Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 288: Making the Mall

July 17th, 2028. It was early in the morning and Michael was preparing to head back to the BGC. He had enjoyed his time in Tagaytay, but now it was time to get back to work and start preparing for the new mall project.

He finished packing his bag and headed downstairs, where he found Myra in the kitchen once again, preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Ma," Michael greeted with a smile.

"Good morning, Michael. Ready to head back to the city?" Myra asked, looking up from the stove.

"Yeah, I've got a lot to do," Michael replied, taking a seat at the kitchen table. "I'm going to start working on the preparations for the mall as soon as I get back."

Myra placed a plate of pancakes in front of him. "You are so serious huh? Always thinking about work," she said with a gentle smile.

Michael chuckled. "You know me, Ma. I want everything to be perfect. Especially since this project is for you."

Myra sat down across from him. "I appreciate that, Michael. But remember to take care of yourself too. Don't burn out."

"I will, Ma. I promise," Michael said, digging into his breakfast.

After finishing his meal, Michael hugged his mother tightly. "Take care, Ma. I'll keep you updated on the mall project."

"You too, Michael. And don't forget to take care of yourself," Myra reminded him.

Michael nodded and made his way to the Toyota Alphard, which was already waiting for him outside. As he settled into the back seat, he pulled out his phone and started making notes for the mall project.

There, he laid out some of his ideas on how a business mall worked. First, he thought about the location

of the mall. It needed to be in a strategic area, accessible to both local residents and visitors. He jotted down a few potential sites and made a mental note to have his team investigate them further.

Next, he considered the design. Michael wanted the mall to be modern, eco-friendly, and inviting. It should have open spaces, plenty of natural light, and greenery to create a pleasant shopping environment. He also wanted to include features that would make the mall a hub for the community, such as a playground for children, an event space, and a variety of dining options.

He listed some key anchor stores and brands he hoped to attract, thinking about a mix of high-end boutiques, popular retail chains, and local businesses. Michael also wanted to incorporate entertainment options like a cinema, an arcade, and possibly even a small indoor amusement park.

As he continued to jot down his thoughts, Michael's phone buzzed. It was a message from Juliet, asking him about his estimated time of arrival to the office.

Michael quickly replied, "I'll be there in an hour. Thanks for setting everything up."

He put his phone away and looked out the window, watching the scenery change as they left Tagaytay and headed back to the bustling city of Taguig.

An hour later, the Toyota Alphard arrived at the main entrance of the Golden Topper where Juliet was standing, waiting for Michael's arrival. She greeted him with a warm smile as he stepped out of the car.

"Welcome back, Mr. Reyes. How was your trip to Tagaytay?" Juliet asked, handing him a cup of coffee she had prepared for him.

Michael smiled, appreciating the gesture. "Thanks, Juliet. The trip was great. It was refreshing to spend some time away from the city and relax with my mom. I even helped her out at the store."

Juliet raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "Really? That must have been quite the experience."

"It was," Michael said with a chuckle. "I got to stock shelves, work the cash register, and interact with the customers. It gave me a lot of insight into how things operate at the ground level. Plus, it was a good reminder of how much effort goes into running a small business."

Juliet nodded, clearly impressed. "That's wonderful. I'm sure your mother appreciated the help."

"She did," Michael said, taking a sip of his coffee. "But what really inspired me was seeing how she transformed the store into a small supermarket. It got me thinking about how we could expand on that idea and build something even bigger, like our own mall."

"I already expected you'd say that. Lady Bridget told me about it already. She is in the office waiting for you by the way."

"Wait…Bridget is upstairs?" Michael's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes, she arrived a bit earlier," Juliet replied with a smile. "She said she wanted to discuss some ideas with you regarding the mall project."

Michael breathed deeply. "At last, I'm going to see her again. Okay, let's head up now."

Juliet led the way into the building, and they took the elevator up to Michael's office. As they rode up, Michael glanced at his reflection in the mirrored walls, straightening his tie and smoothing his hair.

When the elevator doors opened, Michael and Juliet stepped out into the busy office floor. Employees greeted him warmly as they passed, and he acknowledged them with a nod and a smile.

They reached Michael's office, where Bridget was already seated at the conference table, surrounded by various documents. She looked up as they entered, her face lighting up with a smile.

"Michael, it's good to see you," Bridget greeted him warmly, standing up to give him a brief hug.

"It's great to see you too, Bridget," Michael replied, feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity. "Juliet told me you wanted to discuss some ideas for the mall project?"

"Yes, I've been working on some concepts and potential partnerships that could make this mall truly unique," Bridget said, motioning for Michael and Juliet to sit down.

"Wait…already, that was quite fast…" Michael said, settling into his chair.

Bridget nodded, smiling. "I wanted to hit the ground running. I've been thinking a lot about the location, and I believe Quezon City would be the ideal spot for our mall."

Michael leaned forward, intrigued. "Quezon City? Why there? There's already a lot of big malls in it."

"Well, there are still districts where a mall would thrive and serve an underutilized market," Bridget explained, pulling out a detailed map of Quezon City. "I've identified a few potential sites. These areas have a good mix of residential and commercial spaces but lack a comprehensive mall that offers both high-end and community-focused amenities."

Michael studied the map, noting the highlighted areas. "Alright, that makes sense. What about the competition? We need to ensure we can stand out."

Bridget nodded. "Our biggest competitors will be SM Malls, Fisher Malls, and Robinsons. They have a strong presence, but we can differentiate ourselves by offering a unique mix of features and focusing heavily on sustainability and community engagement."

Juliet chimed in, "We can also introduce technology-driven solutions like smart parking systems, interactive directories, and eco-friendly building designs. These will not only attract more visitors but also set us apart from the traditional malls."

Michael looked thoughtful.

"But don't all those features already exist in our competitors' malls?" Michael asked, concerned about their ability to truly stand out.

Bridget shook her head. "Not quite in the way we can implement them. While other malls might have some of these features, we can integrate them more seamlessly and innovatively. For instance, our smart parking system could use real-time data to guide customers to the nearest available spot, and our interactive directories could include augmented reality to enhance the shopping experience."

Juliet added, "Additionally, we could incorporate renewable energy sources, like solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems, to make the mall more sustainable. This will not only reduce our operating costs but also appeal to environmentally conscious consumers."

Michael nodded, seeing the potential. "Alright, let's focus on these unique selling points. We need to ensure that every aspect of our mall stands out, from the design to the customer experience."

Bridget continued, "I also think we should consider hosting regular community events and workshops. This will create a sense of belonging and make the mall more than just a place to shop—more like a community hub."

Michael smiled, appreciating Bridget's thorough planning. "You've really thought this through. Let's move forward with these ideas. We'll need to start by acquiring the land and then work on securing partnerships with key brands and local businesses."

Juliet jotted down notes quickly. "I'll schedule meetings with real estate agents to visit the potential sites you've identified, Bridget. And I'll start reaching out to our contacts in the retail industry to gauge their interest in partnering with us."

Bridget nodded. "Great. I'll refine our concept further and prepare a detailed proposal. We can present this to potential investors and partners to get them on board."

Michael felt a renewed sense of excitement. "This is going to be a game-changer. Let's get to work and make this vision a reality."

As the team dispersed, Michael now knew that he is one step closer to finally acquiring that warship.