Rebirth of the Industrial Tycoon

In the VIP waiting room of the airport, Li Weidong was flipping through the documents in his hand when footsteps could be heard in the distance, and Rebus came over with his assistant and translator.

Rebs came to sit down in front of Li Weidong, and the waiter in the waiting room immediately came over with several cans of iced Coke.

Iced Coke specially prepared for you. Li Weidong said.

You still understand me and know that I like this! Rebs picked up Kehe, opened the can and took a big sip, showing a relieved expression.

Then Rebs asked: This time we go to Japan, can we really deal with Sharp? With our small order quantity, we can't get into Sharp's eyes at all!

Those big mobile phone brands have casually shipped millions of units a month, and each order is tens of millions of units. And Xiaomi, which is just planning to enter this industry, plans to make 200,000 to 300,000 units of a single mobile phone. Compared with major mobile phone manufacturers, this order is indeed as difficult as Sharp's vision. Sharp usually accepts orders of tens of thousands of pieces, so how could he care about these small orders of tens of thousands of pieces.

Li Weidong explained: If it was last month, Sharp would definitely not care about our little mosquito meat, but it is different now. The magnitude 9 earthquake will have an impact on all industries in Japan. The key is Fukushima. China's nuclear power plant also leaked, which made Japan's manufacturing even worse.

Although the Fukushima nuclear leak is under control for the time being, the current problem is that consumers are afraid of nuclear radiation and are afraid to buy products made in Japan. This is a catastrophic blow to Japanese manufacturing. . Therefore, Japanese companies now urgently need to rebuild the confidence of customers!

When we talk to Sharp now, we are actually sending charcoal in the snow. Although our order is small, for Sharp, it is a certificate of trust from customers. The symbolic meaning is far greater than the actual meaning. In order to stabilize customers, Sharp also Will take this order, this is a thousand dollars to buy a horse bone.

Then we have caught a loophole? Rebs took another sip of Coke, showing a relieved expression.

Don't be like this, people have suffered a disaster anyway, we just have to smile in our hearts. When we really arrive in Japan, we still need to have a serious expression, a fierce face, and an expression of condolences, lest people say we are gloating.

Li Weidong changed his voice, and continued; However, relying on foreign supply chains is not a long-term solution. We still have to support domestic supply chains.

In terms of mobile phone screens, the technology of domestic companies is still a bit far behind. Rebus replied.

The main reason is that there is no demand in this area in China. When our Chinese brand smartphones are produced,

Domestic enterprises will naturally keep up with the pace of research and development. But we can't wait, we still have to find a few leading companies and reach a cooperation with them. We can provide them with funds for research and development, and share the results! Li Weidong said.

Rebs nodded: Looking at the current predicament of ham sausage, it shows that if we only do assembly and do not do core technology, it will be nothing after all. However, it is still too far away for us to establish a supply chain.

Now the top priority is to launch our Xiaomi mobile phone. With the support of mobile phones, our system can survive! Otherwise, within three years, we will definitely be defeated by Android! In the past year, Android has developed too rapidly, and with Google as its backer, it has won a lot of market share.

There is a saying that good fortune comes when misfortune comes. With Google as a big backer, I think it may not be a good thing for Android. Maybe Google will become the biggest lifeblood of Android! Li Weidong said calmly .

Rebus looked at Li Weidong in surprise, and then asked in a low voice: Dong Li, do you have any gossip?

As far as I know, there are big differences within Google regarding Android. Li Weidong also lowered his voice, and continued: The Android system is developing its own browser system. Have you heard about this?

I know this. Your own browser will have a higher degree of compatibility with the operating system, and the operating system will run more smoothly. Our technology department is doing the same thing now. Rebs said replied.

But Google also has its own browser. If Android develops its own browser, who will use Google's browser? And besides the browser, Google has many other products. Li Weidong revealed your careful taste expression.

You mean, Google wants to add its own products to the Android system? Rebs immediately understood.

Yes, it is impossible for Google to allow Android to develop its own products. They will definitely require Android to use Google's products, but how compatible are Google's products with Android? Will it be harmful to the system if Android is forcibly added to Google's products? What about the stability and fluency of the problem?

Li Weidong picked up the cup, took a sip, and let Rebs digest what he said, and then continued: In addition, we have to consider whether Android is willing to accept Google's products. There is a conflict between Google, and the civil strife in Google Android will be an opportunity for us!

It's still your long-term thinking. Rebus nodded approvingly.

Li Weidong continued: That's not all. Android wants to develop its own products. Don't those mobile phone brands have the same idea? For example, Samsung makes a Samsung browser, Sony makes a Sony browser, and they are all installed in the mobile phone when they leave the factory. , When the time comes, will Google let it be used, or not?

If it is allowed to be used, it will inevitably seize Google's own product market. If it is not allowed to be used, will the mobile phone brand turn against Google? Even if Google allows the use, should it delete Google's own products, or do two products of the same type exist at the same time?

If there are multiple products of the same type in an operating system, will they conflict with each other? Can the system handle it? Will it affect stability and fluency again? These are all potential problems, and these problems that are about to erupt in Android are all opportunities for us.

Rebs frowned and thought for a while, and then said: If it is really like what you said, Google wants to monopolize and exclude other products of the same type, then we should do the opposite, and we can directly Cooperate with mobile phone brands and make customized systems for them!

That's right! Consumers are our customers, and all mobile phone brands are also our customers. What we have to do is to meet the needs of customers, provide services for customers, and let customers have a better experience, instead of forcing The customer makes a choice! Li Weidong said.

Although Google is the boss of Android, Andy Rubin, the founder of Android, has a different philosophy from Google.

With the prosecution of ham sausage in the United States, the contradiction between Android and Google has become increasingly prominent.

Father of Android Andy Rubin hopes to ensure the integrity of the Android system API, and did not integrate Google's products into the Android system, but formed a team by himself to develop a series of basic applications, such as Android's native browser, Android native SMS system and so on.

This is beneficial. The basic system developed by Android itself does not affect the operation of the underlying system of Android, which can improve the operating efficiency of the system and ensure stability.

But Google does not recognize this, because Google itself has various products, and Google hopes to integrate its own products into the Android system. As long as it is an Android mobile phone, it will come with various Google products. products will be widely promoted.

The two sides have different ideas, which will lead to conflicts, and the final result is that the power of capital has taken the lead, and Android still can't screw the boss Google. After losing the ham sausage patent lawsuit, Andy Rubin was also kicked out of Android on the grounds of transferring benefits to ham sausage.

After that, Google hired an Indian to take charge of Android, here is Sundar Pichai, and the Chinese call him Pichai.

Tech companies in Silicon Valley cannot do without the presence of Indians. Pichai is the boss of the Indian Gang at Google. This guy later served as the president of Google, and then vigorously promoted and appointed Indians, making more than 30% of Google's employees. Indian origin.

The biggest advantage of Indians is that they are obedient. They will do whatever the boss tells them to do, regardless of right or wrong. Moreover, Indians will feel at ease as wage earners, and they will not think about starting their own business. It is also for this reason that American technology companies like to hire Indians as managers.

After Pichai became the president of Android, he thoroughly implemented the meaning of the boss of Google and integrated various products of Google into the Android system. Moreover, it is also mandatory for mobile phone manufacturers to install a service framework containing Google products.

So at that time, the Android system was terribly stuck. I opened the background and saw that various useless Google programs were running, which took up a lot of memory space for no reason.

This has caused three consequences, the first is to promote Apple's sales. Although the price of Apple mobile phones is expensive, they are not stuck! An old Apple machine is smoother to use than a new Android machine, and has a better user experience, which naturally cultivates a large number of Apple fans.

The second is to give China's thousand yuan machine the opportunity to rise. Consumers buy a mobile phone, use it for more than a year and get stuck, and need to change the mobile phone, so it is not worthwhile to buy an expensive flagship phone, it is better to spend one or two thousand yuan to buy a cheap one, and throw it away after a year without feeling distressed .

The thousand-yuan phone is precisely the world of Chinese brands, and those big brands disdain to make a thousand-yuan phone with low profit. This directly promoted the development of China's mobile phone industry. At that time, dozens or hundreds of thousand-yuan mobile phone brands emerged. After several years of fighting, those who survived eventually became giants in the mobile phone industry.

The third consequence is that major mobile phone manufacturers start to make their own UI. Since your Android card is terrible, the manufacturer will optimize the system by itself. At the beginning, the manufacturer's optimization was just a skin, but after several years of hard work, many manufacturers' optimization solutions have greatly alleviated the stuck situation.

In Li Weidong's view, Android's infighting is an opportunity for the Xiaomi system to seize the market. Didn't you Google force manufacturers to install Google products? Then I will take the route of professional customization and integrate the manufacturer's own promotion into the system. Selling things these days, who doesn't want to mix in some of their own private work!

Moreover, Indian executives are indeed unreliable. Take Google as an example. After replacing them with Indian executives, how many products have been screwed up! Holding the king of Android, Google+, Google Talk, Hangouts, Google Duo, Allo and other products have not been successful.

...

When it was time to board the plane, Li Weidong, Rebs and others walked into the cabin along the boarding gate, but found that there was no one in it except the flight attendant.

Dong Li, are you on a chartered flight? Rebus asked.

Even if you charter a flight, you can't afford to charter an A350! Li Weidong chuckled, and continued, Don't forget what's going on in Japan now. How can anyone dare to go to Japan these days? Don't be afraid of radiation!

That's right, we are the only ones who want money and don't want to die, go to Japan at this time. Rebus shook his head with a wry smile.

What do you mean money is not life! We are here to build a great brand, this is for a lofty ideal! Li Weidong lowered his voice and continued: When interviewed by the media in the future, we have to say that, how tall!

It's true that the richer you are, the thicker your skin is! Rebs murmured in a low voice, and then sighed softly; The life of this airline is not easy. Such a big plane only takes a few of us, doesn't it? It's a shame!

We were the only ones when we went, but when we came back, it was hard to get a ticket. Now the fare to Japan has increased several times, and it's hard to get a ticket. Everyone is desperately trying to escape Japan!

Li Weidong pointed to those empty seats, and then said: Based on this calculation, the airline is still making money! And this flight we took, although there were only a few of us in the cabin, the cargo compartment was full.

Mr. Li, what good things do you want to transport to Japan? Rebus asked immediately.

I have prepared 10,000 air purifiers with anti-radiation function. When you arrive in Japan, you can donate them to Japan in the name of Xiaomi. At the same time, find a reporter to promote it. Let's create a wave first, and then talk to Sharp about purchasing .” Li Weidong replied.

Good idea! Before negotiating, first win the favor of Japanese public opinion, and at the same time let the Japanese know that we are going to support their Japanese-made products. The bigger the momentum, the more dare Sharp will not refuse us. If we take the initiative If those who come to buy goods at the door end up empty-handed, it is also a blow to the confidence of Japanese manufacturing.

Rebus immediately understood Li Weidong's intentions, but he continued to ask: It's just that this air purifier really has the function of anti-nuclear radiation? If it doesn't have this function, wouldn't we be making false propaganda!

Li Weidong immediately explained: During the Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union built a large number of underground fortifications to resist nuclear attacks, but these underground fortifications can withstand nuclear explosions, but they cannot withstand nuclear radiation.

Nuclear radiation is mainly dispersed through tiny dust in the air, so both the United States and the Soviet Union began to study and install purifiers at the vents of underground fortifications to prevent dust floating in the air from entering underground fortifications. This is the earliest air purifier.

From this point of view, even masks can play a role in preventing nuclear radiation, let alone air purifiers, which already have the function of preventing nuclear radiation. We just publicized this function emphatically.

It seems that I have to learn more from you in terms of product marketing! Rebus said with emotion.

Are you praising me or hurting me? But even if you hurt me, it's normal. I'm one of the first batch of self-employed people in China. Those of us who started as street vendors are different from college students like you. Although we have enjoyed the first wave of dividends from the reform and opening up, we have done some deceitful things to some extent, this can be regarded as the epitome of an era!

Li Weidong couldn't help thinking of the glorious history of selling health care equipment back then, and shook his head in a self-deprecating manner, and then asked: Mr. Lei, are you interested in making home appliances?

Rebs shook his head without hesitation: The competition in the home appliance industry is too fierce. Those who can gain a foothold in this industry are all experienced big brands. It is difficult for newcomers to gain a foothold in this industry.

I'm not talking about traditional home appliances, but smart homes. We already have our own operating system, and we will also have our own mobile phones. This is equivalent to having a system and an operating terminal. Next, we only need to integrate the terminal. We have a smart home system. Li Weidong explained.

This is a good direction of development. To be honest, I have considered wearable devices before, but I feel that even mobile phones have not been made yet, and it is too far away to think about these. Rebs said.

It's not far away. The speed of technological advancement is very fast. Within ten years, smart homes will become popular. If you want to do it, you have to make arrangements as soon as possible. Li Weidong continued; Mr. Lei, if you plan to build a smart home, You can find our puppy as an OEM, and the quality of our OEM is still undeniable.”

Isn't Mr. Li afraid that Xiaomi's home appliances will compete with your puppy appliances? Rebus asked with a smile.

Li Weidong opened his mouth and replied: Competitiveness can make progress! What's more, the home appliance market is so big that it is impossible for one company to monopolize it. This pie is enough for everyone to share. Only an industry where a hundred flowers bloom can create more possibilities!

...

Historically, when Rebs made Xiaomi mobile phones, he went to Japan to negotiate with Sharp during the Fukushima nuclear accident. According to later media reports, Rebs negotiated with nuclear radiation regardless of the danger to his life. This kind of sincerity moved Sharp, and he finally provided Xiaomi with a mobile phone screen.

But if you think about it carefully, you will know that nine times out of ten this is because the media is beautifying the report. It is true that Rebs risked nuclear radiation to negotiate. Sharp may also be moved by Rebs, but selling mobile phone screens to Xiaomi is definitely a commercial consideration.

At that time, Rebus was making futures mobile phones. The Xiaomi mobile phone in 1999 was a cost-effective killer, but only a few thousand units were launched at a time, which was pure scraping in terms of market demand.

Therefore, the purchase of hardware for Xiaomi mobile phones is very small. When such an order is sent to Sharp, people don’t even look at it. Wouldn’t it be better to have the time to serve a big customer like Apple with tens of millions of orders!

It turned out that the Fukushima nuclear accident gave Rebs a chance. The Fukushima nuclear accident was a catastrophic blow to the entire Japanese manufacturing industry. No consumers were willing to buy products that had been irradiated, and Japanese manufacturing naturally lost a large number of orders.

Even though Sharp's mobile phone screen was unique at the time, customers still chose to wait and see. They would not continue to place orders with Sharp until they were sure it was safe.

At this time, Rebs personally came to the headquarters of Sharp in Japan and proposed a procurement plan. This is undoubtedly a timely help for Sharp. As long as there are customers willing to place orders, those old customers who are waiting and watching will return one after another.

Even though the number of orders given by Rebs was not large, Sharp agreed to the deal in order to achieve the effect of buying horse bones with a thousand dollars.

This is a deal where both parties get what they want. Although it is not as glorified by the media, Rebs' adventurous spirit and decisive timing of the shot can be used as a textbook example of business operations.

...

In drugstores on the streets of Japan, the words Masks are sold out are posted on the door.

After the Fukushima nuclear accident, there was a rush to buy salt in China, and the Japanese did not give in. Those who snatched masks, medical protective clothing, and iodine tablets were all available.

At that time, the price of iodine tablets was raised to thousands of yen a piece. If they couldn’t get any iodine tablets, they rushed to buy iodine tincture, which could be taken internally or applied externally.

At this time, the news that Xiaomi Group donated 10,000 anti-radiation air purifiers instantly attracted a lot of media attention.

It doesn't matter if the air is clean or not, radiation protection is the key!

The public relations company hired by Xiaomi was not idle either, and first sent a batch of air purifiers to the reporter. In Japan at that time, this was much more practical than giving money. As a result, many media reported that the international friend Xiaomi Group donated purifiers, and it was inevitable to mention in the reports that Xiaomi Group came to Japan to purchase this time.

These news first alarmed Japan's Ministry of the Environment, and then alarmed Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is well aware of the impact of the Fukushima nuclear accident on Japanese manufacturing. Many customers are worried about nuclear pollution and have canceled their orders. More are in a wait-and-see state. Although orders are still in place, they will be closed soon. Can't come.

Now that I have finally met a top customer who is not afraid of nuclear radiation and dares to buy things, then I must actively facilitate this transaction. It doesn't matter how much the person buys. The key is to open a business and let the customer continue to believe in Japanese manufacturing.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry came forward, and Sharp could not continue to put on airs, and could only quickly complete the order.

...

Sharp is headquartered in Osaka City.

The building of Sharp's headquarters was once a representative building in Osaka. This building carries Sharp's century-old glory and is also a symbol of the rise of Japanese manufacturing.

However, due to Sharp's poor management, the building was eventually sold in 2015 to ease Sharp's situation. The buyer is the Japanese home furnishing brand Ideli. This is like a microcosm of the Japanese economy. The manufacturing industry that dominated the world at the time could not continue to be brilliant, and was gradually replaced by the consumer industry with little technological content.

Later, Hon Hai acquired Sharp and wanted to buy the building back, but Guo Dong's bid was too low, and Yideli was unwilling to let it go. In the hands of Hon Hai, Sharp did not restore its former glory, and could not bring in huge profits. In the end, the matter of buying back the building was over.

At this time, Sharp's president Kozo Takahashi is waiting for the arrival of Rebus.

Rebus was here to sign a contract for the purchase of mobile phone screens. It is said that Kozo Takahashi should be happy if there is a business coming, but at this time, his face is gloomy and depressed.

President, all the reporters we invited have arrived, and they will witness today's signing ceremony in a while. The assistant reported.

Damn! Xiaomi Group's order is so small, but we have to publicize it with great fanfare! When did Sharp fall to this point! Takahashi Xingzo said viciously.

President, there is no way to do this. After the Fukushima nuclear accident, other customers, including Apple, are now waiting and watching, not daring to place orders for us. We need to break this deadlock now. The assistant paused. , and went on to say:

And the Xiaomi Group that signed the contract this time donated 10,000 anti-radiation air purifiers to our country, which has attracted public attention. This high-profile purchase by Xiaomi Group is also supporting our Japanese manufacturing industry. This signing is also very concerned.”

Isn't it an air purifier! It's not like we don't have it! The world's first household purifier was launched by our Sharp! Takahashi Kozo snorted coldly, and then said: If it wasn't for the pressure from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, How could I bother with such a small order!

Kozo Takahashi is not a successful business manager, this guy is proud and arrogant, but he often apologizes at shareholders' meetings. After Hon Hai officially completed the acquisition of Sharp in 2016, Kozo Takahashi completed his last apology, and then resigned as the president of Sharp.

When Takahashi Kozo was in charge of Sharp, Sharp lost money year after year, and in most cases, it lost more than 200 billion yen a year. Takahashi Kozo's wise decision-making contributed a lot.

Sharp's LCD TV used to be the world's number one, thanks to Sharp's ability to make the best LCD panels. There was a time when only Sharp could produce large-screen high-definition LCD panels in the world.

At that time, the largest customer of Sharp's LCD panels, apart from Sharp itself, was South Korea's Samsung. That is to say, Samsung, the giant in the home appliance industry, had to rely on Sharp's LCD panels to produce TVs.

Due to the increase in sales of Samsung TVs and market competition with Sharp TVs, Sharp decided not to sell high-end panels to Samsung. In desperation, Samsung can only develop LCD panel technology by itself, and then there is the current panel giant Samsung.

Samsung's TV sales have also successfully reached the top of the world. At the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, Hisense had an advertisement for No. 2 in the world, No. 1 in China. Many people would wonder who is No. 1 in the world. From the perspective of sales alone, Samsung is the No. 1 in the world.

The share of Sharp's TVs has been declining year by year, and even Xiaomi's sales are stronger than Sharp's.

In the face of foreign competitors, Sharp directly cut off the supply and suppressed them, hoping to kill them by getting stuck. In the face of domestic competitors in Japan, Sharp also used the same method.

Both Sony and Toshiba used to be Sharp's customers, but they were also Sharp's competitors. Sharp also cut off supply to these two companies. As a result, Sony and Toshiba directly found another supplier, JDI, which is Japan Display Corporation, and waited for JDI to eat Losing Sony and Toshiba, the two major customers, Sharp was relieved and quickly resumed supply, but it was too late.

Kozo Takahashi has made many similar wise decisions, which also turned the former industry giant Sharp into a company that has been losing money year after year.

After 2011, Sharp's most core LCD panel business also suffered losses, and the rise of Samsung and LG ate away a large share of Sharp. Thanks to the rise of smartphones, Sharp has been able to survive for several years on the phone screen.

...

The car slowly stopped in front of Sharp's headquarters building, and Li Weidong and Rebs both got out of the car.

The negotiation with Sharp this time was surprisingly smooth, thanks to the help from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. It seems that the donation of 10,000 air purifiers is still very effective. Rebs said.

If there is no opportunity, let's create an opportunity, especially in cross-border negotiations, which is very effective. Li Weidong continued: There is a book called The Art of Negotiation, I suggest you read it.

Is the book well written? Rebus asked.

The writing is average, but the person who wrote the book is extraordinary. That guy has a famous saying, no one knows XXX better than me. This XXX can be anything.

Li Weidong smiled, and then asked: How long do you think Sharp can last?

How long will Sharp last? Isn't Sharp good? Their mobile phone screens are in short supply. If it weren't for the Fukushima nuclear accident, other companies have started to wait and see, and we may not be able to get the goods. Rebs said.

Sharp's core business is LCD panels, and life is not easy. In recent years, Sharp's strategic mistakes have strengthened South Korea's panel industry. In terms of high-end panels, Samsung and LG have begun to catch up with Sharp. Chinese panels are also rising rapidly. It will quickly erode the mid-to-low-end panel market. If Sharp’s panel business is cold, how long do you think Sharp can last?” Li Weidong said.

Rebs frowned and thought for a few seconds, and then said, Sharp's mobile phone screen is really good. If Sharp really can't last, are you interested in buying Sharp? Then we won't have to worry about the mobile phone screen. Go beg grandpa to tell grandma.

You think too much about this! If I were the chairman of Sharp, I would spin off the profitable mobile phone screen business, and then package and sell the non-profitable parts, which can be regarded as squeezing Sharp's final profits. Li Weidong responded. .

Rebs nodded: It's true, many multinational companies want to sell, and that's what they do.

Li Weidong continued: Sharp's business is too big. There are profitable departments and loss-making departments. If you take over all of them, the risk is too high and it will take up too much money. But Sharp's medical device business, I think it's interesting. If Sharp If I’m willing to sell, I’d like to buy it.”

Sharp's medical devices? Are they famous? In my impression, mid-to-high-end medical devices are dominated by European and American brands! As for low-end medical devices, we can make them ourselves instead of importing them! Rebs said.

Sharp's medical devices are mainly monitoring equipment, such as the screens of monitoring instruments, many of which are produced by Sharp. Li Weidong continued: But what I like is not the screen, but Sharp's medical sensor technology. That thing can be applied to wearable devices.

Rebus also has vision. When Li Weidong mentioned wearable devices, Rebus' eyes lit up suddenly, and he also realized the commercial value behind it. So Rebus immediately asked, Will Sharpe sell it?

That guy Takahashi Xingsan is arrogant, and he will definitely not sell Sharp's medical device business. Li Weidong said with a confident expression: However, I can first propose the willingness to acquire today, so that Takahashi Xingsan can feel confident about it. The number, wait for two years when the time is ripe, let's start again!

The time is right? Rebus was stunned for a moment, and asked with a half-smile, Do you have any gossip?

Li Weidong replied: Hon Hai's Guo Dong has always been very interested in Sharp, so I have to wait for Hon Hai to make a move first.