Unconsciously, time had reached the end of 1830, and there was still a lot of good news.
The department store’s profits exceeded Otto’s initial estimates; the department store in Munich recouped its investment in the first month, and earnings from other regions were also very good. Now, all this money has been invested by Otto into a new round of expansion.
Of course, in the economically developed regions of Europe and the Americas, moving from near to far, Otto estimated that his first-mover advantage would last about six months to a year.
If the market share cannot be secured in time, other clever businessmen will quickly join in, and even these initial markets will face competition in the future.
It is still in the monopoly stage, so the money earned is still very considerable. The monthly net profit within Bavaria has exceeded 50,000 pounds. Once the expansion plan in Europe is completed, it is believed that the department stores in Germany and France can provide hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds for his use every month.
However, when truly calculated, this money still feels insufficient compared to what Otto plans to do in the future.
Not to mention the need for continued expansion, just thinking about Greece, which is waiting for him to take control and develop, Otto felt that he still needed to work harder. After all, he was a transmigrator, so how could he be satisfied with such small achievements?
Of course, if it were before his transmigration, he would certainly be very satisfied with a monthly income of hundreds of thousands of pounds. But now, his starting point is a prince, and he will be the King of Greece in the future, so his horizons must be broadened.
Thinking of those transmigrator predecessors who casually came up with some inventions and creations, millions or even hundreds of millions of pounds would go into their pockets, and their assets would skyrocket. His current venture truly seemed like a small business in comparison.
If he didn't compare himself to these people, it would be quite impressive. The Bavarian Royal Family's assets also amounted to tens of millions of pounds, but they were all nominal, mostly consisting of vast territories, castles, and family heirlooms, which could not be easily converted into cash; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to mix in aristocratic circles.
There was also the luxury goods business. The exclusive stores set up by the department store were already prepared, and the public sale in Bavaria had begun a countdown.
If it truly succeeded, it could be said to be making a fortune daily, likely much more profitable than the department store. He would then have enough confidence to become the King of Greece.
As preparations for the full launch of Venus's Secret into the Germany market proceeded in full swing, Christmas arrived without Otto noticing, amidst his busy schedule. The palace was adorned with exquisite Christmas trees, and the dining table was laden with a dazzling array of food.
On the streets of Munich, Santa Clauses, wearing red pointed hats and long red robes, with white beards and eyebrows, held gift bags, waved to people, and gave bags of food to passing children.
The department store also launched holiday promotions, with a dazzling array of goods marked with joint promotional activities, attracting passersby.
The streets and alleys of Munich were filled with children, singing Christmas carols as they went from house to house.
Christmas is the most important festival in the West. In the palace in Munich, a group of relatives, along with important cabinet ministers, had Christmas dinner together.
After the meal, everyone sang and danced under the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, and the whole scene was filled with a warm atmosphere.
It wasn't until the clock struck midnight that the whole family stood together, lit candles, recited the Bible in unison, wished each other well, and then sang Christmas carols.
The pomp and circumstance of European aristocrats often exceeded ordinary people's imagination. The cost of this Christmas Eve alone had reached a level that Otto found exaggerated.
Not only on important days, but even in daily life, the royal family's extravagance and profligacy still surprised Otto, a common person from later generations.
For example, Otto alone had more than a dozen personal maids. The Munich palace also had a team of chefs serving Otto's family, capable of preparing dishes from over a dozen national cuisines.
There were hundreds of various servants in the palace. Each member of the royal family had dedicated tailors for their clothes. Otto's father had seven or eight luxury carriages for his exclusive use.
The milk they drank came from specially selected cows from the royal family's exclusive pastures, and they also had standard vineyards, using only the highest quality grapes for winemaking, and so on.
Apart from necessary expenses, the royal family's annual income also included no less than 100,000 pounds spent on various banquets each year, and according to Otto's observations, this expense was increasing year by year.
Most European aristocratic royal families at this time were idle, spending their days in revelry and debauchery, either going to balls or on their way to balls.
During the French Revolution, it was rumored that King Louis XVI's wife's excessive extravagance led to the depletion of the French treasury and massive debts, earning her the title of “Madame Deficit.”
While there was an exaggerated and malicious side to this, a large part of France's enormous debt at the time was due to King Louis XVI’s fervent support for American independence, even at great personal cost. However, it also reflected the extravagant life of the aristocracy in that era.
It was precisely because he understood this point that Otto chose department stores and the cosmetics industry as his entry points into business.
The annuities of royal aristocrats were usually not enough for their expenses; their territories were their main source, used to support their extravagant consumption.
This was also one of the important reasons why some aristocrats were impoverished: the income from their territories could not meet their increasingly large expenses.
With income not covering expenses, these aristocrats even resorted to loans rather than reducing expenditures, just to maintain their so-called dignity and avoid becoming a laughingstock among the nobility.
At this time, some quick-witted aristocrats began to constantly dabble in business, gradually transforming into capitalists and becoming the future capitalist aristocratic class. Otto, at present, can barely be considered one of them.
Otto had gradually adapted to this extravagant display over the years.
But unlike other aristocrats, he still did not think it was necessary, and even considered it a bad habit. Some customs of the nobility should have been changed long ago; while excessive frugality was not needed, living within one's means was.
However, he would not express this publicly now, as he currently lacked the strong backing to challenge the existing aristocratic customs.
Since it was Christmas, everyone naturally wanted to be happy. Even the ordinary employees of the department store and cosmetic company each received a Christmas gift.
These were food items Otto had arranged to purchase in advance, which were very practical for these common people.
In Germany, especially in the central and northern regions, there was a large population and limited land, so food had to be imported. Whenever an economic crisis occurred, the various states of Germany were major sources of immigrants.
Germans in the United States once became the largest ethnic group, only later to be surpassed by the Irish.
After Christmas, a new year quickly began. After a period of busyness, completing the first phase of cosmetic production and promotion, and reviewing reports from various regions, Otto intended to go to Paris.
In the Greater German Region, the Bavarian Royal Family still had some influence, so the expansion of the department store and Venus's Secret proceeded relatively smoothly in these areas.
However, in France, the influence of the Bavarian Royal Family would decline a notch. Crucially, Otto was currently only a prince, not a crown prince, which also diminished his standing in the eyes of the local power brokers in these regions.
Therefore, the development of the department store in France would inevitably encounter some difficulties from local forces. Perhaps due to the face of the Bavarian Royal Family, these people would not openly set up obstacles, but there would be no shortage of covert sabotage.
For these reasons, with the communication conditions of that era, remote command was truly not very smooth. To pursue efficiency, Otto felt that he should make a trip to Paris, and even tour some major cities in France, to choose suitable partners and collectively resolve the issues encountered during this period.
Having lived in Munich ever since his transmigration, and never having left Bavaria, Otto felt some anticipation at the thought of experiencing Paris.
At this time, Paris was one of Europe's major cities, at least much more prosperous than Munich. The French arrogantly insisted that Paris was the center of the world, just as London was in the minds of the British.
