Chapter 66: VVVIP

Snap.

I tapped my fingers together.

‘Hey, Guardian Spirit.’

For some reason, the Grim Reaper didn’t appear right away.

That’s odd.

Snap. Snap. Snap!

Only then did the Grim Reaper appear, drifting in like smoke.

[What is it?]

‘Shouldn’t I be the one asking that? Where were you?’

[I was appreciating Gyeomjae’s landscape painting you brought earlier.]

Gyeomjae?

Ah, Jeong Seon!

[He painted the Sambuyeon Waterfall quite beautifully.]

‘I didn’t know you liked Joseon-era artwork. I’ll find some more landscape paintings for you later, but for now, let’s get on with the reconnaissance.’

[Reconnaissance? Where to?]

‘Taeseong Department Store president’s office. I’m curious what my aunt is up to right now.’

A wise man once said: Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.

To devise a strategy, you must first understand your opponent.

---

The Grim Reaper swept his gaze around.

This was the president’s office of Taeseong Department Store, furnished with bold colors and sophisticated furniture.

A woman in her thirties, dressed in a luxurious one-piece dress, flashy accessories, heavy makeup, and a sharp bob haircut.

She slammed her hand down on a desk bearing the nameplate  and spoke sharply.

“Year-end sales are our department store’s performance, pride, and very reputation!”

The year-end regular sale season, packed from Christmas through New Year’s, was the biggest sales period for any department store.

“We started our year-end appreciation sale over two weeks ago. It’s the biggest discount event of the year! The time when customers open their wallets the most!”

Taeseong Department Store was plastered with slogans like ‘Up to 70% off’, ‘Super Discount Sale’, ‘Lowest Prices’, ‘Extra Discounts’, and ‘Price Cuts’ throughout the store.

Naturally, with so many customers eager to buy at discounted prices, sales were hitting record highs day after day.

Because of that, the first floor of Taeseong Department Store was packed, so crowded there was barely space to step.

“But sales, which had been perfectly fine, suddenly plummeted—down a whopping 17% compared to last week.”

Aunt tapped on the weekly sales reports for each store section.

This was why the president of Taeseong Department Store had summoned the executives early in the morning and was scolding them.

The executives, called into the president’s office, just kept their mouths shut and their heads bowed low.

‘With this many customers flooding in and buying things like crazy, for total sales to drop 17%...’

I had a pretty good guess.

‘It looks like the VIP customers, who contribute most to department store revenue, suddenly left in droves.’

There’s something called the Pareto Principle.

The top 20% hold 80% of the wealth, and the top 20% of customers account for 80% of sales.

That’s why VIP customers are so important in business.

‘Now that I think of it, the luxury section of Taeseong Department Store was holding a year-end special sale too. But it’s empty—far too empty.’

Even the wealthy like to buy things at a discount—who doesn’t?

But at Taeseong’s luxury section, there were only flies, and the luxury staff looked bored out of their minds.

‘The entire top floor is left vacant. Fewer imported luxury brands want to set up shop here compared to other department stores.’

This meant management was struggling.

“Depending on this year-end performance, the future of Taeseong Department Store might be decided. There are even nasty rumors of a possible sale going around lately, and instead of rolling up your sleeves and fighting for sales, are you just going to sit back and let it happen?”

Still, the executives kept their heads down.

Aunt was fuming.

“Why did our VIP customers suddenly vanish like the tide? Our Taeseong luxury hall is empty, while U-Gwang Department Store’s luxury hall is packed to the rafters, I hear?”

The executives remained silent, heads bowed.

“I understand if it’s regular customers coming for the winter sale. But once a VIP leaves, it’s hard to get them back. I’ve put in so much effort for those clients!”

No matter how she tried to make eye contact, the executives didn’t even look up.

The silence was deafening.

Aunt must have felt as if her blood was boiling.

“How did this happen, and how are you going to fix it? If you have mouths, speak up!”

“……”

“That’s what I pay you for! Are you all looking to get fired?”

“……”

“Should I go through each of your performances one by one? Or do you want to sit here in countermeasure meetings for five hours straight?”

No one was willing to take responsibility.

“From now on, any executive who can’t answer my questions will be considered incompetent and immediately dismissed.”

A stern threat.

Aunt pointed at one executive.

“Executive Director Kim, why did VIP customers flock to U-Gwang Department Store?”

“U-Gwang launched a major VIP marketing campaign.”

“What exactly is their VIP marketing strategy?”

“While we at Taeseong are doing a 10% sale, U-Gwang’s minimum is 20%, up to 35% off.”

He added in a small voice,

“I’ve heard that if you bring in a Taeseong membership card, U-Gwang will extend their membership by a year and even add special discount coupons.”

“So they’re targeting our VIP customers specifically! And you just let it happen?”

“What can we do? It’s the customers’ choice. We can’t force them to stay.”

Aunt grabbed the back of her neck.

“So are we just supposed to watch this happen? What’s Taeseong’s countermeasure?”

“We could exchange discount coupons with U-Gwang. Or we could offer 40% discounts ourselves.”

Bang!

Aunt slammed her fist on the desk.

“If we start a price war like that, Taeseong will go bankrupt before U-Gwang even blinks! Our market share is already the lowest! The deficit gets bigger every year!”

That wasn’t the only problem.

“What makes a luxury brand a luxury? Is it just because it’s expensive and good quality? No! It’s because they never go on sale! It’s a symbol of wealth that ordinary people can’t easily own—THAT’S why high-class customers buy!”

Aunt ran a hand through her hair.

“How long do you think U-Gwang can keep up this price war? Not much longer! Their brand value will drop!”

Again, the executives stayed silent.

“But the problem is that U-Gwang has suddenly gone crazy, acting like a madwoman with a flower in her hair. Why?”

No answer.

Aunt had no choice but to call on someone else.

“Director Song, I asked why U-Gwang has suddenly gone off the rails.”

“Um, that is, uh…”

“U-Gwang’s Kim Yeo-jin, she used to nibble away at Taeseong’s VIP clients, but she never ran wild like this.”

“That is…”

“Are you silent because you don’t know? Or because you know but don’t want to say?”

“Ugh…”

“All right, if you don’t want to speak up, I’ll have to give you your dismissal notice. Then, Director Choi—”

“The engagement with Taeseong was called off, so she’s out for revenge!”

Director Song blurted out desperately.

“The president of U-Gwang, Ms. Kim, is famous for doting on her nephew, Young Master Seong-jun. Now that her cherished nephew’s engagement has been broken off, it looks like she’s retaliating directly against Taeseong.”

“Ha!”

“I hear she intends to monopolize our VIP clients. She’s bundling in U-Gwang golf club memberships for discounted sale as well.”

“Why is she taking her anger out on my department store just because Seong-jun’s engagement fell through?!”

Aunt shouted irritably.

“That wretched woman! Does she think I’ll just let this slide?!”

Aunt let out a shrill scream, “Aaaagh!” then glared at the executives for a while.

“Executive Kim, what’s the plan for getting back the VIP clients who left for U-Gwang?”

“If we offer even lower prices than U-Gwang—”

“I already said that’s a minus both short- and long-term. Do you want to advertise that Taeseong is lower-class compared to U-Gwang?”

“Ugh…”

“Executive Park, your plan?”

“We bundle Taeseong golf club memberships and resort vouchers for discount sales.”

“You want me to go beg Lady Jeong for that?”

Lady Jeong is Taeseong’s chairman’s wife—my grandmother, in other words.

“Director Choi, your plan!”

“We could spread rumors and try to sway public opinion…”

“So, slander U-Gwang and start underhanded tactics? Because we can’t win through management skills alone? That’s your plan?”

The executives fell silent again.

A heavy silence filled the president’s office.

Tick, tick, tick—the wall clock sounded louder than ever.

“Does this make sense? Even if Taeseong is dead last in the industry, how can we be played this easily? Ha! This is humiliating!”

Aunt pressed her temples and sighed.

“Is there really no way out? Or do you just not want to solve this?”

Actually, I do have a way!

The legendary ajumma marketing tactic that made high-society ladies AND local housewives swoon just popped into my head.

---

I cut off the shared vision.

A satisfied smile crept onto my lips.

‘All right, time to get started.’

My first target was the luxury handbag store in Taeseong Department Store’s luxury hall.

“From here to here. One in each color.”

It took less than three minutes to sweep up the entire luxury handbag section.

The handbag staff all rushed out to see me off, practically shouting, “Please come again!”

“From here to here. Size 245. In the best-selling colors.”

The luxury shoe clerks cheered.

I bought one of each kind—heels, flats, boots, you name it.

The shoe staff all came out to send me off with, “We’ll serve you with the utmost care!”

The other luxury hall staff eyed me with envy, anxiously hoping I’d come their way next.

“From here to here. Size 11. Ring, earrings, necklace, bracelet set.”

As soon as I rounded the corner, the jewelry staff raised their hands in celebration and greeted me.

I bought diamond, ruby, sapphire, opal, garnet, and pearl sets.

“From basics to color makeup. Give me your best-selling cosmetic brands.”

“We’ll prepare everything by color, purpose, and product! We’ll call you as soon as the next season’s new products arrive!”

The cosmetics staff grinned as they swept products into my basket.

One entire display emptied in an instant.

The last place I visited was the women’s boutique.

“From here to here.”

The women’s boutique staff looked ready to faint from happiness, nodding frantically.

They must have been imagining how much commission they’d get from selling all this.

Women’s fashion always had the most variety and options, after all.

“Sir, do you know the recipient’s clothing size?”

“36, 23, 38.”

That was all it took to get the hostess dresses ready back in the day.

“Uh, those are three sizes… Could you be more specific—”

Right, even with the same numbers, not all sizes are the same.

“E-cup.”

“Sir, for women’s wear, we usually need shoulder width, bust, sleeve length—urk!”

The manager elbowed the young female clerk in the solar plexus, shutting her up.

The manager smiled and bowed to me.

“We’ll prepare everything according to those three sizes right away! Would you also need lingerie?”

“Leopard print, black lace, red thong sets, silk chemise with mesh stockings and a garter belt—do you have those?”

“……”

The manager’s jaw dropped, and Yoo Jong-tae rubbed his face, turning red.

“Just pick out the sexiest, prettiest ones you have. Don’t look at me like that.”

“…Understood.”

Click-clack, click-clack, click-clack!

At that moment, high heels pounded urgently toward us—Aunt burst into the luxury hall, her sharp bob swaying.

“Where’s the VVVIP customer who just broke our all-time sales record? Don’t tell me they’ve already left after shopping?”

She’d rushed over the moment I called for her.

“Madam President, the customer is right here!”

Following the manager’s guidance, Aunt’s eyes landed on me.

I bowed deeply with both hands together.

“Hello, Aunt.”

“Aunt?”

“I’m Cha Jung-hyuk. Your younger brother is my father.”

“…!”

Aunt’s eyes widened.

“The mysterious new face who stormed the luxury hall and turned it upside down with cash—so it was one of ours all along?”

“In tough times, family should help each other out.”

Aunt covered her mouth with both hands.