First a disclaimer: This interview is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of names to any person living or dead is purely coincidental
The hurling of a shoe at the US President George Bush by an Iraqui journalist seems to have given rise to a new breed of entrepreneurs who have come up with innovative ideas to market their products globally. In these matters who can match the business acumen of Chinese in flooding the markets globally with low cost innovative products.
For instance I happened to bump into a Chinese industrialist Hun Wein Shu who had come to India specially to market the product which his company was producing in the aftermath of “shoe throw” incident. I received an invitation from his PR agency to interview him saying that the products were most innovative and it would be most useful for the journalists world over. Being curious I agreed to meet him.
As soon as I went to the venue I was greeted by a young Chinese girl and a 40- year old- man with a smile that one would see only in toothpaste advertisements. The Chinese man shook hands with me for nearly three minutes and introduced himself as Hun Wein Shu from Hong Kong.
“ Welcome. I am glad you came. The products which I am going to show you is going to revolutionise the life of journalists world over” he said in English with a Chinese accent I complimented him for creating such a product and told him that I was most curious to see it.
The Chinese entrepreneur said “ Did you see how effectively the US president dodged the shoes which were hurled at him ?” , the Chinese asked me . I said “ Yes. But what has it to do with the product which you are going to show me” I asked.
“ I know you would ask that question” said the Chinese with a smile and began opening a beautifully packed box.
As soon as he opened the box and showed me the product I was shocked. I thought it would contain some gadget . But what it contained was a soft shoe. Now getting really upset I asked him “ Did you invite me only to show me shoes” ?
The Chinese smiled and said “ This is not an ordinary show . I have named it George
SHSD. This shoe is specially meant to go to press conferences of people whom you hate. This shoe SHSD means Shoe with a Heat Seeking Devise. Once the shoe is hurled , its heat seeking devise will seek and hit the object irrespective of whether the target remains stationary or moves If the Iraqi journalist had hurled this shoe, then it would have hit the target even if he had ducked.
“And what is the cost of this shoe which you are going to market here” I asked.
The Chinese said “ Only Rs one lakh for a pair of shoes ”.
I ssaid “ That’s dam expensive Chinese shoes. Why should someone buy and waste it on someones head I aksed”. The Chinese smiled said “ It is very very cheap. See the Iraqi journalist threw the shoe at Bush and it missed .. Yet a Saudi citizen offered dollar 10 million to buy the shoes that were thrown at Bush. Now you imagine what could have been its value had it hit the bulls eye” he said.
