After the meal, Chairman Park and Duke Grosvenor stepped outside the building.
Although it was previously difficult to have a serious conversation due to the distance,
"..."
Walking side by side now, it wasn't much different.
The conversations, carefully avoiding the core matters,
Nevertheless, the two soon found a common interest.
"I hear you sponsor the McLaren F1 team."
"It's my only pleasure these days."
Thanks to the Grosvenor family's sponsorship, McLaren created one of the greatest cars in F1 history.
It could win 15 out of 16 races in a season.
Wasn't it an exaggeration to call it his only pleasure?
Even the usually reticent Duke opened up this time.
"I've invested quite a bit in my son as a driver, starting from go-karts up to F4 and F3, and he's done well."
Park Yong-hak thought of Tennessee's face.
There was a reason why he seemed so knowledgeable about cars.
"But from F2, it seems like a huge burden on him."
After saying this,
"The small talk has gone on too long."
The Duke showed a faint smile.
But the car talk didn't end there, because of a comment from Park Yong-hak.
"The McLaren F1 team uses Japanese Honda engines, right?"
"Yes. We used to get them from Porsche, but switched to Honda three years ago."
"Was there a particular reason you chose Honda?"
"I wanted overwhelming performance."
It turned out to be a great decision.
They've beaten Ferrari and Porsche several times.
"When choosing an engine, brand reputation isn't a consideration."
"Do you only look at the numbers?"
"Of course. Numbers don't lie."
"That's a very fair approach."
It was right after Park Rede a joke.
"You seem very interested in F1?"
"It's been a long-time dream."
"And that dream?"
"To transplant a Hyungang heart into a great car like McLaren, that's my ultimate dream."
Upon hearing this, Duke Grosvenor fell into thought.
"Is it because of the historical relations with Japan?"
"That's unlikely. Money doesn't carry emotions. I just look at the returns."
"It all comes down to the numbers, in the end."
While the Duke laughed, Park Yong-hak spoke calmly.
"You believe that if France can do it, so can England, right?"
"Of course."
"The same goes for Korea. If the neighboring country makes money, we should be able to as well, although it will require some time and effort."
"So, is that why you came from a meeting with Rolls-Royce?"
Instead of answering, Chairman Park just slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.
***
Meanwhile, I had been on the move since morning to meet Tennessee.
But what a surprise.
The meeting place was a bit odd.
It was practically at the outskirts of London.
I decided to go anyway, but when I got out of the car, an unimaginable sight awaited me.
"Ever flown in a light aircraft?"
"No."
"Good."
Huh? There was indeed a plane in front of me.
A one-person aircraft with a propeller at the front.
Upon closer inspection, it had two seats.
"Am I supposed to fly this?"
"Why? Scared?"
It seemed well-maintained.
There appeared to be at least ten professionals around, so there was nothing to fear.
"What about you?"
"I'm flying too."
"If we both go, who will pilot?"
Tennessee answered this burning question by sitting in the pilot's seat.
Hmm… Suddenly, a sense of fear I hadn't felt before started to creep in.
"Don't worry. I'm good with anything on wheels."
"But this isn't just wheels, is it?"
However, my worries were brief.
A man who appeared to be an instructor began to speak of Tennessee's flying experience.
More importantly!
The fact that it was a luxury model, easily a hundred times more expensive than a regular light aircraft, melted the ice around my heart.
I boarded the seat next to Tennessee…
Toodoodoodoo.
The propeller in front gradually picked up speed.
Buuuuuang.
"Oh, we're taking off!"
The speed wasn't very fast, around 100 kilometers per hour.
After flying over a mountain and following a river for about 15 minutes, Tennessee gradually decreased the altitude.
"We're going to land."
The view opened up.
The dazzling river below.
As Tennessee moved his hand, the plane gently tilted and headed towards the runway.
"The plane might shake when the wheels touch the ground, but it's safe, so don't worry."
Contrary to Tennessee's words, thump.
There was hardly any vibration.
Passenger planes run for a while even after landing, but it seems light aircraft stop quickly.
"How was it?"
"It was fun!"
"Want to try flying it next time?"
"Huh?"
"You just need to take some lessons. You can fly after 60 hours. The planes aren't too expensive either."
Just… I think I'll stick to first class!
Anyway.
"Why are we here?"
"Thought we might do some shooting."
From light aircraft to shooting.
Today really is like an aristocrat's special.
"Ever shot a gun?"
"No."
Not in this life.
At my words, he began to explain.
"You get two bullets. When you're ready, a disc will fly out. You just need to hit it."
"Do you do this often?"
"Sometimes. When I'm stressed."
"When do you get stressed?"
It must have been an unexpected question.
He paused briefly.
"Well, just when my tutor nags too much."
I chuckled.
Shortly after, I was guided by an employee to choose a gun.
Accustomed to shooting only with a K2, the idea of using a shotgun seemed odd to me.
Nevertheless, I donned a shooting vest, a luxurious item with leather padded at the shoulder where the gun rests.
After listening to the staff's instructions, I was handed the gun.
Click.
Like an alligator opening its mouth, the gun hinged open.
Clank.
Then, Bang! Bang!
The staff loaded the bullets for me.
Bang! Bang!
After firing four shots,
"Do I need to adjust the click?"
"Excuse me?"
Hold on.
The phrase "adjust the click" coming from the mouth of an inexperienced high school student… does that sound off?
"Oh, that's because I have a friend who wants to join the special forces. He loves the military so much… he was talking about it. To check if the sight is accurate, you need to adjust the click. Haha."
As I laughed awkwardly, "Are you talking about Jack?"
Tennessee chimed in from beside me.
"Of course. Who else but, well, Jack? Haha."
The shooting began after some initial hiccups.
Shwoop.
The moment the red disc flew into the air.
Whoosh.
I immediately raised the gun barrel.
After holding my breath for a moment.
Bang!
I pulled the trigger.
Crack!
The disc shattered into pieces.
"That's impressive, isn't it?"
I had fired guns in the military, but I was no sharpshooter.
Maybe I hit about 15 out of 20 shots.
But maybe it was because my body had changed.
Shwoop.
Whoosh.
Bang!
Crack!
Strangely, every shot was a hit.
I must have fired around 30 shots.
Unlike the forced shooting in the military, this definitely felt like a stress reliever!
"How about it?"
"It's fun."
I answered Tennessee's question with a broad smile.
"Traditionally, nobility enjoyed duck hunting. The hunting dogs would run and startle the ducks, then you'd shoot them from behind."
"Have you tried it?"
"Long ago."
Indeed, these days, hunting animals for sport is hardly permissible, especially in a developed country like the UK.
"So that's why this shooting range was created?"
"Yes. Instead of ducks, it's discs flying around."
"Ah."
Playtime was over.
Tennessee suggested moving to another location.
Given his serious expression, it seemed we were about to switch to discussing business.
"Do you know why we did flying and shooting today?"
"Is it related to business?"
Tennessee nodded, then added, "When you mentioned energy drinks, this is the image that came to my mind."
Hmm.
"Challenging moments that require focus…"
"That's flying and shooting?"
"Well, realistically, energy drinks are mostly used to fend off sleep. But from a marketing standpoint, we need to offer a fresh image."
"When did you think of this?"
"All night."
"Huh?"
"I told you, I became interested in the business. Since you brought up a new item, it's natural I'd think about it all night."
His mindset is admirable.
But.
"So, you stayed up all night, then flew the plane?"
"I slept a bit."
"…"
"Did some preliminary research, drank some energy drinks too."
I was a bit puzzled when he said he wanted to meet my grandfather.
This guy is serious about business.
'And he's got a sense!'
I was pleased with his initiative.
"Advanced technology isn't necessary for beverage production. Ultimately, marketing makes or breaks it."
I remember quite a few memorable drink ads.
A plum beverage that Rede you want to bite into it.
A pomegranate drink that beauties love.
An ion beverage that demanded not to be treated like plain water.
It's similar overseas.
How about polar bears drinking cola, or rival companies creating cola characters wearing metal?
However!
There are superior marketing strategies, and fortunately, I clearly remember a successful case.
"Wait a sec."
I pulled out a notebook from my coat.
Then I Rede a simple sketch and showed it to Tennessee.
"What does this look like?"
"Rugby, a scrum."
"Right."
I slightly altered the drawing of heads clashing together.
"Now what does it look like?"
"It looks more like bulls."
"Exactly. That's the brand we need to acquire."
"What?"
Tennessee stared at the sketch for a while.
"What's the name?"
I wrote below the logo.
"It's another name for victory."
If asked to name the most successful branding example in the beverage industry, I would undoubtedly choose 'Red Bull.'
Before Red Bull appeared.
Caffeinated beverages were mostly sold as "fatigue recovery drinks."
They were positioned as drinks for 40-50-year-olds to consume after work.
However, Red Bull introduced a completely different marketing strategy for the same type of beverage.
Namely, "Energy drinks that give wings to your life!"
In order to establish this new image, Red Bull sponsored what one might call "crazy people."
They've supported extreme activities such as diving from space, skiing over cliffs with a parachute, and wingsuit flying between buildings.
"Those who seek to surpass their limits, start with a Red Bull."
That was likely the message they wanted to convey.
Of course, their focus wasn't solely on extreme sponsorships.
They also generously supported major sports, building a steady association of Red Bull with "sports."
In other words, they weren't just selling a beverage; they were selling a specific image.
While I remember Red Bull's strategies, let's consider that "this is before Red Bull really took off!"
Despite his lack of prior knowledge, Tennessee's choice of flying and shooting as promotional activities exemplified Red Bull-style marketing.
"Isn't it effective?"
As I was lost in these thoughts, Tennessee suddenly stepped into my view and said,
"About this business venture."
"…?"
"You said you wanted to partner up with me, right?"
Nod.
"If you regard me as a business partner, would you trust me with it?"
"With what?"
"From acquiring Red Bull to handling its branding. Can you entrust it to me?"