"Fifty percent of the profit is too low."
Hearing the profit-sharing ratio Manager James offered, Mike shook his head and then looked at Sheldon.
The folder he was holding contained the revised newspaper data, which incorporated the opinions of three people, including Mike and Paige.
It recorded various information, such as the newspaper's financial situation in recent years and the estimated cost of publishing newspapers.
Seeing Mike's gaze, Sheldon knew it was his time to shine.
He adjusted his small bow tie, stood up, walked to the manager's desk, and, like a little adult, said, "First, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sheldon Lee Cooper, and I represent my client, Mike, in the following statement…"
At this point, Sheldon glanced at Manager James behind the desk before opening the folder in his hand and continuing, "According to the information we have gathered, the newspaper's expenses, including material costs and labor costs for publishing, are less than twenty percent of the newspaper's profits."
"Below are the specific profit figures for the newspaper in recent years…"
Manager James, who initially thought it was just a child playing around, listened to the figures Sheldon recited, and his expression grew increasingly serious.
As the newspaper's department manager, he probably knew less about the newspaper's total funds than Sheldon did.
Similarly, with his professional eye, he had to admit that the information Mike and the others had collected was very comprehensive and accurate.
This situation was akin to the newspaper's bottom line being completely exposed.
Sheldon, standing in front of the desk, was thoroughly enjoying this feeling of being in control.
After analyzing the newspaper's profit data, he looked as if he had completed a major task, an arrogant expression unconsciously appearing on his face, and finally concluded, "Therefore, based on the newspaper's profitability, it can be deduced that poster distribution can also yield eighty percent net profit. Given this situation, I believe it is fairest for Mike and the newspaper to each take forty percent of the profit."
The cost of producing posters was not high; the most crucial aspect was the distribution channels.
And the newspaper happened to have an advantage in this area.
"No, no, no. You underestimated the labor costs…" Manager James, whose secrets had been exposed, was a bit agitated. He looked at the calm Mike and said, "Ten percent net profit, that's the biggest concession I can make. You don't have to do anything and you'll have nearly ten thousand dollars in income…"
The process seemed to have suddenly moved into the negotiation phase. Sheldon knew he wasn't good at this, so he closed his folder and quietly sat back on the sofa.
Ten thousand dollars was not a small sum for any high school student.
Clearly, Manager James was anxious; he wanted to use a large sum of money to numb Mike.
However, his idea was clearly going to fail.
Mike, who had made a small profit on a few waves in the stock market, was not an ordinary high school student. While ten thousand dollars was not a small sum to him, it was not enough to surprise him.
"Ten percent profit is still too little; I can earn more than that by distributing the posters myself." Things were different now. Mike, who had gained some fame from the newspaper's distribution, could completely leverage this fame to make money himself.
The difference might just be that the process would be slightly more troublesome.
Therefore, with a fallback plan, Mike appeared very confident in the negotiation.
Don't forget, the newspaper had snatched the poster business from Jack; at worst, Mike could go back and cooperate with him.
This situation was completely a seller's market.
And Manager James, who had thought he held the powerful weapon of the newspaper's distribution channels, realized he had shot himself in the foot when he saw Mike's calm expression.
The "Star-Making Project" had ended up benefiting someone else.
"Twenty percent profit, no more."
Poster distribution was an opportunity for the newspaper to earn extra money. To avoid losing this opportunity, Manager James could only reluctantly give up a bit more profit.
Twenty percent profit was equivalent to twenty thousand dollars.
The Coopers, who had just entered the middle-class, showed surprised expressions on their faces when they heard this profit ratio.
They were happy that Mike had made money.
"Twenty percent? Still not enough." Facing the manager's pained expression, as if he were cutting off his own flesh, Mike calmly shook his head again.
Twenty percent profit clearly still did not meet his expectations.
Business is like a battlefield…
Seeing that Mike was still not satisfied, Manager James's small eyes flashed with a fierce glint, as if he wanted to devour someone.
However, considering his overweight body, which could not suppress Mike and his group, the manager forcibly regained his composure.
Then, after a long period of contemplation, he gritted his teeth and said, "25 percent share, that's the newspaper's final bottom line. Of course, to get this share, Medford's next opponent must be Houston High School, ranked first in Texas."
As a businessman, James's mind worked quickly; he thought of making the pie bigger.
Right after the Super Bowl, local TV stations would broadcast every invitational match of the league's top team for viewership.
In this situation, if Medford could have a televised invitational match with Houston High School, regardless of the outcome, Mike's popularity would further expand.
This way, the poster distribution market would also grow.
"Houston?" As the head coach of the Medford Team, George, of course, wanted to play against the state's top-ranked team.
Hearing the manager's request, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Yes, if we can reach an agreement, the newspaper will also lend a hand this time and try its best to facilitate your game with Houston High School…" Manager James tempted.
He seemed to have noticed George's passion for football, so he wanted to leverage this point to regain the initiative.
"This…" George was indeed very tempted. He looked at Mike with an eager expression.
After all, whether this cooperation could be achieved primarily depended on Mike's decision.
However, a game with Houston High School was not that easy to arrange.
As far as Mike knew, Houston High School's invitational opponents were usually the top-ranked teams from other major states.
These top-ranked teams within the state often preferred strong teams from other states, as this offered a better chance to expand the team's influence to other states.
Facing George's expectant gaze, Mike shook his head slightly. Then he looked at Manager James and said, "Regarding the invitational spot with Houston High School, I can only say we will do our best to apply. And I can waive the portrait fees for the newspaper. However, for the poster distribution profit share, I want thirty percent."
"This is my final offer. If the newspaper doesn't agree, then this cooperation doesn't need to be discussed."
Just as Manager James said, for a department like the newspaper to operate, it requires navigating human relationships and social courtesies.
Each step involved would incur significant additional costs.
In this situation, it was simply unrealistic for Mike to expect an even split of poster distribution profits with the newspaper.
However, the labor consumption costs were an internal matter for the newspaper itself, so while Mike was willing to make concessions for this, thirty percent profit was also his bottom line.
Now, the problem was thrown back to the newspaper.
If Mike took a larger share, the people within the newspaper would receive a smaller portion of the money.
Yet, the share Mike offered was very subtle; the newspaper could still gain some benefit, but not much.
Seeing Mike's stance, as if he was prepared to walk away, Manager James reluctantly took a step back and said, "Your demands are too strict, but if you're willing to continue entrusting the poster distribution for the second half of the year to the newspaper, I'm not unwilling to agree to your terms…"
Negotiation is a process of mutual compromise.
Like Jack, Manager James chose to bet on Mike's future.
It was foreseeable that after Houston High School's star player, Frank, graduated in the second half of the year, Texas's next rising star would likely be Mike.
At that time, adorned with countless halos, the profits he could generate would only be higher.
And Manager James, who already knew he couldn't control Mike, decided to establish a good relationship with him in advance.
Indeed, anyone who could hold the position of newspaper manager would certainly not be an ordinary person.
However, cooperating with an entity like the newspaper, which had vast distribution channels, was not a loss for Mike either.
So, he looked at Manager James and said with a smile, "Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation—"
At this point, the cooperation plan between both parties was basically finalized.