Chapter 626: Experience the "Future"!
An hour later, Joseph left the meeting room looking relaxed.
Beaumont had finally agreed to the leasing agreement, granting 40,000 hectares of Church-owned land to the Ministry of Agriculture. The Church would receive a 6% increase over the current rent collected from tenant farmers, and the Ministry would select which parcels to use.
While Beaumont couldn't dictate terms to other archbishops across France, his endorsement would likely influence them to accept similar agreements.
As Joseph boarded his carriage en route to Versailles, he knew he needed to act quickly. Spring wheat and barley planting in France typically began in March. Arrangements with Minister Venio had to be finalized immediately to ensure farmers would switch to sugar beets before planting began.
This leasing arrangement was more than just an agricultural initiative; it was a strategic move to weaken the Church's grip on its landholdings. By gradually leasing more and more of the Church's land, Joseph hoped to erode the traditional tenant farming system. Over a decade, the arrangement could become so normalized that the Church would find it impossible to revert.
Eventually, the government could find ways to reduce the leasing payments, ultimately reclaiming the Church's lands. With the Church controlling over 2 million hectares of land, this would be a slow process, but Joseph was determined. The Church's assets—including land, shares, and bonds—had to be reclaimed for France's industrial revolution to succeed without hindrance.
If necessary, Joseph was even prepared to enact religious reforms to achieve this goal, though he hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Munich, Bavaria
The familiar clangs of hammers and anvils were absent at the "Old Berland Ironworks." Instead, the owner, Walter Berland, stood at the workshop's entrance, glaring darkly across the street at a bustling crowd.
Across from his workshop, cheerful music filled the air as colorful streamers fluttered above the heads of the crowd. The celebration marked the grand opening of Munich's first French Department Store.
"Damn those French!" Walter spat angrily onto the ground.
For the past year, the site across the street had served as a marketplace for traveling French merchants. Every two weeks, caravans arrived with goods from France, setting up stalls and selling their wares.
The city's residents—nobles and commoners alike—flocked to buy everything in sight.
Walter grudgingly admitted that the French products were exceptional. Whether it was tools, wine, machinery, furniture, cosmetics, or paper, the quality was unmatched. Even the merchants' lively sales pitches were designed to entice buyers.
The result? His workshop's business had dwindled.
The tools, utensils, and shelves his workshop produced were no match for the French goods. French iron was higher quality than the steel he sourced from Bavarian smelters and came at a lower price.
Customers now delayed purchases until the French caravans arrived. Even Walter's own household was filled with French-made items—French composite furniture, French soap, French wine. Yet his workshop was on the verge of collapse.
Walter had recently let go of two apprentices to cut costs, but now the situation was even direr. Across the street, the French Department Store had opened.
Walter had seen a similar store during a trip to Vienna. Inside were rows of neatly arranged counters, each staffed by two attractive female clerks and one male cashier. Behind the glass counters, shelves displayed various French goods with clearly marked prices.
The clerks spoke in pleasant tones, explaining the features of each product. After a customer made a selection, the goods were packed in elegant boxes. The cashier provided receipts, and customers were offered warranties—even repairs for defective items.
In Vienna, the department store drew massive Sunday crowds, with lines stretching outside. Despite slightly higher prices, people preferred the experience and convenience of shopping there.
Now, Munich had its own French Department Store, directly across from Walter's struggling workshop.
The store's opening spelled doom for his business.
The French Department Store was one of Joseph's most ambitious projects, directly modeled after modern retail concepts. While he had initially considered supermarkets, he concluded that 18th-century societal norms made department stores a better fit.
Labor costs were low—especially for female clerks, who earned half the wages of men—keeping operational expenses manageable.
This innovation was decades ahead of its time, as department stores didn't emerge until the mid-19th century in real history.
Compared to traditional shops or nondescript general stores, French Department Stores boasted elegant interiors and spacious layouts. Even without purchasing anything, people enjoyed simply wandering through. In an era where entertainment options were limited to parks, taverns, and cafes, the stores offered a novel experience.
The stores sold a wide range of goods—mostly high-quality French products but also a selection of foreign items. From luxury goods to daily necessities, everything was available at competitive prices, thanks to the low tariffs stipulated by the Rhine-Seine Treaty.
With attentive service, attractive packaging, and reliable after-sales policies, the stores quickly dominated local retail markets wherever they appeared.
Adding to their appeal, the stores featured food courts and children's play areas, making them family-friendly destinations.
Within the past 18 months, French Department Stores had opened in major cities across southern Germany. French trade caravans regularly replenished their stock, ensuring a steady flow of goods into German markets.
Across the street, the celebratory music abruptly stopped. As a drumroll echoed through the air, the crowd surged into the newly opened store.
Walter stood at his workshop's entrance, glaring through the store's glass windows at the frenzied shoppers. A carriage suddenly pulled up beside him.
A square-faced man leaned out of the window, gesturing.
"Walter, head to Wiesgen Street. The meeting starts in an hour. Don't forget the straw dummies and banners."
Walter nodded grimly. He called to his two sons, grabbed the prepared supplies, and silently made his way toward Wiesgen Street.
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