Chapter 460 The Game (5) Achieving the Goal
"Guidance is kinda a strong word," Bill said. "But hey, if you're not worried about leaking business secrets, I can take a peek."
"Of course I'm not. If I'm showing you the plan, it means I trust you," Cecilia replied.
"Alright then, I won't say no. Missing out on working with Ms. Lockhart is a bit of a bummer. I'm glad I can make it up for you."
"Thanks," Cecilia nodded. "Can I borrow Mr. Tackett's projector?"
"Sure thing."
Cecilia had Pierce hook up the computer.
Bill and his assistant sat on one side, while Cecilia, Pierce, and Rose took the other. Cecilia started, "So, this is our idea for an e-commerce platform. I think in ten years, online shopping's gonna be the norm, grabbing at least sixty percent of the market from physical stores. In less than five years, we'll be able to do everything on our phones—eating, commuting, transferring money, you name it. So, going online is a must, and we're ready to roll."
Bill nodded, agreeing with her.
Cecilia went on, "Here's our plan for the e-commerce platform. We think it's crucial to have a solid platform, including a user-friendly web interface, fast logistics, high merchant participation, and good after-sales service. We've got detailed plans for all these points..."
She laid out the whole plan for the e-commerce platform.
The details, including the website's look, were spot on.
Bill started off listening with a critical ear, but soon he was impressed by how thorough the plan was.
He was genuinely surprised.
Cecilia spent almost two hours going through the plan she had worked on all night.
"So, Mr. Tackett, what do you think?" she asked.
Bill looked at her, staying quiet for a while.
Cecilia didn't push him and waited patiently.
Bill took a deep breath before speaking. "I gotta say, this is the best plan I've seen, not just in Yakurosean Empire, but anywhere. Some parts of it are even beyond what I imagined. Ms. Lockhart, you're making me feel like I'd regret not working with you."
Cecilia smiled. "You're too kind, Mr. Tackett."
"I'm actually thinking about ditching the Kingsley Group to work with you," Bill said, a bit regretfully. "But your plan, as awesome as it is, is starting too late. We need scale now, and we can't wait for you to build your e-commerce empire. I'm sure I'll regret it someday, but right now, I don't have a choice."
Bill seemed pretty bummed.
Cecilia got it. In business, time is money.
Building an international e-commerce platform on time was crucial.
Any delay would miss the sweet spot, and no one can afford that.
"Actually, Mr. Tackett, you don't have to regret it," Cecilia suggested.
Bill raised an eyebrow.
"You like our plan and need the Kingsley Group's scale. Why not have both?" Cecilia smirked.
Bill was floored. "Wait, you mean I can use the Kingsley Group's scale and your marketing plan?"
"Why not?" Cecilia shrugged.
"Would you really be up for that?" Bill was puzzled. "The Lockhart Group's got the cash to build its own e-commerce empire, and with your killer plan, it's just a matter of time."
"Exactly, so why not speed things up?" Cecilia shot back. "Mr. Tackett, you're the godfather of global e-commerce. Working with you is a win in itself for me. There are tons of ways to profit in business, not just money. Learning from you would be huge for my future. So yeah, I'm down to team up with you and the Kingsley Group to build this international e-commerce platform."
Bill couldn't say no to such a win-win deal.
But he still had his doubts. "Will the Kingsley Group go for it?"
"Totally," Cecilia said confidently. "You can partner with the Kingsley Group to build the platform and outsource the marketing to a third party. It's a pretty common business model. Like, when the Lockhart Group builds a housing community, we have partners handle the sales, and they hire pro sales teams. Everyone sticks to their strengths, and the results are twice as good with half the effort."
"Awesome!" Bill didn't hesitate and agreed right away.
In no time, Cecilia had him convinced.
"I'll talk to the Kingsley Group like you suggested. If there's good news, I'll let you know."
"Mr. Tackett, just a heads-up—during negotiations, don't mention that the third party is the Lockhart Group. Dominic and I don't get along, and if he finds out, he might back out. But I promise, when it comes to work, I'm all about fairness. If the Lockhart Group handles the marketing, we'll give it our all," Cecilia reminded.
"I trust you," Bill said. "I checked out your business performance yesterday. I trust your character. Don't worry, I've got my ways of negotiating with the Kingsley Group. You can head back and wait for the news."
"Thanks for the kind words." Cecilia stood up.
After shaking hands, Cecilia left with Pierce and Rose.
Cecilia and Pierce were cool as cucumbers.
Their calmness in the face of challenges was on full display.
But Rose was buzzing with excitement.
She thought the project was a goner, but Cecilia pulled it off another way.
She felt like with Cecilia around, nothing was impossible.
They headed to the elevator.
When the doors opened, Nathaniel appeared with Dominic, Penelope, and a senior exec from the Kingsley Group.
Their faces soured when they saw Cecilia.
Penelope sneered, "Some people just can't take a hint, keep pestering us."
Cecilia shot back, "You've tried pestering someone, but you just got shut down hard!"