TIFFANY: We have the capital ready. Right now I am looking at three different companies to produce our products.
+ b. R+ x6 m: G+ o1 t6 B1 ?2 c And your company, Mr. Chen, seems to me to be the best for what we want.
4 g7 Z$ j9 O6 B' e TOM: I appreciate your remarks. And we are always happy to do more business.' U$ J3 p; q9 t
But, you know, if we take on a contract to produce new products,
# J" i( v0 I6 R we want to be confident the product is marketable.4 y9 v8 j+ g' l! `3 Q9 ?
Because, to start producing new things requires a lot of preparation.
* r3 ~9 e9 q* ]( F: L( j9 c It requires a lot of investment for us.
2 j& c& T7 T6 n8 t% T% w TIFFANY: You have some doubts about our products, I understand.0 L! r8 c. k2 _
TOM: I would like to offer you a good price. }: d R* d! ?0 ~
But I won't be able to do that if I think this is a one-shot deal.1 [/ W8 j* a y1 c( L( U3 d
So I would like to have some confidence in your idea.% F( v' @. C8 W' X5 n3 R$ A: j. Z! z
TIFFANY: Of course. Let me tell you in some detail about our idea.8 b' Z! B5 J) i. n% ?- _ K
You know the popular “Hello Kitty” products.6 W. D* O& z: t- G5 n) _
TOM: Yes, of course.
1 \: g5 ?9 f& x/ K }9 k3 S TIFFANY: Well, the products in themselves are very simple.
* V# j* Y3 i/ u; R: Y. f It is the logo that is successful.
3 [5 G B* @" h6 \% m So, “Hello Kitty” is successful because of the logo, but the products are very simple.; Q) A+ F0 N Q- x4 B+ g
TOM: And I would say the logo is successful mainly because it comes from Japan.5 r3 P; j4 R& E* X; {/ X) }4 F; Y4 U
It is the Japanese that have made it a fad.5 F+ R9 \" I G$ c$ A4 z
TIFFANY: That might be true.! |- f) w, t+ r6 G+ I
But we have a logo concept that is great. It is really great.: k; G5 x% y. c+ F, y4 q2 k
I think it will catch on in Taiwan at least. Young people will love it.7 {3 k+ o. `; |& p/ K, c `; }! |
It is because of our logo that our products will sell.
) d3 y$ A: v+ _" x! U& ], j We just need someone to produce the products for us.6 V2 }$ [$ z8 ]% I/ W4 A# l
We have the backup and people to do the marketing.3 P7 U* |! `/ J+ n t" a
TOM: So what you are really trying to sell is a fad.
7 l) P0 }* D6 E TIFFANY: Yes, we would like to make things like key chains,
, H, k& `- a7 B2 W; P) l plastic pencil sharpeners, plastic rulers, watches, wallets, things like that.
( l; J8 d3 O, Z, A* m Little accessories for young people. But the reason these will sell is the logo.
7 `2 | E6 D# u# Q Just like “Hello Kitty.”$ L' `- ?1 _2 s! h
TOM: I understand. But why won't you show me the logo?
2 ] y) `" c* a% p. M TIFFANY: Because it hasn't been copyrighted. We want to get some protection for it.1 @9 x! Q! T; i! @+ x, W
But while we wait for copyright, we are investigating companies to produce the products.' D& E$ Q: K5 G2 i. K8 a; ^
TOM: I see. The problem, however,
* D# ]7 m" T; e7 L( X( ^ is that I can't be confident in giving you a good price
; c. @# v- A' j" e' e unless I am confident your product will last.
* D; b4 M/ M; W$ C, V: }8 G6 ^ TIFFANY: I understand. For now, though, you could just give us an estimated price.& [; o9 Y1 T; J6 T! V' K
We aren't going to sign a contract yet. We are just investigating. U, h5 N& @3 F/ Z7 ~2 B6 G
I only need to know that your company is capable of producing the products.
# s9 c, X% d' A+ i. Y' n And then, I only need a very rough idea of how much it might cost.
5 h a6 X* o1 E* k TOM: Alright. I understand. Right now you just want estimates.
' t# Q8 s+ ?: N8 o TIFFANY: Yes. |