Aug 16 18:28:20 108 PA - First Major Sale
From Chronicles
Aug 16 18:28:20 108 PA.
SAGE ALTERNATIVES ENTRY
Pavel enters the front door of Sage Alternatives around five in the afternoon. He's not carrying his huge hammer today, but rather a very simple wooden chest - more of a decorated crate, really - offset only by his normal tool belt. Despite its size, he has absolutely no trouble carrying it around, even though he has to lift it above his head to get it through the door. Assuming that there's someone around, he would politely introduce himself and ask to speak to Sage. In horrifically broken American, of course.
Having seen the man once before, they seem to understand that he's here to speak with Sage. A polite efficiency is practiced as discussions may be difficult. Not much call for speaking Russian in this part of the world after all. It takes a little bit before Sage to show up, likely having to locate her translator device just in case. When she comes down the hall, she raises a brow faintly as she sees the man is carrying a decorate crate. Seems a little elaborate for just a simple place setting, after all. "Hello Pavel." She greets the man.
Pavel smiles, and searches for a place to deposit his baggage. However, he apparently finds nothing that he considers acceptable, and simply continues to hold it. "Ees good see Sage! Sage do mehny good vell Pavel no heer?" He thumps the crate with a big hand. "Ess fohr theengs I promise Sage. Vaht vas ask for Pavel mehk. Es for see today?" He starts to look around at the other employees.
Sage glances towards Raul, and receives a sympathetic look before a little grin as the man departs for other things. She looks back to Pavel, "It's good to see you too." She comments, noticing the man seems content to hold the crate. "You can show me what you have... in the dining room, perhaps?" She asks, gesturing to the door. "And, you can speak in your normal language. I have the translator." She adds before pointing to the ear she has it in.
The big man breaks a big grin, and speaks in Russian. << May I borrow your dining room, and two of your assistants, while you wait out here? I would prefer to show you what I have as a whole, rather than simply emptying things piecemeal. Ten minutes to get things properly set up? Maria and another for help? >> Doesn't look like Pavel's really in the mood to take 'no' for an answer, but neither has he ever been the kind to push on such matters, either.
Sage considers the proposal, considering if her instructions had been expanded beyond her original idea. "Sure." She decides, before turning to track down Maria and Raul. She speaks with them in Spanish as she brings them along. When the three of them come to a stop nearby, Sage turns her attention to the man. "They will do their best to assist you." She comments simply.
SAGE ALTERNATIVES FINE DINING ROOM
Pavel smiles and moves toward the dining room, waving gently for Maria and Raul to follow. Of course, most of the communication is being done through hand gestures and facial expressions. But Pavel is easy to follow, because his gestures are big, and his face very expressive, if for no reason beyond size and personality alone. The crate is set down, and he closes the door behind himself. << You wait there. >>
There isn't really any argument given by Sage as the man re-iterates his desire for her to remain outside of the dining room while the place is set up. As for Maria and Raul, they converse a little between each other but ultimately stay focused on what Pavel wants them to do... as far as they understand them.
It doesn't take long for Pavel to unveil his gear, all of it having been gently padded with straw and other natural bits for transport. He asks first for the long table. The long one. Then a tablecloth. After that, he begins handing out his prizes. Maria and Raul know where they go, but still - he makes his own minor adjustments after having sworn them to secrecy. A final request for napkins is made, then he opens the door and peeks his head out. << Sage, would you please come in? This is only what I could do with the resources that I had on hand, so I'm afraid that it isn't my finest work. But it will show you what I can do, I hope. >> He steps aside and makes a sweeping motion into the dining room.
Sage probably hasn't remained rooted in place, but she is in the hallway by the time that Pavel opens the door to ask her to come in. "Okay." She replies before moving to enter the dining room to turn her attention to the table where the items are likely to be kept. "If I like the look of it all, I may have a special order to place with you."
Hopefully, Sage will like the look of it all. The long table is set - with seventeen places. Pavel takes Sage by the shoulder and guides her over to one of the very formal settings. << The main dinner plate, soup dish, soup plate, saucer, cup, soup spoon, teaspoon, standard knife, steak knife, salad fork, dessert fork, dinner fork, bread knife, bread & butter plate, water goblet, white wine glass, and red wine glass. Everything but a crystal champagne flute, >> he says proudly. << For seventeen guests. They're clad in copper, and as you can see, with a thick rim - that's silver, and the ornamentation is gold. >> The ornamentation is a very nature-themed embossing. << It will never dull, scratch or lose its luster. There's more, but what do you think of this? As I said, this is only what I could do on my existing resources. >>
Sage pauses soon after entering as she sees the number places set. She had thought she requested a smaller demonstration. That would certainly explain the size of the crate and the time needed to set the place up. She glances towards the man briefly before moving into consider the place setting itself. She takes some time to consider the different pieces at a single place setting to start with. Her lips curling at the nature-theme that the man worked into the ornamentation. "There's more?" She asks, looking back to man. It takes a moment before the question directed to her seems to click in. "Would it be bad to say you've outdone yourself?" She asks, before looking back to the items. "I do like the nature-theme you added." She mentions, "And, not having to worry about maintenance too much is rather nice." She adds, "I might have to keep track of it all to make sure it doesn't end up being smuggled out to somewhere else." She chuckles faintly. Well, at least, it isn't like she runs a full-sized restaurant where things can be taken without much risk of being caught at stowing away fine cutlery.
Pavel beams. It's always nice to be appreciated. << You're very nice, I'm glad that it's acceptable. I could have done more if I'd had more. I know this is more than you asked, but you asked that I demonstrate my more 'artistic' abilities with a separate vase. >> He shrugs. << I had only enough to do a more mediocre setting and a mediocre vase, or one very nice place setting, or one very nice vase. I figured that this was the best compromise to prove what I can do. >> He then takes Sage's hand gently and places a dinner knife into it. A peach is set before her on one of the large plates. << Please, as I said, there is more. Make a slice. The peach is very ripe. >> Indeed, a soft piece of fruit.
Sage gives the man a faintly amused look when he suggests he could have done more, before she 'ahs' softly to the man's explanation as to why there is such an expansive setting. "I can understand that." She replies, before letting him take her hand to offer her the knife. The coolness of the man's touch noted but paid no great mind. She settles the knife into a comfortable grip, before nodding to the man. "Alright." She replies, before she goes to cut the peach. She has a practiced hand as she's quite accomplished with such techniques. "Very nice." She comments as she sees and feels how the knife goes about the task.
<< Yes, yes. Now, this, >> Pavel says, gently taking the knife from Sage's hand. Then, not quite so cultured as things have been going... he rips a piece of the wooden crate off. Holding it before him, he asks, << Please watch, >> then commences attacking the wood with the knife's blade. He cuts a good three-quarters of an inch into the wood, and it looks really bad, before his smiles ones more, and discards the piece of wood by tossing it back into the crate. << And here. >> He takes the knife back to the peach - and it slices through as if nothing had happened. << Its blade will never dull. There is one more thing. >> He places the knife right back in its proper place. << Still good? >>
Sage lets the man take the knife from her, seemingly content to let the man present things in the way he wishes. A faint expression passing across her features at the sound of the wood bring ripped from its place on the crate. She may revise her estimate of the man's strength. The reason behind it becoming clear as the man goes about sawing away at the wood. A little curiosity showing, "I don't think I'll have to worry about guests wanting to eat wood." She quips with a faint smile, deciding not to remain quiet throughout the presentation. She figures there's a point to this, and steps away from the peach as if figuring the man's likely to return to demonstrate the knife's durability. "So I see." She comments, before glancing to the man. A faint nod is given, "So far." she assures.
Pavel smiles and grabs the smallest of the three decorated goblets, motioning for Sage to meet him at a knee on the floor. He lays the goblet on its side, and removes a sledge hammer from his tool belt - a regular one, not one of his personal hammers - and hands it to his potential customer. << Please, hit it. As strong as you can. Crush it. >> He then scoots backwards just a tiny bit, not entirely certain about Sage's acumen with a blunt object.
Sage comes over when the man seems to have the next part of his presentation ready. "Ah yes, the potential for disgruntled people bringing hammers to wreak havoc on my glasses." She muses in a tease as she takes the hammer offered. She does a bit of lining up, but her main experience with blunt instruments is most likely just within the kitchen. Then, she unleashes the hammer. Fortunately the goblet is a bit enough target that she's likely to hit it somewhere. What the glass might do as a result is to be seen.
Bonk. Bonk. Bonk bonk. Doesn't seem to matter how many time's it's struck, the goblet - a very fine goblet - doesn't break or even bend. "Ees cahn stop boolet," Pavel says, for some reason deciding that being said in English might be important. He grins at Sage and retrieves the goblet and hammer, putting the metal piece back where it belongs, and securing the sledge. << Nothing here will break, dull, tarnish... it will always be as you see it. Unless you do something to it that was never meant for dining, like attacking a tank with it. >> He smiles widely. << This, Sage, is my presentation of offering of what I can do for you. Apologies that I couldn't follow your request to the letter. >> The large man offers a friendly wink at that. << Is this something that you could sell? Or at least use? Naturally, this was a demonstration piece. A real order needn't be this large. Made to order, truly. >>
Sage likely isn't inclined to keep whacking away at the goblet too many times for fear she might damage the floor. The lack of reaction does draw some interest. Although, the reason behind it seems to come without too much thought even if the reason why isn't as clear. She does give a chuckle to the comment about not being able to take on a tank with her dinnerware. A gentle shake her head coming in response. "It's alright." She assures the man when he apologies from straying from the instructions. She takes a moment to consider the place settings once more. "I think it could be of interest to some of my customers, yes." She replies, "It might be worth approaching a restaurant like the Silver Fork to see if they would be interested as well." She adds, "What would you charge for this kind of thing?" She asks, gesturing to everything.
Pavel smiles, and quickly turns it around. << Perhaps better to ask, what would *you* charge for such a thing? >>
Sage offers a faint smile and a faint noise to the man turning the question back to her. She turns her attention to the place settings again. "It would take some thought." She comments, picking up some of the items. "The craftsmanship and the durability combined with low maintenance are certainly points in its favour." She comments, "It would likely be competitive with fine china and the prices would likely be similar." She adds, before pausing to give the matter further consideration.
<< Yes, it would. I would prefer it over fine china. I've never seen such a thing that wouldn't easily shatter, or eventually scratch and dull with age. >> Pavel crosses his arms across his chest, perhaps considering himself. << I don't mean to be a mule, but if you have what you believe would be a fair price, you should likely come to it yourself without my intervention, first. If it is incorrect.. then I will help. >> He smiles pleasantly. << I would think that the rare materials would make it perhaps more than simple fine china as well. >>
"Ah, but in the durability and lack of maintenance, one might wonder if it might lose some its prestige in some eyes." Sage points out, before shrugging it off. "Yet, in the end, lasting things do tend to make for better antiques once they've aged." She concedes, before making a gesture to indicate the amount of things in a settings. "Given the side of the set, I imagine it fetch a fair bit per set and would likely be best for marketing purposes to make what's included in a set customizable." She mentions, "I would not mind if you offered an opinion on its worth first, though."
Pavel laughs, quietly, but a laugh. << Its *worth*? It's *worth* is very high. I know, I have sold these things before. A full table like this? Complete settings, the artistry, technique, materials.. the quantity? If you were to speak to someone who appreciated such things, a number with six digits would be cheap, if that first digit was only a 'one.' For this full set, of course. In pieces? As individual settings? Thirty-thousand, easily. More likely forty, as far as 'worth.' >>
Ah, the buyer trying to estimate a price can lead to over- or under-estimation. Sage had been bouncing around numbers regarding the sets but the sheer size is something that would make it difficult. She purses her lips, before gesturing to a single place setting. "Thirty thousand for everything at this one setting?" She asks softly to confirm.
<< Yes. Thirty thousand would be on the low end, definitely. If you wanted a fair price, I would suggest forty-thousand for each individual setting. >> Pavel seems to know what he's talking about. << If we enter into an agreement, forty-thousand would be a better price for both of us to make a reasonable profit, and for the buyer to receive a fair price. You can often get a lesser price for the sum of a large order but make a good profit, while some people don't realize that buying individually would cost them more. >>
When the man confirms the worth of the items, Sage takes a moment to revise her thoughts on how the marketing might be. "In that case, custom orders would certainly be the way to go." She replies, "But, if you are right about the worth, I dare say you have an extravagant way of making a demonstration." She comments, "I would not be able to afford all place settings here. And, I am flattered if you thought I could." She adds, before looking to the man. "And, yes, making a lesser price for large orders would likely give better incentive for those interest in acquiring a good sized set."
Pavel shrugs and chuckles. << No, I didn't come here thinking to sell all of this. I chose to do this, because I felt that it was necessary to make my point. I will keep them in my inventory, if you have need for them in the future, they will be there for you. >> He leans down and tweaks a fork back into place by two millimeters or so. << Remember that worth and expense do not need to be the same thing. If you purchased perhaps only two settings today, I would be very pleased with everything. Still, I understand that you only asked for a single setting, and would certainly not force a sale on you. >>
Sage nods faintly to the man, "Still extravagant, but as long as it is to prove a point." She comments, realizing she has an easily defensible position if the man were to become upset with regards to having this bounty go largely unpurchased. She purses her lips as she considers her options. One set would likely only be good for display, after all. "I was thinking one could be a display, but two would allow a couple to trial test it." She comments, "Alright we can talk about two sets." She decides, "I won't be playing forty thousand a piece, though." She affirms.
Sage's words bring a smile to Pavel's face. << I know. This was my choice, and you are correct, two sets would be better than a simple display piece. Because it was my choice, and you are a nice person - and I'm hoping to do business with you, would you be amenable to fifty-thousand for two sets? The remaining fifteen to remain with me if and until you decide to purchase more. >> He quickly adds in, << Closer to a proper cost, in the future, of course. But for now, does that sound reasonable? >>
Sage gives the man a thoughtful look as he proposes the idea of the price for the two sets. After her thoughtful pause, she speaks. "It is fortunate for you that I have recovered from a recent expense." She comments, "Fine, we'll do fifty-thousand for the two sets." She comments, "There is something else that I would be interested in having made but I don't have a clear image in my mind about what they will look like yet. And, I may have to think about them being able to be upgraded to offer protection... we can talk about that later, though."
Pavel pats Sage on the shoulder. << It's done then. I'll clean up and be out of your hair. Thank you for listening, I hope that we can work together late. And tell me what you have in mind! >> Then, like a whirlwind, he's gone with everything save for two place settings.
