Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Plushies
Steve was touring the sewing department of the factory alongside Nick.
Due to the lifting of national restrictions on the use of treadle sewing machines, they were being introduced into factories in the Archibalt Territory as well.
The production of sewing machines takes place in a workshop in the Royal Capital, but many of their parts are produced by Steve himself. Because of issues with processing precision, the quality is best when made by Steve's magic.
The spread of sewing machines spurred the development of the textile industry. Clothing production began in various locations, and competition intensified as a result.
Therefore, Steve decided to venture into making plushies to avoid competing with other companies. Due to repeated victories, the recession Steve had worried about had not yet arrived, and commoners with more disposable income began buying educational toys.
What caught his eye was education through doll play. Doll play aids in the development of language and the heart. George's publication of research on this sparked demand for dolls. It was truly a match-ponp, but this is how he grasped the thread of business.
Furthermore, they were developing plushies that adults would want due to their cuteness, and also creating dolls as souvenirs from the Imperial Zoo.
The reason Steve visited the Imperial Zoo with Ellie the other day was to sketch animals, but it was necessary to see the animals housed there.
While observing the process, Nick complained to Steve.
"Since we bought 20 units all at once, sales and purchases have reversed, and we're in the red this month. Shouldn't we have made the sewing machines in our own factory?"
"The workshop currently making sewing machines is busy; even if we place an additional order, we'd have to wait quite a while. That's why I placed a bulk order. It would be too late once the business is on track. Since we used the profits saved from the Eastern Reconstruction Campaign, it's fine."
"That reconstruction campaign has ended, though."
The special treatment for Archibalt Territory products during the Eastern Reconstruction Campaign had ended. The King could not continue preferential measures indefinitely, and Steve was aware of this.
And so, the reconstruction campaign had eaten into future demand, causing sales of existing products to drop. Thus, purchasing sewing machines this month resulted in a significant deficit.
However, this was only for a single month; looking at the fiscal year, they were still in the black.
Furthermore, sewing machines had become a popular item, and deliveries were subject to a long waiting list. If you didn't place a bulk order, you wouldn't be able to get them easily when you wanted more.
Steve, who supplied the parts, was making a fortune from those sales.
"Exactly because the reconstruction campaign has ended, we must nurture new businesses. Besides, one unit is for research to improve it in the machining department, so you can use it however you like. In the Royal Capital's workshop, the only processing oil available comes from sea beasts. I'll prepare several types of processing oil for you, Nick, so try them out. You might be able to make something better than what you have now."
"That's very kind. That's why I like you, Young Master."
Nick liked the machine called a sewing machine. He liked machine tools in general. However, since he had already fiddled with lathes extensively, he was driven by a desire to tinker with a sewing machine this time.
Steve, understanding Nick's feelings, secured one unit for research purposes.
As for the rest, they were in the sewing department, but the utilization rate was still low, with nine machines sitting idle due to a lack of operators.
Furthermore, there were sewing machines at Steve's house in addition to the twenty units. Nancy was making swaddling clothes for the child she was expecting. Christina was also pregnant along with Nancy, so they were making two sets. The Mackintosh Marquess's family had sent a team of doctors responsible for childbirth, maintaining a system ready to respond at any time.
By the way, after coming of age, Steve moved out of his parents' home and was living in a new residence. The medical team was also stationed there permanently.
The new residence was located in the center of Archibalt Land, a territorial capital being built next to the Main Village. This was an urban plan where Steve, the next lord, would establish his residence at the center.
However, even though it was called a territorial capital, much was still under construction, and there were no residents yet. Only workers related to construction were coming from the inn in the Main Village for work; at night, it became a ghost town with no one except at Steve's house.
Those scheduled to live here were primarily young adults in the Archibalt Territory who would not engage in agriculture. Since agricultural production had improved, the plan was to develop tertiary industries rather than open new farmland.
Since there was plenty of land, a castle surrounded by a moat and walls was being built in the center. The current new residence was a temporary lodging in one corner of it. Eventually, it was planned to be used as accommodation for visitors.
A sewing machine was placed in one of those rooms, and Nancy was using it.
Now that Nancy's movements were sluggish, Bella was acting as her guard. Therefore, today Steve was only accompanied by Nick.
"Plushies for educational use, costumes for theater using those characters, and publishing picture books with the characters as protagonists. You come up with quite a variety of ideas."
"It's called multi-expansion. If the characters become popular, I intend to use them for educational toys as well. I need Ellie to not just think of cute designs but to ensure they can stand as industrial products, so I want her to see the processing site."
"Then just throw her into the site, shouldn't you?"
"That's one way, but since there's only one designer, doing that would delay the design. If there were more people, we could take time to educate them."
While not common in small workshops, larger companies often have factory training for new employees. This training is set up based on the idea that one cannot do good work without knowing the manufacturing, which is the core of the manufacturing industry.
Designing molds or equipment cannot be done without knowledge of the production line. Neglecting such training creates designers who do terrible work.
So, Nick's words were also correct.
Provided it is a large corporation.
The factories in the Archibalt Territory do not have the luxury to do that, so they are learning while designing. Without molds, patterns for plushies or shapes of building blocks become things that cannot be processed without knowing the processing methods, or things that take a long time.
Until now, they had made things based on Steve's ideas or those conceived by Nick and the product development staff, but this was an attempt to prepare a professional designer and assign them that work.
Furthermore, multimedia expansion was also a new trial.
There were no media like television or the internet, but they planned to sell plushie characters by creating theater plays and picture books. They had secured a contract with a theater troupe in the Royal Capital. They intended to provide scripts and have the troupe wear costumes and perform.
Since there was no concept of a "suit actor," major theater troupes refused, stating they did not want to perform for children in costumes. However, a small troupe accepted the work.
Furthermore, the Royal Research Institute was providing research funding for this as well. Therefore, the remuneration was extraordinary, which caused surprise when the topic of payment arose.
Steve was being so generous here because he was betting everything on this launch. He wanted to avoid the atmosphere being ruined by half-hearted performances.
Ticket sales had begun, and sales were strong, centered around educational personnel. There had never been theater for children before, and some layers who viewed theater as art looked down on it. But Steve did not care about such evaluations.
For these reasons, since the performance schedule was set, they could not delay the delivery of the costumes.
While observing the process again, Nick made a troubled face.
"But I've never done sewing, so I can't give any guidance or anything."
"We need to cultivate a leader soon. If the Machine Tools Department handles sewing machine breakdowns, your workload will decrease, won't it?"
"The Machine Tools Department is moving sluggishly, so I end up stepping in."
"That's why they don't grow."
Nick's worry was managing an unfamiliar job: sewing. It was difficult for a blacksmith to oversee woodworking, but with sewing, the nature of the work was even different.
Steve understood this as well, so he had no intention of speaking harshly. However, cultivating a person who could manage in Nick's place as soon as possible was the duty of the Factory Manager, so he wanted him to do that.
And speaking of raising people, the Machine Tools Department, responsible for equipment repair and maintenance, was also assigned to inexperienced people, and Nick could not bear it and was intervening himself. Because of this, they never seemed to grow.
"Machine breakdowns, you can tell just by looking, right?"
"That's experience. Veterans teach repair methods starting from places you can't understand just by looking. Blacksmiths learn by following their masters, don't they?"
"It was terrible back when head-patting was allowed, but I'm enduring it here since Young Master prohibited it."
"I'm not permitting head-patting for apprentices either, you know."
Steve smiled wryly.
He had ordered Nick to endure violence. This was not an instruction but a command. He had conveyed that severe penalties would be given upon violation.
If they absolutely felt the urge to strike, they were to consult with Steve beforehand, and so far, no such consultation had come. It remained just complaining, not reaching a point where they could not endure it.
In this world where being beaten by a master was normal, Steve was grateful that Nick was enduring so well. He hadn't said it out loud, though.
"Anyway, it looks like we'll make it before the performance. We'll have a ton of plushies to sell as souvenirs at the theater. It's good that we have time until the last minute since Young Master is transporting them instead of the Emmanuel Trading Company."
"This first performance is also part of George's research. Since there's a need to send the George couple, it's a side benefit."
"So you're taking Lala too, since you said 'couple'?"
"Yes. She is also conducting research on early childhood education."
Lala had married George. Since George was also a noble, Lala became Cyril's adoptive daughter, and then they married. Lala's real parents, Riley and Myra, were shocked when they first received the report of the marriage. They hadn't even noticed that their daughter liked George, let alone thought their love would be realized.
However, since there was a precedent of Aila in the Archibalt Territory, they did not think this was a lie. Moreover, Aila had taken Lala in as an adoptive daughter.
Nevertheless, they did not attend their daughter's wedding. Since it was a wedding for the Wilkinson Viscount's family, nobles from various regions were invited, and they declined, feeling it would be presumptuous for commoners like themselves to attend. They only offered congratulations when George and Lala came together to pay respects before the wedding.
And so, although Lala was now a noblewoman's wife and had no need to work, she was working at the factory's daycare. There, she was researching education for young children.
Regarding this theater performance, she was a research subject along with George, and the couple was scheduled to watch the play together. Since both had work, they planned to move to the Royal Capital just before the performance using Steve's teleportation.
At that time, they intended to take plushies to sell as souvenirs along the way.
"We'll gather the numbers by then, so please give us a special allowance."
"Didn't I say it at the beginning? We're in the red this month."
"Young Master, if it's like that, our motivation to work won't stir up either."
"I'll include it in the bonus evaluation. Or should you wear the costume and smile while selling souvenirs as a part-time job? The wages will be high."
"In that case, I'd say I'm tinkering with sewing machines for free."
The two's chatter ended there.
After that, they discussed standard operations for using the sewing machines, how to handle pre-shift equipment inspections, and maintenance schedules.
Thus, the day of the first performance arrived. The children were overjoyed by the stage where cute animals sang and danced. The content was fun, but rules of life were inserted at intervals. Do not eat things that have fallen, do not steal others' things, and so on, educating through the theater.
Every time the animals warned the children, a reply of "Yes!" came from the audience seats. George and Lala observed this and recorded it in their handheld notepads.
Setting aside education for a moment, Steve felt a sense of accomplishment seeing the children enjoying themselves. The crowd today consisted of children from wealthy families. He expected they would buy plushies as souvenirs on their way home.
And as predicted, the plushies sold like hotcakes.
Thank you always for your typo reports.