章 2: Opening of Supermarkets

Following numerous discussions, Ferdinand eventually parted ways with Princess Clémentine. Despite this, he still harbors a degree of fear towards her, acknowledging the weight of having assumed control over her son. A lingering sense of guilt persists within his heart.

Returning to his supermarket plans, Ferdinand recognizes that the most crucial and challenging aspect is staff training. His immediate goal is to hire a hundred individuals, preferably middle school graduates, for early training. Prioritizing the selection and training of instructors becomes a personal focus. He contemplates involving the old butler to compensate, given his proven ability to manage hundreds of individuals inside and outside the castle efficiently.

Acknowledging the disparity between Vienna in 1881 and the later world, Ferdinand understands the impossibility of exact replication. Given the aristocratic nature of the current world, waiters must undergo basic aristocratic etiquette training to elevate the supermarket's overall class.

The second step involves finding ideal locations, with Vienna still offering a hundred or eighty suitable places in accordance with his criteria. Ferdinand contemplates the options to either rent or purchase these locations and streamline them through renovations.

Recognizing the financial constraints that prevent him from opening multiple stores at once due to the lack of available goods, Ferdinand contemplates an alternative revenue source. He sees potential in the company's future in selling low-tech snacks and decides to focus on opening a supermarket first.

The third step involves procuring goods, which proves challenging in the early stages. Ferdinand decides to initially source products from the wholesale market and envisions transitioning to factories once the supermarket expands.

Navigating customs, the fourth step, poses no significant challenge for Ferdinand, given his status as a major aristocrat, which still commands prestige.

Lastly, the financial aspect is crucial. Ferdinand estimates that for a 500-square-meter supermarket, he will spend about one thousand pounds, covering staff training, site fees, the purchase of goods, and other associated expenses. This comprehensive approach reflects his strategic planning for the supermarket venture.

Note: The Austro-Hungarian currency was the gulden in 1881. They change to the krone after 1893. Because the value of the currency changed at the time, there are multiple reasons for this like for easy use, I will apply the pound directly. 1 pound = 7.32238 grams of pure gold Taking into account his real condition, Ferdinand chose to open five supermarkets in Vienna first. But the real problem is not money In fact, taking out a few thousand pounds at once was not a burden for him. Its that the staff could not keep up the progress.

After over three months of meticulous preparation, Ferdinand's supermarket was ready for launch. This marked over half a year since he entered this world, and as he beheld the imminent opening of the supermarket, a profound sense of pride surged within him, carrying the weight of his aspirations. In his previous life, a small supermarket like this would have sufficed for a substantial portion of his existence.

Choosing June 18, 1881, for the inaugural day, Ferdinand named his first supermarket "Volvo." In anticipation of the event, he, as a traverser, arranged an elaborate publicity campaign. Two days before the opening, he mobilized all his employees, adorned the streets of Vienna with banners, and successfully generated buzz for the launch of Volvo.

The historical backdrop of 1881 reveals significant events, such as the Sino-Russian Treaty of Ili and the Statute of Land Trade on February 24. As Russia returned Ili to China, tensions escalated, and the Manchu aristocracy appeared oblivious to the impending challenges.

Political maneuvers also unfolded in Europe, with Bismarck renewing The League of the Three Emperors with Russian and Austrian ambassadors in Berlin on June 18, 1881. Coincidentally, this was the same day Volvo, the world's first supermarket, was born. Although Ferdinand steadfastly believes in the significance of June 18, he discreetly acknowledges the strategic choice of this date for publicity.

Ferdinand's vision for Volvo materialized as long lines of people gathered on the opening day, prompting the necessity to limit admission. The spectacle, akin to the Supermarket Rush in the early '90s, captured the attention of Vienna, and newspapers were bound to report on the phenomenon.

The supermarket's profitability exceeded Ferdinand's expectations. The opening day's turnover reached fifteen hundred pounds, boasting a gross profit of thirty percent. However, he recognized the initial excitement would gradually subside, leading to a normalization of turnover.

Undeterred, Ferdinand expedited the opening of the remaining four supermarkets within the next month, capitalizing on the booming market. The store managers, selected from the best talents among the trainee staff, were expected to follow Ferdinand's established system.

The retail industry, known for its perpetual profitability, spurred Ferdinand to plan for the addition of thirty new supermarket chains within six months. This ambitious endeavor necessitated extensive staff hiring, involving no less than ten to twenty employees for each supermarket, amounting to over a thousand people when considering logistics and management.

The formidable challenge confronted by Ferdinand was managing this expansive operation, particularly with the busy schedule of Butler Karl, now under his command. This situation incited the fury of Princess Clémentine, who confronted Ferdinand at home, expressing her discontent with his overwhelming commitments. In response, Ferdinand adopted a lighthearted tone, jokingly addressing her concerns while remaining committed to his ambitious supermarket venture.