Chapter 87 The Popular Post-it Note
In his previous life, Yang Wendong often liked to read novels, so he naturally knew some of the simplest ways to get rich in traditional ways.
Writing novels is the most common thing, but Yang Wendong doesn’t have the golden finger of memory, so he can’t learn it even if he wants to.
And in the Internet age, if you have IT capabilities, you can also run private game servers and make small games.
This is also a common method that is relatively simple and has a high success rate.
Others, like Yang Wendong, made their fortune by relying on some small creative items.
It’s only the 1950s, and the Rubik’s Cube toy still doesn’t exist. In fact, Yang Wendong had thought about making this simple and profitable thing a long time ago.
However, he only knew how to play and function the Rubik's Cube, but he didn't know what the internal structure was that could support its rotation in three directions, so he could only hide this idea.
......
Hong Xuefei glanced at the cube on the paper and some text descriptions below. For a while, he couldn't figure out the result, and then asked: "My boss, this thing should be It can be designed, but it may take some time. Can you tell me what this thing is used for? ”
"You don't need to know this. You will know it later after you design it." Yang Wendong said with a smile.
If you want to register a patent for a new invention, you need to have a physical object. Just an idea cannot register a patent.
Although the research and inventions of the people under him currently belong to him legally after signing the work contract, he will still guard against all possibilities that are detrimental to him.
For example, if the information is leaked to other people, or if a patent in an overseas country is registered, you will be asking for trouble if you file a lawsuit yourself.
So, although the appearance and design requirements of the Rubik's Cube are clearly written, the colors on it are not painted, and the function is not explained. Then even if outsiders see it, they will not know what it is used for. .
Hong Xuefei did not continue to ask any more questions. He glanced at the paper again and asked: "What is this material made of? The weight will affect our design."
Yang Wendong said: "It is also made of plastic. It's hollow, so it won't be very heavy. If you make the structure, try not to use metal in the middle, just use plastic.
There happens to be an injection molding machine in the factory, and it can be produced in the future. ”
Except for the industrial land on the edge of Tsim Sha Tsui, the valuable assets left behind by Li Hongxing were a few workers and craftsmen in injection molding, and a few very small toy customers.
If plastic is no longer used in sticky mouse boards in the future, these equipment and people can just produce Rubik's cubes.
In fact, Yang Wendong is also preparing to develop in the toy field, because this is an industry that will not decline in a hundred years.
Even Li Jiacheng, in the past few years when plastic flowers were popular, saw the risk that the plastic flower market would slump in the future, and was actively expanding the field of plastic toys. Even after he became a real estate tycoon, he did not Completely abandon their own toy industry.
The development of the toy industry is based on the cultural industry. Although Li Jiacheng has a strong business talent, he knows nothing about the cultural field. Therefore, although his toy industry is not small, it is only in the industrial chain. The lowest-end OEM will never become a pillar of its business empire.
As a time traveler, Yang Wendong is not very proficient in the cultural industry, but at least he is much better than the indigenous people. However, the development of the cultural industry requires a lot of resources and funds, and he can't do much now.
Build the Rubik's Cube first, then think about other things.
"Plastic? Okay, I understand." Hong Xuefei nodded and said.
Then the two discussed the details, and Hong Xuefei left.
……
Many times, a small thing that we take for granted looks very simple, but the person who originally invented it may have spent a long, long time; for example, screws are very Simple, but it took many generations of improvements to invent.
Or maybe you just discovered it by chance, which is also very common in the fields of scientific research and innovation; such as saccharin, telephones, X-rays, etc.
The Rubik's Cube is also very common in later generations. Basically everyone has played with it, but only one in ten thousand people knows what its internal structure is.
How this thing was invented in the original history is not clear to Yang Wendong. Now he can only rely on a few structural design subordinates he has just recruited.
It is obviously impossible to design it in a short time. What Yang Wendong can do is to regularly participate in discussions and ideas, hoping to study the structure of the Rubik's Cube as soon as possible.
Hong Xuefei and others also have some ability. After working together with Yang Wendong, they quickly developed the single-sided rotation function and then continued to optimize it.
……
On the other hand, five new sticky note devices from Japan arrived in Hong Kong on time and as promised, and were quickly installed.
All 6 devices are turned on.
Yang, Su, Zhao, and Lin are all gathered here, looking at 6 pieces of equipment. At this moment, it doesn’t matter if it’s a little later for other things.
Su Yiyi calculated the numbers with a pencil on the paper and said: "Brother Dong, now we have 6 pieces of equipment, and the production capacity per hour is almost 600. At the end of the day, if the equipment is not maintained, it is estimated that It’s 15,000.”
“15,000, that day,” Zhao Liming said with a smile. He also knew the price and approximate cost, so he could have sales of more than 1,000 Hong Kong dollars in one day. .
Even taking into account the maintenance and repair of equipment and deducting various costs, you can still earn about 10,000 to 20,000 yuan a month, which is enough to buy a good house with a down payment in a very good location in Hong Kong.
"Well, it's not too much, but it doesn't take much to send the first batch to the United States. Let 3M increase its reputation in the market first." Yang Wendong nodded and said.
Su Yiyi said: "I have already booked the air freight space in a few days. The first 100,000 sticky notes will be shipped by air freight so that the products can be put on the market before Christmas. "
"Well, we were in a good time," Yang Wendong said with a smile. He said: "The United States usually has a two-week holiday between Christmas and New Year's Day. This period is just suitable for us to expedite production."
Zhao Liming then said: "Brother Dong, over there at Dongsheng The first equipment will be ready in a few days, and they invited us to take a look.”
"Okay, I will definitely go." Yang Wendong nodded. It is very important to produce the equipment he needs in Hong Kong.
It not only saves money, but also improves efficiency. To put it exaggeratedly, Hong Kong's plastic textile processing industry can develop so well, which has a great causal relationship with the localized production of equipment.
Even the electronics industry ten years later will have a similar relationship. Even if the British Hong Kong government had not acted, then after the 1980s, Hong Kong's industry might have been able to complete the transformation from low-end to high-end. Transformational.
With the population of Hong Kong, it would be enough if only two or three of the dozens of industrial export industries at their peak in the 1980s were successfully transformed;
Unfortunately, there is no if in this world.
A few days later, Los Angeles International Airport:
A plane successfully descended from the western sky.
"Robert, you guys are really generous. Airlifting a pallet from Hong Kong to the United States? You have to transfer flights in Japan and Alaska. Isn't the cost more expensive than the goods themselves?" A man wearing glasses the 30-year-old blonde woman asked with a smile.
Robert said with a smile: "Robin, you have also used this post-it note, can you still leave it now?"
"I have to admit, I can't live without it. "Robin shrugged and said: "With this sticky note, it makes my work easier. I don't need to remember many things."
Robert nodded and said: "Me too, and so do many colleagues in our department. Even our Hong Kong partner, he previously sent some to Coca-Cola, General Electric, and General Motors. The feedback from these companies was very good. Not bad.
The purpose of transporting this batch of sticky notes by air this time is not to make money, but to give them to many large American companies for free, so that they can realize that there is still such a thing as sticky notes in the world?" Robin laughed? He laughed and said: "It's really smart for people to use it for free." The promotion method is exactly the same as Coca-Cola’s method of promoting new drinks, but I have to say that the effect is really good.”
Robert replied: “Yes, fortunately I found it. Early, I contacted Hong Kong as soon as possible;
You know, when I was negotiating with Eric, the inventor of sticky notes, in Hong Kong, people from Kodak also contacted him and wanted to cooperate with him. This caused me to receive a lot of pressure. In the end Basically, they all agreed to some of Eric’s requests.”
Robin smiled and said: "Actually, those requests are not too much. Although I have never met Eric, but from what you said, he should know the value of the patent in his hand, and he should also know our channels. It suits him very well, so I quickly reached a cooperation with you.”
“That’s right.” Robert nodded and said, “It’s just weird. I’ve investigated him. Can you believe it?” I have never gone to school, and I started working in society when I was seven or eight years old;
Such a person actually invented two very practical patents in succession, and he is also very smart. He is also very experienced in business negotiations. I can’t understand him.”
“Two types?” The blond woman Robin asked in confusion: “What is the other one that is not mentioned in your information? "
"Oh, it's a mouse-catching thing. Because we don't have any business in this area, we didn't consider it." Robert said quickly: "This thing is also made of glue. The principle is..."
"So that's it." Robin nodded and said: "It seems very simple, just like a sticky note, but the first person to think of it is the most powerful."
Robert waved his hand and said: " So I don’t know why he is so powerful.”
Robin thought for a while and said, “Maybe. , didn’t go to school, is that why he has these abilities? It is said that 600 years ago, there was an emperor in China who defeated the Mongol Empire, and he didn’t go to school either.”
“Well, I think that. Eric is very powerful, but compared to an ancient emperor, he is still a bit exaggerated," Robert said with a smile.
Robin said: "Just to give an example, they may have learned and grown up in poverty."
"Well, maybe." Robert nodded, and then said: "Let's go directly to pick up the goods. I have rented a corner of the warehouse next to the airport.
Our people will pack directly here Okay, then send it to many company headquarters, hospitals, government agencies, etc. in California through the airport's express delivery."
Robin was surprised and praised: "You are really smart to use the airport's express delivery? , you can get to these companies in California in two or three days!”
Robert said with a smile: “Isn’t it coming to Christmas? Of course we have to speed up, just in time to let the companies in California experience it. After Christmas, I will be able to make more preparations."
As the two walked, Robin asked: "Are you planning to not rest for Christmas?"
"We will be closed on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, and we will work as normal on the other days." Robert said with a smile: "Isn't there people at this airport every day? Besides, we can also take the rest later.
This Once, I made a guarantee in front of the board of directors. If sticky notes don’t become popular, I will Do you have the nerve to stay at 3M? "
Robin also said with a smile: "It is definitely going to be popular. I also congratulate you in advance for discovering such a high-quality product for 3M. Next year, maybe you will I can move up to another level.”
“Haha, thank you.” Robert said with high spirits.
Not only is he confident about the future popularity of sticky notes, but basically no one who has used them said they don’t like them. This is even more exaggerated than Coca-Cola;
There will be some people who don’t like to drink Coca-Cola, or they prefer to drink Pepsi-Cola and other drinks, but Post-it Notes don’t even have a competitor, so why is there no justice for them not to be popular?
The only bad thing is that sticky notes are products with a long repurchase cycle, and their own value is relatively low. They are not civilian products and are far inferior to the beverage market.
12 On March 18, a building in the suburbs of Los Angeles houses the California branch of the American General Electric Company.
"Phoebe, here is an express delivery from you." A beautiful woman with long hair came to the office on the top floor and said to another blonde woman.
The blonde Phoebe said in surprise: "I have a delivery? Isn't it a Christmas gift?"
"Maybe? You are so beautiful, and there are a few people downstairs who are secretly in love with you. Maybe they are confessing their feelings?" the brown-haired girl said with a smile.
"Karen, you are the same." Phoebe smiled, and then she found the express envelope. It felt quite thick, and she didn't know what it was for a moment.
Karen said: "I can't compare to you. American boys all like blond hair and big boobs, haha~ open it and take a look."
"Hmm~" Phoebe said The thick envelope was opened, revealing the strange yellow paper inside, which looked like a small notebook.
"What is this?" Karen took one and looked at it casually.
"Is this for work? There is an introduction here." Phoebe reminded Karen and said: "The first page."
"Oh, it turns out to be called postit." Karen read the introduction at a glance. Said: "It was sent by 3M Company."
"This company is very good. I like their staplers very much." Phoebe said with a smile.
Karen took another serious look at the letter in her hand and said, "It was sent by 3M, but this sticky note is not from 3M, but from a company called Deli.
You Have you heard of this company? I have no memory of this company.”
"Hmm..." Phoebe thought for a moment and said, "I don't know, maybe it's from other states. There are so many companies in the United States, so it's normal that we haven't heard of them."
"That's right." Karen nodded in agreement.
Phoebe then looked at the introduction and said: "It seems that when you know what you want to do in the future but are worried that you will forget it, you should write it down first and then paste it on In a conspicuous place, or directly on the document.”
“That’s an idea.” Karen nodded and said, “That’s a very good idea.”
After that. , she tore off a piece of yellow paper, then stuck it on the surface of the envelope, and then tore it open.
"There's no trace of glue at all, and it won't affect the paper underneath."
Phoebe also tried it on the table next to her and said, "It's a good thing. It will be very convenient for memorizing things in the future." "
"Let me see if anyone else has it." Karen flipped through the other items in her trolley. He sent the express and found three more letters and said, "They are all for personnel, purchasing, and sales. It seems that 3M Company sent them to those of you who disclosed the information."
"Yes." Phoebe nodded. , personnel needs to be recruited, and procurement and sales are often exposed to the outside world. The information of these departments is easy for outsiders to check.
On December 22, the phones at 3M’s Los Angeles branch were ringing one after another.
Robin walked up to Robert and asked: "Are these calls from people who want to buy sticky notes?"
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(this chapter End)