Chapter 155 Heading West

No one could have imagined that the Vanderbilt family, which had focused its main business on building apartments and hosting cocktail parties, would, contrary to everyone's expectations, get involved in supermarket chains, seemingly wanting to regain the glory of their ancestors. No longer satisfied with gossip, they wanted to make a big splash in business again.

The entry of the Vanderbilt family marked the beginning of competition among capitals from all sides in the retail industry that had just been disrupted. The Vanderbilt family was not the first, and Morgan's prediction was not wrong. Boston First Bank was indeed preparing to enter the market and take a share of the huge retail industry.

Their preparations are not as hasty as Vanderbilt's. Instead, they plan to add some characteristics to their own supermarket chain and not be a clumsy imitator. Otherwise, they will just follow in others' footsteps.

The Lowell family in Boston felt that the most direct differentiation in Boston's geographical environment was seafood. Seafood could be delivered to major cities, and the first wave of immigrants from Maine filled their stomachs with oysters, salmon, scallops, and clams. Later, Americans learned to eat lobsters, which were cheap and plentiful, and were called the poor man's chicken. It was something that could be picked up easily, and no one would trade it.

Lobsters have changed from cheap food for the poor to a delicacy for ordinary people. Transporting them to Chicago is no longer a problem. Differentiating the products by including lobsters became the breakthrough point after discussions among several families.

The beautiful melody flowed through the fingertips, sometimes melodious and sometimes paused. The slender fingers danced on the keys, and the people watching were fascinated. After the song was over, Lowell carefully cleaned the piano and looked at Lawrence who came here and said, "Thank you for your patience, my friend, for keeping me waiting for a long time."

"Members of the Lowell family are always so elegant!" Lawrence couldn't help but admire. Although the Lowell family was also a famous family in Boston, there were many literary and artistic young people in the family, from academic authorities, astronomers to poets and pianists. If it were not in the United States, it would be like the style of European aristocrats.

"Elegance has never been associated with businessmen. Playing the piano is just my personal hobby." Lowell finished wiping the expensive piano very carefully and said, "When I see the latest piano, I always want to buy it and try out the latest craftsmanship of the Steinway family. It's really dazzling..."

Lawrence sighed. It was no surprise that he would have to listen to some piano knowledge. German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway founded Steinway & Sons in a small attic on Varick Street in Manhattan, New York. When Henry founded Steinway & Sons, he had already made 482 pianos. The first piano produced by Steinway & Sons, numbered 483, was sold to a New York family for $500.

Steinway's innovative design and exquisite craftsmanship quickly gained national recognition. Based on the piano company, it entered the upper class and built the Steinway Village. Steinway Village is actually Steinway's own city, with its own foundry, factory, post office, park and employee housing.

After a long while, Lowell stopped awkwardly and said with an apologetic smile, "This is my hobby. I won't say it because I know you don't like it. What are you talking about here? Let's talk about our real business?"

"The Vanderbilt family has opened a chain of supermarkets in New York. We are still preparing here, but a competitor has already entered the market." Lawrence said, "It seems that the competition is expected to be very fierce."

"That's quite unexpected. It seems that the members of this generation of their family didn't have much passion for their careers. Aren't they all enjoying life? Of course, I am also a person who likes to enjoy life." Lowell smiled awkwardly but politely, indicating that there were many times when he was not doing his job properly.

"Don't be so modest. You are enjoying life, and they are enjoying it too. But with the current financial resources of the Vanderbilt family, it's really difficult to deal with." Lawrence shook his head slightly, feeling quite heavy.

Although the members of this generation of the Vanderbilt family have no business talent, the wealth left by their grandfathers is too abundant. Henry left behind a fortune of 200 million US dollars before his death. Even now, the Vanderbilt family's wealth continues to shrink, but it is still an astronomical figure. When the numbers pile up to a certain extent, it is also very scary.

"You're worrying too much. The Vanderbilt family is not worth mentioning." After listening to Lawrence's thoughts, Lowell spoke to comfort him, "Think about the Vanderbilt family's business scope? It is mainly concentrated in the railway system, and the railway system around New York. Since then, there has been nothing to say in other industries. What is this? Controlling the railway system is just collecting tolls. Their family is just a ticket seller. They have no foundation in agriculture and animal husbandry, and they have no say in it. Without a say, they cannot lower the cost of chain supermarkets. As long as Sheffield responds seriously, the price war will kill the Vanderbilt family."

"It is precisely because of this that we have to achieve a certain degree of differentiation. Sheffield's chain supermarkets are based on agricultural and livestock products, so we add cheap seafood. We cannot meet the basic needs, so we add some of our strong points, such as clothing, shoes and socks. We still have advantages in the light industry field, after all, it has been so many years." Lowell calmly analyzed the situation of the retail market.

In addition to investing in commercial banks, insurance companies and investment companies, and relying on these financial institutions to provide funds, these Boston companies also operate textile, leather, shoe, clothing, food, chemical and other light textile industries. In particular, the light textile industry is the top priority of these cross-controlled industries, which is their advantage.

"I heard that Sheffield acquired Coca-Cola!" As another leader in the financial industry, Lawrence naturally knew some news about the stock market, and he was no later than Morgan in discovering it. "Maybe they are going to focus on the beverage industry."

"Then we will place all kinds of wine. Anyway, we can't just follow others. We still need to differentiate ourselves." Lowell said as he put on his clothes. "I believe Adams thinks the same way."

"Speaking of wine, I really want to have a couple of drinks now." When Lawrence heard about fine wine, he showed a smile that all men understand.

"Is it the winery run by Kennedy? It's a nice place?" Lowell nodded, thinking that his friend's idea was a good one and they should find a place to have a couple of drinks.

Lowell did not think that intervening in the supermarket chain was a betrayal of his allies. No field naturally belonged to anyone. He could not stop doing retail just because the party that was supporting electrification entered the retail industry. There was no such reason. Could it be that the Sheffield family was still planning to monopolize the consumer market of 80 million citizens in the United States? If he could do it, he would be even more powerful than Morgan.

Supporting electrification in southern states and helping with financing is not inconsistent with intervening in the supermarket chain market. After all, we are still in the stage of market development and everyone can compete fairly. There is no question of who cannot touch whom. There are not so many rules and regulations in business.

At present, as soon as the Sheffield supermarket chain came out, it has been opened in major cities in the northern states, which has almost reached the limit. However, this limit is only the limit of Sheffield. In the eyes of many people, this is far from the limit of the market. The population of the United States is mainly concentrated in the northeastern states, and there is still great potential to be tapped here.

"As graceful as the curves of a girl!" Sheffield held the newly produced Coca-Cola bottle trial sample with a look of satisfaction. To be honest, this bottle is very comfortable to hold in the hand, and the place where you hold it is equivalent to the slender waist of a woman. No wonder it has become a classic.

In the bottled era, Coca-Cola overwhelmed Pepsi. Sheffield believed that a great deal of the credit lay in the bottle. He tilted his head and said to Candler, "Within half a year, most of the market share should be replaced by bottled drinks instead of cup drinks."

"This will increase costs a lot?" Candler was a little hesitant. Would citizens buy into this? It has to be said that everyone is stubborn in some aspects, and it just so happens that Candler is not optimistic about the development of bottling.

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"Necessary cost increase is inevitable. If we do it well, it will be the beginning of further progress. Moreover, bottled drinks have a longer shelf life than cupped drinks, which reduces spoilage during transportation. With a longer shelf life, there is no need to open factories one after another. Have you calculated the cost? You haven't!" Sheffield felt that Candler was a little petty, but it was no wonder. This was the normal level of most people.

Naturally, the money for building the glass bottle factory was borrowed from Edith Rockefeller, and this was all due to the heavy burden. In addition, the temperature has warmed up now, and with the Arkham Asylum, all projects can begin.

At this time, Sheffield was preparing to leave Chicago for a while, not because he missed the simple folk customs of Texas, but to complete the plan he had made last year and embark on his own journey into the Wild West.

"The Vanderbilt family doesn't seem to have much to be praised for other than the railways. Let's just observe for now. After all, anyone can enter this industry and everyone should compete fairly." Sheffield lazily asked, "Please help me keep an eye on it during this period of time, otherwise I will lose money and you won't be able to pay back the money you borrowed."

"You can walk hundreds of miles in the western states and see very few people. Why go there? It's so dangerous." Edith Rockefeller couldn't help but complain, "It would be better to stay in Chicago."

"Women have long hair but little knowledge. If I say it's useful, it's useful." Sheffield shouted with a cold face. How important is it to find a group of suitable industrial workers? This woman who doesn't want to eat meat doesn't know anything about it.

(End of this chapter)