Chapter 597: Sales Pitch
The next morning, the workshop was even more ‘lively’ than usual.
“Who are we?!”
“Salesmen!”
“What are the advantages of our product?”
“Delicious and affordable, easy to cook, nutritious, and long shelf life!”
“What do we need to do?”
“Share good products with more friends!”
“Do you have confidence?!”
“Yes!”
“Very good, full of spirit. Everyone, let’s go.”
“Yes!”
After a simple pre-shift mobilization, the new members quickly boarded the carriage.
Behind the carriage was a covered trailer, containing still-steaming luncheon meat, simple tables and chairs hastily made from leftover wood in the workshop, promotional materials temporarily painted with paint, and self-defense tools like knives and hunting rifles.
Their specific task was also very simple: set up a stall in the Dock Area and enthusiastically sell luncheon meat to people.
Besides the necessary promotional introductions, the rest was much like selling tofu: just cut the luncheon meat into pieces on a large plate, wrap it in newspaper, and exchange it directly for money.
Of course, if someone came to cause trouble, they would act when necessary—Wayne chose to set up their stall in the Sailor Gang’s territory. The Agents would not only refuse to pay protection money to the Sailor Gang but would also protect customers who bought luncheon meat.
The Dock Area is unsupervised? Then it’s certainly not wrong for the Detective Agency to protect themselves and their customers, right?
Inessa had primarily been helping Willie with cases recently and hadn’t spent much time in the workshop. Seeing this scene early in the morning, she looked in the direction the carriage was driving away, slightly speechless:
“What have you taught them? I feel like I only haven’t paid attention to them for two or three days, and how did they turn out like this?”
Wayne, however, was modest, “Actually, I didn’t teach anything too practical, just some small sales techniques.”
“Sales techniques can make people like this?” Inessa seemed a little confused.
In fact, if it were just a simple sales task, it certainly wouldn’t make people so enthusiastic.
But it turns out that some rhetoric and methods are indeed summaries and refinements of practical experience. Wayne merely learned a few tricks from anti-pyramid scheme documentaries he had seen, and the effect was clearly quite good.
For example, Wayne linked luncheon meat sales to commissions. The more they sold, not only would the commission amount increase, but the commission percentage would also rise, resulting in an even larger sum.
Then, customers who brought in new customers would also receive a discount, getting a free pound, which would also be counted towards the salesperson’s sales.
—Ultimately, people are always most active when they are “working for themselves.” Only after interest is sparked will the rest of the routine work.
To prevent the Agents from neglecting their proper duties in the future, Wayne actually restrained himself a bit, emphasizing that luncheon meat sales were only a short-term task, and the new members just happened to catch a good opportunity. The extra money they could earn was considered a beginner’s welfare and a “settling-in allowance.” The opportunity was limited and wouldn’t wait.
Therefore, with the chance to fight, earn money, and not worry about doing it for too long, the new members were naturally very motivated.
Anyway, Wayne didn’t expect to make a fortune from luncheon meat for now. After that, good meat, besides being prioritized for internal supply to the Detective Agency, would all be sent to restaurants to be made into hamburger patties and such. Luncheon meat’s current positioning is closer to “reasonable utilization of scraps,” preventing meat that can’t be eaten all at once after slaughter from spoiling and being wasted.
This part of the business only needs to break even overall; other additional income is what Wayne wants.
Lina, who had overheard Wayne’s lecture last night, was openly teasing him nearby:
“I think the problem is mainly with Wayne. I feel like this guy has quite a talent for evangelism. If he had been born in the Middle Ages, he would probably either be a favorite of the Holy See or someone they would besiege.”
That’s slander!
Direct sales are legal in modern society, okay?
After the new members’ carriage departed, Sanders drove Wayne’s carriage over.
Inessa was a little curious, as Wayne had mostly stayed indoors recently to avoid suspicion, “Are you going out today? Where are you planning to go?”
Wayne already had one foot in the carriage: “Like them, I’m going to the Dock Area to sell luncheon meat. But they are responsible for setting up the stall, and I’m mainly responsible for getting the ‘channels’ in order.”
…
Socializing in America places great emphasis on “introducers,” and this is no exception among gangs.
Although Wayne had the initial gang information investigated by Lina and her team, it was still more convenient to have an informed person “lead the way” when dealing with them face-to-face.
So Wayne sought out James Damody and pulled him out to be a free laborer.
On the matter of dealing with the Sailor Gang, he and the Detective Agency were allies and were happy to reap the benefits, so after Wayne hinted at his intention to retaliate against the Sailor Gang, the two sides quickly hit it off.
This guy had been in the Dock Area for some time, considered a well-known figure in the underworld in that area, and was even a gang leader.
Based on the principle of “equal status,” with him leading the way, it was much easier for Wayne to find people according to the gang list. He soon arrived at the hideout of one of the gangs that had territorial disputes with the Sailor Gang.
—At first, they didn’t find the right hideout, and the gang’s underlings even proactively helped with directions, as if afraid of delaying the big bosses from discussing important matters. Wayne felt that if he had brought a large group of Agents to “kick down the door,” the effect might not have been so smooth.
“This is Mr. Wayne Constantine, the great detective who often appears in the newspapers recently. I brought him here because there’s business to discuss with you.”
“Business?” The other party was a burly man in a suit, smoking a cigar, but his physique was clearly not as strong as Sanders, who stood behind Wayne.
Wayne didn’t bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point, “For personal reasons, I plan to deal with the Sailor Gang recently. I don’t need anyone’s help, but I also don’t want to see anyone get in the way.”
The big man didn’t respond to this but first tilted his head and glanced at James Damody, who quickly understood and nodded, “Mr. Wayne has that capability.”
Only when the big man’s truly wary gaze fell on him again did Wayne continue to add: “I’m basically a businessman; I’m not interested in the Sailor Gang’s territory. After getting rid of them, I won’t occupy those docks and charge ‘brokerage fees’ to laborers; that’s not within my scope of business.”
The other party clearly didn’t believe him, a smirk playing on one side of his mouth: “It seems Mr. Wayne is quite a generous person. I wonder what kind of business Mr. Wayne is more interested in?”
Wayne waved his hand, and Sanders placed the small gift box he was holding onto the table between the three of them:
“This is luncheon meat, a delicious and affordable meat product. I plan to promote this groundbreaking new product throughout Virginia. Currently, Richmond is my first step in opening up the market—you see, for a businessman, the Dock Area is clearly too small. I can’t keep an eye on it forever, and of course, I don’t like anyone affecting my business.”
The big man’s eyes shifted slightly. After pondering for a while, he seemed to think he truly understood, “I think I’ve heard of this food; it must taste good. Unlike those guys from the Sailor Gang who always interfere with other people’s business, if Mr. Wayne’s product sells in my territory, no one will get in the way.”
Wayne nodded approvingly, “Of course, otherwise Mr. Damody wouldn’t have arranged for us to meet.”
“So, we have a deal?”
“A pleasure working with you.”
There were many gangs in the Dock Area, and their relationships were chaotic. Wayne didn’t plan to stir up a hornet’s nest all at once, to avoid attracting unnecessary attention from the Church or other major powers after a massive explosion.
Slowly, he would start by clearing out the Sailor Gang’s territory.
