Black Label [EN]: Chapter 50

Black Label 49

50. The Long-Awaited Launch of the S/S Season Products

“Seung-hee, I’ll call you back in a bit.”

– Okay, got it.

“Okay. Just a sec.”

No sooner had he finished his call with his younger sister, Seung-hee, than he launched Facebook.

‘Seeing is believing.’ He thought it would be better to see for himself than to rely on Seung-hee’s seemingly excited explanation.

“President, is something the matter?”

Lee Kang-jun asked abruptly. Jae-seung nodded once and replied.

“Yes. It’s a call from my sister, and according to her…”

“Yes.”

“I’ve become a Facebook star, apparently.”

“Excuse me?”

Lee Kang-jun also widened his eyes as if he couldn’t easily believe it.

Facebook star.

A newly coined word referring to those who have succeeded in gaining sensational attention and popularity within SNS [Social Networking Services], Facebook.

“A Facebook star? You, President?”

“Yes, I’m going to take a look myself.”

First, he looked up a few posts that Seung-hee had told him about.

[Spotted Ryu Seung-ho in Yeonnam-dong on my way to work today. He looks like a pictorial just standing there. There’s a reason why they call him Ryu Ganzi, Ryu Ganzi [a slang term for someone stylish].]

└> 8,820 members like this post.

[Ryu Seung-ho’s candid shot from a pictorial shoot in Myeongdong. I don’t know what brand the clothes are, but they look good. I stood there blankly watching for a long time and caught a cold, but no regrets…]

└> 10,527 members like this post.

Considering that there are quite a few posts with close to tens of thousands of ‘Likes,’ it didn’t seem like such a huge reaction.

‘Anyway, he had essentially advertised the products for free to at least a few thousand people, and up to more than ten thousand.’

‘It was worth pushing ahead.’

Just as Jae-seung was continuing to look at posts related to the new Wall Flower S/S [Spring/Summer] season look book on Facebook.

“Huh….”

Jae-seung frowned deeply and slowly began to read the post he had just found.

[Finished the Wall Flower 2011 S/S season clothing look book shoot today. My precious friend and muse, designer Lee Jae-seung, and model Lee So-myeong, you both worked hard. Wishing Wall Flower endless development and a huge hit this season.]

└> 5,027 members like this post.

It was a post written by Ryu Seung-ho himself just 10 minutes ago. A selfie taken to commemorate the end of the shoot was posted with a short caption.

A photo containing the faces of himself, Ryu Seung-ho, and Lee So-myeong, all smiling brightly.

As Jae-seung stared intently at the photo without saying anything, Lee Kang-jun asked with a puzzled expression.

“President, what’s wrong? Is there something bad?”

“No, it’s not that….”

“Then?”

“Ryu Seung-ho posted a photo of me on his Facebook.”

“Yes?”

“The selfie we took together after the shoot….”

As Jae-seung trailed off, Lee Kang-jun smiled brightly and began to speak in an excited tone.

“Wow, President. Isn’t this S/S season going to be a huge hit? The product quality is good, the look book photos are good, and if the promotion goes this well….”

Lee Kang-jun’s words began to sound more and more faint. It was because he kept having other thoughts.

Ryu Seung-ho’s post had succeeded in receiving over 5,000 ‘Likes!’ in just 10 minutes.

‘So, over 5,000 people have seen the brand name Wall Flower and my face?’

For now, he seemed to have unintentionally succeeded in attracting a considerable amount of attention and focus.

The quality of the new S/S season products, the photos to be included in the look book, and even the promotion were all extremely satisfactory. Now, all the preparations were truly complete.

After being lost in thought for a long time, Jae-seung suddenly spoke.

“It seems like there’s only one thing left now.”

“Yes?”

“We just need to do well.”

Now, there seemed to be only one thing left to do: live up to the immense attention and expectations that were pouring in.

* * *

Several more days had passed since the shoot, and already another month on the calendar had been turned.

It was already February.

In the meantime, a hectic daily routine continued, to the point where he wondered, ‘Is someone grabbing me by the hair and dragging me around?’

It was because he had to handle quite a few things while managing the existing orders and work.

“Then, let’s start the weekly meeting.”

It was the first Monday morning of February. The weekly meeting began without fail.

As soon as Jae-seung finished speaking, the employees, who had been sitting blankly, began to trudge towards the sofa in the center of the office.

“I miss my mom.”

“Ugh….”

“President, please save me.”

Was it because of the repeated late nights? Everyone looked exhausted.

The unsightly stubble, like sharp lead tips stuck in, was a basic option.

Dark circles had descended to below their chins, and it was even an illusion that their cheekbones were bulging out.

“Think about your salary next month and hang in there a little longer. Let’s just make it to midnight today. We’re almost there.”

The sale of the 2011 S/S season clothes was scheduled to begin at midnight today.

Of course, they would have to come back to work the next morning, and they would be several times busier from today onwards, but even that seemed like a blessing to the employees.

At least they would be able to sleep the ‘minimum amount of sleep’ today.

Soon, Jae-seung clapped his hands once and quietly asked Nam Gwang-min.

“Gwang-min, how is the official website preparation going?”

“I finished talking with the company last night. They said it would take about two months.”

“Okay. Good.”

They were preparing to create an official Wall Flower website. It was true that the Cubacuba store was a good platform, but they couldn’t keep paying commissions to sell clothes forever.

However, they were not aiming for ‘complete independence’ or ‘termination of the store contract.’ The more sales channels, the better.

It was more like creating a new route to sell without paying commissions.

Next, he immediately asked Yoo Seung-woo, an employee of the logistics and delivery team.

“Seung-woo, did the goods arrive from the factory yesterday?”

“Yes. They arrived.”

“If those goods don’t go out, we’re closing down. If we mess up, we might have to pay your salaries with clothes.”

The employees chuckled at Jae-seung’s joke. The initial sales volume of S/S season clothes had just arrived yesterday.

Because the promotion was going well in many ways, they had stocked up on a lot of products to prepare thoroughly. Thanks to that, the product warehouse was full.

“Seung-woo. How far along are you with product sorting and organizing?”

“I worked all night, but I only finished half of it. I guess there are just too many products….”

Just as Yoo Seung-woo was trailing off, Chu Ji-hoon added, “If the boxes collapse, we could get crushed to death, you know?”

Soon, Jae-seung nodded once and pointed at Chu Ji-hoon with his chin, saying.

“Ji-hoon, I’m sorry, but could you help with product sorting and organizing?”

“Yes? Me?”

“Yes. We need to finish sorting before midnight today, but it’ll be too much for one person to do while checking the quantities. Please.”

“Ha, this is a big problem. I’ll lose weight if I move around too much…. Anyway, I understand. You don’t have to worry.”

As soon as Chu Ji-hoon finished speaking, Nam Gwang-min snorted and said.

“Hey, Fatty Ji-hoon. You need to lose some weight.”

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], don’t you know the saying, ‘A belly is a symbol of character’?”

“No. I’ve never heard that before.”

Soon, Lee Kang-jun chuckled and chimed in.

“If a belly is a symbol of character, then our Ji-hoon is a saint.”

“Of course. Anyway, Seung-woo, don’t worry too much. This hyung will sacrifice himself to help….”

“Hey, a fat saint, more like.”

“Are you all really going to pick on me-?”

Jae-seung, who had been watching the employees bickering, smiled faintly.

The atmosphere in the office was much more friendly than before. It seemed that the repeated late nights had rapidly increased the bond between the employees.

How could they not become close when they were together for more than 12 hours a day?

‘Hmm, should I increase the frequency of late nights?’

Even as he was harboring thoughts that would make the employees turn pale, the weekly meeting continued.

Starting with the story about weekly sales, how the marketing was progressing, and so on….

As the meeting was nearing its end.

“Ah, and there’s a package that arrived for me yesterday, right?”

At Jae-seung’s question, Nam Gwang-min nodded once and replied.

“Ah, yes. I set it aside.”

“That’s this month’s FTV magazine. I ordered plenty, so everyone take five copies each.”

As soon as Jae-seung finished speaking, the employees began to let out joyful screams.

“Woo-hoo-!”

“Oh my god!”

Jae-seung, who had been watching the employees’ enthusiastic reactions, wore a pleased smile.

It was a perfectly natural reaction.

Because it was by no means an ordinary magazine, at least for ‘us.’

It was a magazine containing model cut images of the six main products of this S/S season, and interviews with all Wall Flower employees.

It was a historical magazine that briefly recorded the first steps taken by the employees since they entered the fashion industry.

How could they not be happy?

Soon, Jae-seung stood up first and quietly continued.

“Let’s work harder. Until everyone can take magazine interviews in stride.”

“Yes, sir!”

“And, everyone, let’s pray. If this S/S season goes wrong, both me and you will become unemployed.”

At Jae-seung’s words, Nam Gwang-min shrugged once and replied in a rather bright tone.

“If it goes wrong, we’ll all go to the factory and work for a few months, right? Then we can start again after raising some capital….”

“Hyung! Why are you saying such terrible things? We should pray for it to go well!”

“I’m just saying, you idiot.”

Jae-seung, who had been watching Nam Gwang-min and Chu Ji-hoon exchanging words, smiled faintly.

The very fact that they could make such jokes was proof that the employees were all confident in the success of this 2011 S/S season.

Just like you can’t tease someone with a seriously low IQ by calling them stupid. Everyone has a certain degree of confidence in success, so they can exchange jokes.

Jae-seung was the same.

‘It’ll be alright.’

He was really confident. The design and quality of the clothes weren’t bad either. No, he was confident that they were good.

In addition, the model in the look book photos and the reactions were amazing. Moreover, the promotion went well.

“Hoo….”

After taking a deep breath, Jae-seung turned his head towards the clock on the wall.

AM 10:12

Only 14 hours left until the start of the 2011 S/S season clothing sales.

‘I’m confident, I’m really confident, so why am I so nervous?’

Come to think of it, had he ever taken on a bigger challenge than this in his past two lives?

Probably not.

* * *

Late at night.

Several chickens placed on the office side table were steaming hot.

If you were to pick up a piece and take a bite right now, it would make a beautiful sound, ‘Crunch-!’

However, everyone was only staring intently at the laptop monitor without even glancing at the chicken.

“How many minutes left?”

At Jae-seung’s question to the employees, Lee Kang-jun replied in a low voice.

“There are exactly 2 minutes left.”

2 minutes, or 120 seconds.

That’s the time left until the start of the S/S season product sales. Is that why? Everyone looked very nervous.

Even Chu Ji-hoon and Nam Gwang-min, who were always busy exchanging jokes whenever they made eye contact, were silently guarding their seats.

Of course, Jae-seung was no exception.

‘Hoo….’

Was it because the time of challenge was imminent? For no reason, his chest began to tighten. Would it feel like this if you swallowed a handful of heavy gravel?

On the laptop monitor screen placed on the side table, the main screen of the ‘Cubacuba Store’ disappeared and reappeared repeatedly.

It was because Chu Ji-hoon was constantly pressing the ‘Refresh’ button.

The funny thing was, everyone was blankly staring at such a monitor screen. Lee Kang-jun was even clasping his hands together and muttering the Lord’s Prayer.

Ticking-. Ticking-.

For a moment, only the sound of the ticking clock echoed emptily in the quiet office.

Thud-!

Just as Chu Ji-hoon was pressing refresh again. Nam Gwang-min widened his button-sized eyes and jumped up from his seat.

“President.”

“Yes.”

“S, sales have started….”

AM 12:00

The long-awaited S/S season new product sales had begun. The new product sales that the brand’s life depended on.

Finally, the carefully carved dice had been thrown.