Chapter 4 Everything is hard at the beginning

October 4, 1863.

After months of waiting, Ernst finally saw the finished product. After finding connections and using money ability, Ernst found a metallurgist expert from an arsenal in Berlin, and the blade problem was solved.

I have to say that the experts are reliable. With years of experience and rich knowledge, Ernst made a request, and the experts immediately had ideas for solving the problem.

Finally, with a mature plan, Ernst successfully launched the first-generation T-shaped razor blade smelting machine through product patents and sketches at a factory in Berlin that specializes in customizing industrial equipment.

This also caused Ernst's small treasury to shrink rapidly. Fortunately, it has now produced results.

Having the corresponding machinery and equipment is only the first step. If you want to produce on a large scale, a set of equipment is not enough. But how to solve the problem of funds?

At this time, we have to talk about the benefits of being a second-generation rich man. As a top second-generation rich man, of course he can confidently reach out to his old father to "borrow money".

Of course, Prince Constantine was also concerned about the living conditions of his son in Berlin. As a result, on an ordinary afternoon, he received a letter asking for help from Berlin, which made him dumbfounded.

For Constantine, this amount of money is not a small amount, but it is still enough to fund his son's first business. As a large German landowner, collecting rent is a very lucrative job.

This is also considered the first time my family has invested in industry. For Constantine, cultivating children's autonomy is stronger than anything else. Only by letting him do it and make decisions on his own can he become a good successor in the future. As for failure, it is just the cost of trial and error.

It's better to train Ernst's abilities while he's not old yet, rather than leaving a huge fortune behind.

For a nobleman, experience and experience are the best wealth. Only through being severely beaten by society is the only way to become a qualified nobleman.

Prince Constantine's frankness greatly accelerated Ernst's industrial production process.

Through the noble status, the relevant procedures were completed smoothly. No one dared to embarrass the son of a prince who was also a prince of the Hohenzollern family.

Well-informed nobles all know that the son of the old Prince Constantine is running a factory, but of course most people are not very optimistic about it.

Although there are nobles joining the industry these days, the top nobles rarely do it themselves. A hands-on geek like Ernst is largely invisible.

After renting the factory building and having workers and other corresponding facilities in place, Ernst's factory was opened.

The operation of machinery requires a large number of workers. People come and go in the factory, and they must always pay attention to the operating status of the machinery. Furnaces and steam tracks required huge amounts of energy, and black smokestacks rose from the ground.

Black fog enveloped the sky over Berlin, and wastewater was discharged directly into rivers in the suburbs. This was the norm in early industrial countries.

Of course, this was the result of the joint efforts of many factories, among which Ernst’s small factory was inconspicuous.

As the crawler runs, the molten iron is shaped, cooled, and sent to the workers along the steel wheel for final shaping.

Workers then use machinery to cut the sheets, which are collected by workers in the next process and finally packaged in oil paper.

This is the production process for blades, in addition to which there is a separate production line developed for tool handles.

Everything is streamlined, which greatly saves the waste caused by intermediate links and improves production efficiency.

At this moment, Ernst was holding the finished razor produced by himself. In order to test the practicality, Ernst decided to try it "personally".

"Peter, sit down and don't move," Ernst ordered.

Peter sat nervously in his chair, not daring to move, as if waiting for the great terror to come.

Ernst performed the operation himself, first making a lather with soap and applying it on the victim's face. Ernst waved the handle of the knife from left to right, and his beard fell to the ground smoothly as the blade scratched him.

As the first victim, Peter nervously enjoyed the service of his boss. Although the new razor was focused on safety and convenience, who knew the uneasiness of having his fate in the hands of others.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly. When the last knife fell, Ernst handed the towel to Peter to wipe his chin clean.

"How do you feel?" Ernst asked curiously.

"Boss, there is absolutely no problem with the quality control of the product, but it's hard to say whether it can be sold at a good price."

Peter is not very optimistic about the market prospects. After all, it is difficult for people to accept such novelty in a short time.

And there are actually similar products on the market, but the principles are different. As for why the boss insists on developing this new type of razor that takes away uncertainty, Peter thinks that maybe the boss is just having fun, after all, he is a young man.

Ernst did not explain the reason. As long as his men came up with the finished product, in fact, this old-fashioned razor in its previous life was too successful.

Even in the era of smart home appliances, some people still use this purely mechanical old-fashioned T-shaped razor. The classics are just copied.

As the inventor of this kind of razor, Gillette was born in sales. Through his life experience, he invented this kind of care product that does not require sharpening, is relatively safe, and is cheap.

Moreover, the profit model of this razor is also very novel. Unlike traditional straight-handled razors, the blade and blade are integrated, and the blade cannot be replaced at will, so it is difficult to throw away.

The blades of Gillette razors are very cheap and can be thrown away when they become dull. This saves the effort of sharpening the blades and saves time. The cutting edge is sandwiched between iron sheets. It looks better than straight-handled razors that can be used to wipe the neck. Knife safety.

Of course, there is still a long way to go to promote this new type of razor. The first problem to be solved is how to get the handle into the hands of the public.

This is a big problem. It takes time for the public to accept this new thing. Only by letting them really have such a knife in their hands can the sales of blades be increased in the future.

Ernst decided to use three methods to promote the new razor. The first was door-to-door promotion by salesmen, the second was to find dealers, and the third was to increase investment in advertising.

The first one is the most conventional. The salesperson can explain the advantages of the new shaver and directly address the customer's pain points, which will result in a high closing rate.

The second type is more troublesome, because our own products are not yet well-known, and dealers may not like them.

Therefore, advertising has become a necessary auxiliary means. As for the advertising content, Ernst already has a general idea.

It's just a poster. This poster can't be too small, it must be big, and it's best to occupy one wall.

Only in this way can the use methods and advantages of the new shaver be popularized.

Then we need to compare and find a male model, who must be handsome. Make two comparison images, one uses an old-fashioned razor to cut the face directly, causing trauma. And next to it, I feel refreshed with a new shaver.

The word "safer" should be placed in the first line, and then the durability of the product should be highlighted (reusable handle), and finally it should save time and effort (the blade can be replaced, which is not expensive).

…

After two months of promotion, the "Gillette" razor was released. Yes, Ernst even copied the name and stopped acting.

Just as Ernst thought, sales of Gillette razors were not a hit. Fortunately, after two months of promotion and advertising, Berliners already knew about the product.

Many families who have used it have become regular customers. After all, the metal handle can be used for decades without any problem, and the cost is a set of blades, achieving small profits but quick turnover.

At present, we still have to ensure product quality, and there is not much left to do. Ernst has accepted his appointment as acting factory director Peter, and he will take time to come and inspect.

As for the profit-making funds, it will be used to increase advertising promotion from Berlin to other cities, and finally to the entire German region. The current production line can fully meet the product supply of the entire German region.

Only when Ernst's products cover the entire German region will Ernst make the next step. At that time, Ernst may increase production efforts and formulate plans for the entire continent or even the Americas and other regions.

It may also invest in some new industries. The premise of all this is the sales of razors.

All this takes time, and Ernst currently has no time or money to do unnecessary things. He can only consider the next step after the shaver is profitable.