also good. Don't tell me, if you hadn't brought me to such a high-level barber shop, I really can’t imagine it. As I said before, it would be shocking if it were released in our country! The Four Leagues are probably gone!”

Ning Weimin responded with a smile.

"Haha, as long as you are satisfied. But it is not at the highest level. Although Tokyo is developed, the rent of each plot is different. Compared with Ginza, where every inch of land is precious, Akasaka is not that interesting. This store can be considered to be above average.”

Zou Guodong's eyes widened immediately after hearing this.

"What? Upper-middle class? How is that possible! I think the barbers here are magicians. Through communication with customers, they can actually complete the look that anyone dreams of. It is simply a fantasy dream factory! And the people here, but They all know English. According to what you say, if this place is not even the best, then the quality of the Japanese is too high!"

"No, no, this has nothing to do with the quality of Japanese people. Which country doesn't have many people who can speak English fluently?"

Ning Weimin didn't want Zou Guodong to have any misunderstandings, so he hurriedly explained to him.

"Although many of the hairstylists here are named by celebrities and supermodels. Although the service staff in this store all speak fluent English. But this only shows that this store has considerable profits. Only then can we hire high-end talents to join. Other than that, nothing can be explained. The biggest difference is that Japan has become richer than us. The overall society has strong demand for beauty and hairdressing, and the requirements are also high. The industry has also developed. It matures very quickly. Unlike our country, most people still have basic requirements. Only a few foreign guests and high-income earners have higher requirements for haircuts. This has led to the overall hairdressing industry in our country being underestimated, and everyone thinks that shaving their heads is Being a craftsman is not a good job."

"Well, I understand your explanation. It seems it's all about money."

Zou Guodong deeply believed what Ning Weimin said.

He suddenly remembered the cost issue and couldn't help but nod in agreement.

yes! Twenty-one thousand yen is two hundred yuan.

If we were to leave this in China, a haircut would cost a hundred yuan. How many people could afford it?

I am afraid that even ministerial-level cadres will find it difficult to cope with this kind of consumption.

Such a high-end barber shop can only be purchased by real foreigners in China, and only foreigners from developed countries can afford it.

Only employees of foreign companies with high wages like him, or self-employed people in China who got rich first, can have this condition.

"Hey, if you put it like that, then you originally advocated forming a joint venture with that woman from the port city to jointly run a school, and you were so persistent in occupying the commanding heights of the domestic beauty and hairdressing industry. Do you have plans to take the lead in filling the gap in the domestic high-end market? Just like If we open one of the stores we visited today in Beijing, it will not only complement our company's main clothing business, but also meet the needs of many foreigners. Don't mention it, look at Maxim now The business situation is already on the right track. If we open another store like this, we really won’t lose money..."

It saves effort to talk to smart people.

Ning Weimin was very happy to see that Zou Guodong understood his intentions so fully and agreed with them.

"That's right! You're absolutely right! But it's not that you may not lose money, but you will definitely make money! Mr. Zou, don't forget that operating costs in China are much lower than in Tokyo. Not to mention that we have to build our own building. Wait until Once the building is really built, if we put this barber shop on the ground floor of the building, then..."

"That's like killing several birds with one stone. It's really a business without capital!"

Zou Guodong took the words excitedly and looked at Ning Weimin with a look of joy.

He also felt that only now did he truly understand Ning Weimin's full vision.

"Okay, you are really good at planning. In this way, not only will our building have its own characteristics in the capital, but it will also be easier to become famous in the capital and set a benchmark, and it will also form interoperability among its various industries. The good effect of interaction. Isn't this just a small trust? We need to move Maxim's Restaurant there and set up a joint venture factory... Don't mention it, your plan must be accomplished, we China The company really looks like a group company."

Ning Weimin had nothing to add at this time, so he only responded with a smile.

So for a while, an atmosphere that can be called "nothing against the heart" appeared again in the hearts of these two people who had always bumped into each other in China.

I really have to say that the fate between people is so magical.

Even people with naturally contradictory temperaments and extremely different attributes can turn enemies into friends because of their common ambitions.

Needless to say what happens next, no matter in terms of time or process, it’s time for dinner.

But since Zou Guodong said it was up to the host and Ning Weimin made the arrangements without making any special requests, Ning Weimin really didn't pay much for this meal.

Although there are many high-end restaurants near Akasaka, there are many Italian, French, and Spanish restaurants, and there are also many good Japanese restaurants and sushi restaurants.

There is even a lot of Japanese style here, with narrow entrances, elegant entrance halls, wooden doors with beams, sparse trees behind the doors, lantern signs with the name of the store hanging outside, and high-end restaurants served by geishas inside. .

But Ning Weimin didn't invite anyone, and just took Zou Guodong to eat a cheap and high-quality foreign fast food.

Why?

In fact, it's not that this kid is stingy, it's mainly because she is doing it for the benefit of Pierre Cardon Company.

Who knows that Pierre Cardon still runs a French restaurant? Zou Guodong can't stay in Japan for more than a few days.

Ning Weimin still wanted to let Zou Guodong see what he saw and see the business model of foreign fast food in the limited time.

It would be a good idea to discuss with them the improvements and ideas for the layout of the domestic western food industry.

So this matter really needs to be explained clearly.

Eating fast food is eating fast food, but Ning Weimin didn't take Zou Guodong to eat at McDonald's, Kentucky, or Yoshinoya or Matsuya.

First, because there are also those American fast food port cities. Zou Guodong has already seen them and there is no need to go there again.

The second reason is that the content of these fast food operations is too simple, with only a few main varieties in each store.

It is inconsistent with the business model and positioning of Pierre Cardon's restaurants, and there is basically nothing to learn from.

As for Ning Weimin's insistence on taking Zou Guodong to see the place, it was a high-quality template he carefully selected to effectively promote the development of the company's catering brands.

An Italian restaurant that will be known as "Shaxian Snacks in the Western Food Industry" and "Poor People's Western Restaurant" in our country in the future.

That is "Salia" founded in Japan.

The founder of Salia is named Masahiko Yasuhiko.

As a wage earner who grew up in post-war Japan, he has always been obsessed with "authentic Western food".

It is said that when he was in college, he vowed to open an Italian restaurant.

Sure enough, the dream turned into reality. After he saved a small sum of money, Salia, branded as "authentic Western food", was born.

In 1967, Masagaki Yasuhiko founded this magical Italian restaurant in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, 20 kilometers away from the center of Tokyo.

But soon, Masagaki Yasuhiko's faith suffered a major blow.

Because at first Salia was not only limited in area, it was just a small restaurant with thirty-six seats.

And due to the obsession in the early days of opening the store and the inertial understanding of "high-end Western food", Salia was not cheap at the beginning.

For the Japanese people at that time, an inexpensive Western food was not as attractive as a ramen shop on the corner.

So in order to keep the store going, Masahiro Yasuhiko thought about many "localization" strategies.

For example, extending the store's opening hours to four in the middle of the night, or adding skewers, a favorite of Japanese migrant workers, to the store.

But he sadly discovered that no matter how hard he tried, the only customers he could attract were young and Dangerous guys who came to drink, fight, and cause trouble.

In 1969, a devastating fire broke out because these gangsters caused trouble in the store.

Half his life's hard work was destroyed in a fire, and Masagaki Yasuhiko fell into confusion.

But having said that, he also took this as an opportunity to change his thinking about opening a store.

Before, he always believed that "cheap products are not good products".

But after working in the catering industry for several years, he finally discovered his true path - focusing on cost-effectiveness and lowering prices.

In this way, in 1973, Salia launched a sales strategy of 30% off on all dishes.

As a result, Salia, with its small profits but quick turnover, became Japan's most popular Western food chain brand in a very short period of time.

The average daily passenger flow has increased from about 20 people to 600 to 800 people. Later, even in the 1980s and the Japanese economic bubble burst, Salia was still able to maintain a high growth momentum.

Over time, the restaurant he ran became a signature due to its low prices.

It even successfully opened up the market with this low-price strategy, entered Tokyo, and opened a branch.

Later, even in the 1990s, when Japan's economic bubble burst, Salia was able to maintain a high growth momentum and even opened branches all over Asia, becoming a veritable "price killer"!

And Masagaki Yasuhiko has completely proved one thing with his actual actions - even Western food can be both cheap and delicious.

This is the future path Ning Weimin plans for Menimus, the brother of the luxurious Maxim restaurant, which specializes in French light meals.

This was also the main purpose of bringing Zou Guodong to experience it.