One out of every four motorcycles sold in the world today is a Honda product, and this number shows the size of the Honda sales network. However, such a large sales network began with bicycle retail stores in Japan.

In 1945, at the end of World War II, Soichiro Honda got 500 small engines used by the Japanese army to power field radios. He fitted these tiny engines to his bike. The bikes of this modification were very popular, and 500 units sold out quickly.

Honda saw a potential market for motorcycles and established Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and decided to start a motorcycle business.

Batches of "Kebo" brand engines that can be installed on bicycles have been produced, which cannot be accommodated by the local market alone. Soichiro Honda was faced with the problem of how to sell his product.

Honda found a new partner, Takeo Fujisawa, who used to be a small contractor who had his own set of sales operations.

When Honda asked Fujisawa about how to establish a nationwide sales network, Fujisawa suggested, "There are now about 200 motorcycle dealerships in Japan, and they are all the ones that small manufacturers like us are desperately trying to fight, and they have always been arrogant. If we were to insert it, we would have to lose most of the benefits. But at the same time, don't forget that there are also 50,000 bicycle retail stores across the country. For them, selling our products not only expands their business scope, increases their profit channels, but also stimulates the sales of bicycles. Plus we make appropriate profits, will they not eat this piece of fat? ”

When Honda heard this, he thought it was a clever plan and asked Fujisawa to do it immediately.

Letters flew like snowflakes to bicycle retail stores all over Japan. In addition to detailing the performance and efficacy of the "Keber" engines, the letter also told retailers that each engine would retail for £25 and that they would be given a £7 discount.

Two weeks later, 13,000 stores responded positively, and Fujisawa was able to skillfully establish a unique sales network for Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Since then, Honda products have been available throughout Japan.

Although the motorcycle dealership is "close" to Honda, familiar with the business of selling motorcycles, and has an extensive business network, it is close but not "close".

Although bicycle retailers are "far away" from Honda, they are not familiar with Honda's product sales business, and most of them are bicycle customers, but they are far away and "meaningful".

At the beginning of the "Honda Motor Co., Ltd.", the "long-range close attack" played a significant role, and it was obviously the best policy.