Chapter 495: A Design that Transcends the Times

The two of them are already very familiar with each other. Plank comes to Lin Dong's house often, so there is no need for too many polite words.

As soon as we sat down and chatted for a while, we saw a familiar face walking in, followed by a blonde female secretary.

Mr. Chu?

Plank saw clearly who was coming, and a hint of joy appeared on his face.

He had been thinking about what investment Lin Dong could bring him.

Needless to say, Lin Dong himself has already accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars in net worth and earned hundreds of millions more in the past two years at Nike. Even not counting the SuperSonics and his Spanish team, Lin Dong has already set foot in the ten-year career. The top billionaire in the billion-dollar club, but compared to the production line that he said has an annual production capacity of more than 300-500 million in the first stage, and even reaches an annual production capacity of 1 billion in sales in the second stage, his net worth is still not enough. , or even if it is enough, you still have to gamble on your wealth. Then they might as well start their own sports brand company. Why should they ask you Under Armor and let you hold 51% of the equity?

Plank may have first thought of the Mitsui Group. After all, he also knew the background of Supersonics very well, and with the size of the Mitsui Group, investing in such a production line was naturally a piece of cake.

But the problem is that the Mitsui Group's development focus in recent years has still been in Japan, in the development of nuclear energy fields and large-scale projects such as heavy industry and real estate.

Sporting goods? His interest is really not that great, and Mitsui Hisaya is just a careless young man from the Mitsui family branch. Although his brother loves him, it is a trivial matter to personally give him two to three hundred million to play with the team, but for his younger brother, it is a big deal. Even if it involves an investment of over one billion US dollars, it is unlikely to happen even if you think about it. It is inconsistent with the development focus of other people's groups.

But Chu Bufan was different.

The person in charge of SoftBank in the United States had invested in Under Armor once before. Although Under Armor was later delisted, he had steadily sold off all his stocks long before the delisting and made a huge profit. And this Lin Dong brought him here... Anyway, this guy can definitely afford it, as long as the project is good.

Plank quickly stood up to greet him. He looked at the little secretary behind Chu Bufan with a smile, and joked, "Mr. Chu changes secretaries so often."

"There are too many trivial matters at work, and those who are capable should be hired. Jennifer is more capable." Chu Bufan responded with a smile, and asked the secretary to sit in the bar next to him. He came up and shook Plank's hand: "Xiao Lin He told me that he had a good project and asked everyone to meet him. I guessed it was you. Hahaha. After I left Under Armor last time, I have been following your company. It is doing well. A strong man cuts off his arm and makes a comeback. Why? Have you finally decided to give it a try with Nike?”

Frankly speaking, the game was organized by Lin Dong, and Plank himself didn't even dare to think about competing with Nike right now.

But they are all talented people, and other investors are here, so you can’t tell others that you can’t do it.

Plank said with a smile: "No, no, no, no arm wrestling. Nike's size cannot be broken by arm wrestling. If you want to move, you have to kill him with one blow. Then you have to find helpers. Isn't this just giving you up?" Please come?"

Chu Bufan laughed and sat down on the sofa, and looked at Lin Dong next to him: "I know you and Xiao Lin are on the same boat, so I won't say any more polite words. Let me make my attitude clear."

"I don't care about your feud with Nike. I'm just an investor."

"I did make a lot of money from Under Armor before, but that doesn't mean that I will regard the money I earned as a 'favor that has to be returned.' I have a certain influence on Xiaolin's influence. Absolute confidence.”

Chu Bufan said, turning to look at Plank: "Plank, you are one of the most principled businessmen I have ever seen. I have a good impression of you. At least you are a guy who is responsible for investors. I also I am willing to take a gamble on you, but..."

"Having a responsible and capable boss and an influential spokesperson are not enough."

"After the last incident, I did some market research on sports brands. Facts have proved that Nike's ability to stand at the top of sports brands is not just based on commercial hype. Their R&D team is also second to none in the field of sports goods. And it has a huge consumer database, and its understanding of consumer preferences, aesthetics, and ergonomics research are unmatched by other sports brands.”

A few words left Plank speechless.

It was also because he was so excited just now that he thought Chu Bufan was a fool.

You can't fool this venture capital expert by bragging. The reason why SoftBank has become one of the largest venture capital companies in the world is definitely not due to being "fooled" or bad luck.

The points raised by Chu Bufan hit Plank's weakness exactly, and they were also the main reason why he did not dare to have any thoughts of competing with Nike even if he made a comeback.

Inheritance! Knowledge! These are the true core of a company that can spread all over the world.

Otherwise, if it is just commercial hype, even if there is a spokesperson like Lin Dong, it will only be popular for a while, but it will not be popular for a lifetime, and it will not even be possible to continue its glory for three to five years.

Speaking of which, Under Armor actually has its own foundation, which is Plank's own invention of the 'sweat-absorbent polyester sand thread' material when he created the brand. The series of tights made from this material are popular in high schools and universities, and they also have absolute popularity. patent.

However, this is Under Armour's biggest financial asset, but it is also its only financial asset. Compared with Nike, it is too limited and too small, especially in the area of ​​shoes, which there is no competition at all.

Seeing that Plank remained silent, Chu Bufan turned to look at Lin Dong with a smile and said, "I am willing to come here today because Lin Dong said he can handle these things, and I just want to hear how you did it."

Lin Dong didn't waste any time. He opened the large packages on the table that had been noticed by the two of them for a long time. They saw that they contained several concept sneakers. The workmanship was not very fine, and they even looked a little rough, but they were not. Influenced by its...unique and weird shape, it made the two of them feel bright.

"Design is nothing more than two basic conditions. One is ergonomics, which makes you more comfortable to wear, and the other is trend-setting aesthetics and creativity..."

Lin Dong picked up the nearest pair. It was a pair of sneakers that seemed more in line with the two's usual aesthetics, and was also the most common one.

The overall appearance seems to be comparable to most popular models on the market. The sole looks very high, about five or six centimeters, and the soft foam makes it look round and full.

But...it glows! It looks fluorescent, and with the bright green hue, it looks quite trendy.

"Flash shoes?" Chu Bufan smiled and picked up one. He did not hesitate to praise it, but he also did not hide the disdain on his face: "Very beautiful sneakers, but these shoes seem to be a bit outdated. As early as In 1995, some sports goods had already launched this type of sneakers, and they were indeed popular for a while. However, the battery problem of the LED light made the service life of this type of sneakers too short. When people found out that their expensive price only meant they could be worn for two or three years. After a few months of freshness, I am no longer willing to pay for its brilliance. Now even Nike, which invested heavily in this aspect of the production line, has given up on this design... huh? "

While playing with the shoes, he seemed to have discovered something, and asked curiously: "Where is your LED light installed?"

"No!" Plank next to him obviously discovered this before him. At this time, he held the pair of fluorescent shoes in his hands as if he had found a treasure, and said with some excitement: "This thing does not shine with LED lights. Yes Yes……"

"Phosphorescent rubber." Lin Dong laughed.

In another world, someone did invent flash shoes equipped with LED lights as early as 1995, and they were indeed popular all over the world, but they were eliminated from the market due to battery life issues.

However, this cannot resist people's love for 'sparkling', so the reflective design launched by Adidas on football shoes in 2012, the first pair of fluorescent shoes produced using phosphorescent rubber, was launched in Europe as soon as it was released. Under the leadership of those football superstars in the league, it became popular all over the world, and even once threatened the status of Nike, which had already unified the country at that time.

Now, phosphorescent rubber is not a material that is difficult to find or produce. Lin Dong just advanced this matter seven years...

"It will automatically absorb light sources and will appear brighter at night. Bright green and bright yellow are the most suitable colors for it, which can maximize its characteristics." Lin Dong said with a smile: "It does not require batteries."

Just one sentence made Plank and Chu Bufan's eyes light up. The former has been a sports brand for more than ten years, while the latter has done detailed market research and has a good understanding of the development history of sneakers.

Both of them know very well that no consumer can resist the temptation of this sparkling product, especially teenagers and children!

Chu Bufan almost wanted to make a decision to invest in the project directly, but in the end he held back and asked another question.

"Phosphorescent rubber is not a very scarce material. As soon as your shoes are released, coupled with your influence, they may become popular all over the world in an instant, but you must also understand that they will be imitated soon. Maybe they are a Month, two months? It’s still a bit too risky to invest in two stages of a production line with annual sales of 1 billion for this one shoe..."

"Of course, so let's apply for a patent first. It will take some time for them to find alternative materials. It will be stable for at least two or three months, right?" Lin Dong said with a smile: "By the time they find new materials, we have already started The second model is launched..."

He picked up a pair of lightweight looking shoes on the table.

The overall shape is relatively simple. The woven high-top mesh upper and foam midsole make it feel very light when you pick it up. Although it still looks not small, if you wear it on your feet, it may feel like you are not wearing it. , it is indeed too light.

This is more like a pair of casual shoes than sneakers, or... the overall shape looks more like a 'coconut shell'.

Both of them felt like they liked it at first sight, as if just looking at this pair of shoes gave them a relaxed and comfortable feeling, which is completely different from most of the high-top, heavy-feeling shoes that are currently popular on the market... Of course , I asked them to say more specific benefits, and it seemed impossible to tell them, but they just looked like it, maybe because they had never seen this type of shoes.

The two of them looked at it carefully and pondered its various benefits.

Lin Dong could see the love and confusion in their eyes. He obviously liked it but couldn't tell what was good about it, but...

If the last pair of fluorescent shoes focused on materials and was an idea that could only be popular for a while, then the value of this pair is different. They are walking on the most correct aesthetic path and striving to lead global fashion. of.

Ever since Kanye designed the first pair of coconut shoes in 2009, it has actually proven the aesthetics of people in this era.

Regardless of the four-year gap, in fact this has no impact at all. In 2005, European and American people actually already had a 'simple-oriented' aesthetic. This can be seen from some fashion shows. The reason why coconut shoes were released in 4 It came out only a few years later, but that's just because Kanye invented it four years later, inspired by a surge of aesthetic inspiration.

The other pairs on the table are all coconut shoe designs from the 1st generation to the 5th generation released in 2015. Although I didn’t make much in my previous life, I loved it just like the purest basketball player. Cheer loves shoes and has a lot of them in his collection. These designs are all familiar, but they are just roughly copied.

If you directly take out the minimalist model of the 5th generation, it may still be questioned by people of this era, but starting from the first generation, there will be no problem.

If people accept the first generation, they will definitely be able to accept the second generation, and if they can accept the second generation, they will definitely be able to accept the third generation... This is called using products to change the aesthetics of the world.

Nike and Kanye have already proven this in another world, and now, Lin Dong is just using Nike products to defeat Nike itself... No!

If fluorescent shoes are included, then Under Armor now is using the combination of Adidas and Nike a few years later to fight against the Nike family!

Even if Nike finds alternative materials to imitate fluorescent shoes, it will still have to face lawsuits if it wants to imitate coconut shoes. By the time they finally master the design essence of the first-generation coconut shoes and produce a product that can replace them, Under Armor's second generation has already It’s ready to go online, and by the time you copy the 2nd generation, the 3rd generation is already here!

How long can Nike last? In other words, how long can the U.S. market wait for Nike? One year or two years?

By then, even if I dare not say that Under Armor will replace Nike's position, at least I can bite off a big piece of meat from Phil Knight as Lin Dong said to him! If it were smoother and crazier, it would not be impossible to seize Nike's market!

Want to beat Nike, rely on Under Armor? By Plank? Or rely on Chu Bufan’s investment?

It’s not that, it’s that you are ahead of the world in terms of knowledge and awareness of trends!

"I have already come up with the design of the shoe. Of course, this is just a pair of concept shoes. It is crudely made and has no comfort at all." Lin Dong said with a smile: "If you want to perfect it, it depends on you, Plank. "

With Plank's vision and market acumen, after seeing these designs and listening to Lin Dong's blueprint, his eyes were already shining with excitement and he was full of confidence. He laughed and said: "As long as we have With these popular designs, you don’t have to worry about ergonomics! Under Armor already has a professional team, and what’s more, don’t forget what I got started with…”

"Your 'sweat-absorbent polyester yarn'?" Chu Bufan asked with a smile.

"I'm a rugby player, and I know something about the invention of wool materials?" Plank said with a smile: "That's the patent I bought from Professor Nape, Johns Nape! Johns Hopkins University Lifelong Honorary Professor!”

"Under Armor has been able to establish a foothold in high schools and universities over the years and has an inseparable relationship with Professor Knapp. When it comes to ergonomics, is there anyone better than Hopkins University in the United States? The U.S. Department of Health invests every year The most popular university is the Department of Medicine of Hopkins University! Their research on ergonomics is simply not comparable to that of Nike. Several designers in my research team also graduated from Hopkins University. Looking back, I’ll ask them to ask their teacher to come out! If they can’t, I’ll go find Professor Nap! Of course… this requires money.”

Plank looked at Chu Bufan with a smile.

"Is 2.5 billion enough?" Chu Bufan smiled and slapped the table directly: "I just want 20% of the original equity. I heard that one of you has 51% and the other 49%? Each of you will give 10%. Me!"

Plank was overjoyed when he heard this. He would expand the production lines with sales of 1 billion in two stages and build some stores. This would probably restore Under Armour to the scale it was when it first went public. 2 billion would be enough. This was what he had thought about most before. Figures, I didn't expect that there was an extra 500 million... This was obviously not because Chu Bufan didn't understand the market, but because the pairs of shoes on the table and Plank's background gave him great confidence.

A superstar who is willing to give up hundreds of millions of annual salary from Nike to endorse, a head of a venture capital company, and these designs that exceed his imagination...

Plank's heart suddenly burst into flames.

When Under Armor collapsed, he used the few funds he had to buy back Lin Dong's stock at a price exceeding the market price. Afterwards, his wife and children scolded him for being stupid, and even made Plank I also questioned myself when I encountered financial difficulties.

But now, he feels that it was the wisest decision he has ever made in his life.

He stretched out his hands and held the hands of Lin Dong and Plank at the same time, laughing and saying: "Then what are you waiting for? Let's have a big fight! Bite a piece of flesh from Nike's body!"

"Maybe he bit Nike to death?" Chu Bufan responded to him with a meaningful smile.

Plank was startled, but then he saw Lin Dong also had a meaningful smile.

These two people are really wild at heart...but, I like it!

"Hahaha!" Plank laughed, and actually used a Longguo dialect he learned from Lin Dong: "That's right, damn him, bite him to death!"