Corporate Villain
Copyright© 2025 by K.W
Chapter 40
The presentation is ultimately a battle of wits and a twist between the presenter and the observers.
Whether a spoonful of emotion is added or not determines the victory or defeat of the presentation.
I received the presenter’s space from Manager Cho of Bulldog.
I had already displayed the PowerPoint materials I would use on the laptop screen and extended my hand to Manager Cho, who had given up his seat, to thank him for setting the stage.
Manager Cho lightly touched and then detached his hand from mine behind the podium, out of the observers’ view, and entered the seating area.
“Yuntaesik Yoon from the European Division.”
The slender microphone stand made for the podium.
He bent it slightly towards himself and bowed his head in greeting, then turned around the podium and stepped forward.
And this time, he bowed even deeper towards the observers.
Then he immediately attached the thumb-sized microphone on the stand to his jacket lapel and took a step forward.
“Based on last year’s data, the average closure rate for self-employed individuals in South Korea reached 43 percent.”
There was no reason to rush into the main topic.
I’m not sure why that person attended, but everyone here, except for President Min Byung-jin, is intensely focused on this presentation.
And Deputy Manager Im Hyung-jun, who is trying to find any fault to free himself from this project, will also need to understand the specific business model.
“But this statistic doesn’t specify the exact period when the surveyed businesses started and closed. Moreover, since the data isn’t categorized by business or region, starting our discussion with the 43 percent figure would mean falling into the trap of averages right from the start.”
Using the remote control, Manager Jo transferred the laptop screen he had prepared earlier to the projector.
Displayed on the screen was the number of chicken specialty stores nationwide, registered without brand distinction.
43,566.
“In the past, it was common for people to quit their jobs and say, ‘Why not open a chicken place... ‘ It’s astounding, isn’t it? Just the number of registered stores is forty-three thousand ... So, how many coffee specialty stores are currently registered, without distinguishing between franchises and individual cafes?”
He pressed the remote control button once more.
Next to the number of chicken specialty stores, the figure of 92,103 registered coffee specialty stores appeared.
With another press of the remote control, a graph materialized, showing the difference in numbers between the two at a glance.
“The number of coffee shops is more than double that of chicken places. Now, it’s the coffee specialty stores that are considered easy to start. Our country, South Korea, is said to have the highest number of coffee shops per capita in the world. Let’s return to the initial topic of the self-employed closure rate. Ignoring other business sectors, what do you think is the closure rate for self-employed individuals who have started franchise coffee specialty stores?”
This was content that didn’t necessarily need to be displayed here.
“So, how many coffee specialty stores that have been open for more than two years do you think are still in operation? Goldline representative.”
“Yes.”
“Goldline is about to open its 450th store, right?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask how many closures have occurred during Goldline’s remarkable growth to 450 stores over the past two years?”
“Twelve locations failed to fulfill their contract term and had to close.”
At this point, I had to acknowledge Goldline’s management.
“Wouldn’t you say they’ve done quite well? After the pandemic, the trend in coffee shops shifted rapidly from standing-room-only to take-out specialty stores. Even so, Goldline has continued its rapid growth over the past two years, excluding just twelve locations. That’s quite an accomplishment.”
But the real issue starts now.
“But in Goldline’s case, the initial franchise contract period is set for three years, and if there’s no mutual termination intent afterward, it’s automatically extended annually, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“That means all the franchise locations are still bound by the franchise contract period, as the brand is only two years old.”
The person in charge on their side was deliberately avoiding answering this.
“It would be great if you could maintain your current success after one year, and the year after that. But realistically, the number of franchise locations opting out is likely to increase proportionally with the termination percentage, right? That’s why Daeyoung Distribution’s FP team is staking everything on launching the new brand, Black Bean.”
At this point, I had to interrupt the flow.
Inviting a guest to your home and then continuously digging into their weaknesses at the gathering can only lead to an accumulation of fatigue.
I shift my gaze towards President Min Byung-jin.
He’s not someone I’ve invited, so why is he observing this meeting?
Does he know that I’m pondering this internally?
President Min Byung-jin, with his lips tightly sealed, nods at me with an intrigued expression, as if he’s already quite pleased with the presentation that has yet to get to the point.
I press the remote control button once more.
This time, the screen changes completely, and these words start appearing one by one:
Why must Goldline and Blackbean be Marco?
The question that Deputy Manager Im Hyung-jun had just thrown at Manager Jo was now displayed on the screen.
Perhaps that’s why Deputy Manager Im Hyung-jun’s eyes narrowed significantly as he watched the phrase.
The silence I maintain.
Because of that silence, the sound of presentation papers being turned could be heard loudly in the quiet presentation hall.
“Deputy Manager.”
“Yes.”
I called out to Deputy Manager Im Hyung-jun.
It’s as if I’m saying, “The real deal starts now, so buckle up tightly and follow closely.”
“May I ask what percentage of Goldline’s sales per establishment comes from ETC (cookies, cakes, or other peripheral products like the brand’s cups or coffee beans) excluding beverages?”
Deputy Manager Im Hyung-jun, still fixing his gaze on me, lends an ear towards the person in charge of Goldline.
“It’s around 12 percent.”
“Well-designed ETC products can be seen as a profitable category for franchise headquarters and franchisees, as they can generate decent sales without incurring additional labor costs, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then, if we exclude the ETC items that are counted as losses for the store if not sold within the deadline—cookies, macarons, croissants, paninis, cakes, tiramisu, and other snack items—may I ask again what percentage of the sales they represent in the overall sales per establishment?”
None.
Not that there are none, but it’s almost negligible.
“ ... Around 2 percent.”
Not rounded up?
I was expecting it to be in the 1 percent range.