Chapter 87 Opening Business

"How is it?"

"Hmm...a little more milk," Xue Shiqi placed the cup in front of Tang Yuan, added milk, took a sip, and nodded in satisfaction, "It tastes good, this is my favorite flavor."

"How does the coffee taste? Compared to what you usually drink." Tang Yuan didn't know much about coffee, but Xue Shiqi should know more about it, so he wanted to ask her opinion.

"Okay, I can't tell much difference. What price are you going to set?" Xue Shiqi asked her.

During this time, Tang Yuan also traveled around Hong Kong to learn about the price of coffee. This thing is like tea. The price of good coffee is very high, and the price of bad coffee is relatively affordable.

There are many white-collar workers in Hong Kong today, and many of them have gradually developed the habit of drinking coffee. A pound of cheap coffee costs about thirty or forty yuan.

The coffee she had bought was of a common variety, so she didn't plan to set a high price: "How about selling it at two bucks for one ounce? Is that okay with you?"

It is still calculated based on half a catty and eight ounces, two yuan for one ounce, and thirty-two yuan for one catty, which is the current common price in Hong Kong.

"Let's set the price a little higher, one, two or three yuan. I think we can sell it, and we have to take into account the cost of the jar," Xue Shiqi suggested, holding the cup. "The difference between two yuan and three yuan is not that big, and your store is right next to mine. If customers come later, I can introduce you to it. By the way, will you stay in the store in the future?"

Tang Yuan shook his head: "We need to recruit people."

She was very sure about this point. After all, she still had to find time to make small purses and deal with various other things. She couldn't lock herself up in the store.

Fortunately, the price of hiring a shop assistant in Hong Kong is not high nowadays, and you can find a suitable one for only twelve or thirteen thousand yuan.

"Do you have any classmates who might be less qualified? Can you recommend one to me?" Tang Yuan looked at Xue Shiqi, who was suddenly interested for some reason.

After she said this, Xue Shiqi's expression became even more excited, and she pointed at herself and said, "Me, me, you hire me, and I'll help you watch the store. After all, a store selling coffee beans is not an ice house, and there are not so many customers on weekdays. It would cost a lot of money to hire someone else, so I can just help you watch it."

"Is it okay?" Tang Yuan looked at her and joked, "I'm afraid if I hire you, your mother will come after me."

"That's definitely not the case," Xue Shiqi shook her head and reached out to hold Tang Yuan's arm. "I'm serious. I'm not kidding you. The two stores are right next door. Usually, there are not many people in my sweater store, and there are not many people in your store either. There is no problem for me to look after the two stores at the same time. Just promise me, okay?"

"I have no problem with that. It depends on you." Tang Yuan thought this was fine. At least Xue Shiqi could be trusted. However, she still had to be paid. "Since you are running two stores at the same time, I will pay you 1,000 yuan a month."

"No, no," Xue Shiqi shook her head, "Give me one thousand yuan, and then you can hire someone else. Just give me five hundred yuan, but you have to agree to one condition: let me drink coffee in your shop."

"That's it? Is it really okay?" Tang Yuan asked, and when she nodded, he agreed, "Then you can help me watch it when you are free. If I am not here and you are really busy, you can just close the store and take care of your own business."

"Nothing, I'm not busy," Xue Shiqi smiled and shook her head, "Great, now I have an extra coffee shop, I can make myself a cup of coffee when I'm bored in the future."

Xue Shiqi did what she said. She actually started grinding coffee powder and began to try to make coffee.

The two stores are right next to each other. Standing on the operating table, you can see the situation of the store next door. You don't have to worry about not being able to see the store next door.

Moreover, most of Xue Shiqi's customers are old customers. People who are willing to spend a lot of money on handmade products are not of low quality, which does not affect her consideration of both sides.

While she was making coffee, Tang Yuan started to tidy up the shelves.

According to Xue Shiqi, the price is 3 yuan per two taels, and coffee beans are put into cans according to their sizes. Corresponding price labels are affixed, and then the cans are placed on the shelves one by one.

She currently only sells coffee beans, and the quality is the same. They don’t need to be placed densely on the shelves, but can be placed at certain intervals.

Occasionally, Xue Shiqi would look up and tell Tang Yuan where to put it, and he would listen to her and put it in the corresponding position.

When the jars were almost all placed, a voice called out from outside: "Shiqi?"

"Here," Xue Shiqi was about to pour the milk. She glanced at the person who came and called out, "Aunt Ming, do you want some coffee? I just made the coffee."

"Sure," the other person walked into the store elegantly with a handbag and looked around, "You opened another store?"

"No, this is my friend's, but I designed this store and I'm in charge of it the whole time," Xue Shiqi said proudly, "How much milk does Aunt Ming want?"

"A little less, I like the bitter taste of coffee," Aunt Ming approached, "You designed this shop, no wonder it has your style. I can come here directly when I want to buy coffee in the future."

"Thank you, Aunt Ming," Xue Shiqi prepared the coffee, put it in a beautiful coffee cup, and handed it over with both hands, "Aunt Ming, please try it. I think this coffee is good, and the price is good, too, only three yuan per ounce."

"Not bad." Aunt Ming gave an affirmative answer before she even drank it. Then she held the cup to her mouth and took a small sip.

This cup of coffee took a while to prepare, and then room temperature milk was added, so it had a warm taste.

Tang Yuan put down the jar in his hand and turned to look at Aunt Ming.

Seeing her take a sip and then a second sip, I knew there was really no problem this time.

Sure enough, the customer whom Xue Shiqi called Auntie Ming drank three or four mouthfuls in a row, then her eyes fell on the shelf. After seeing the price clearly, she said, "Excuse me, give me three cans of 300 grams each."

"Okay, I'll pack it for you." Tang Yuan took out the bag prepared by Xue Shiqi and put the canned coffee beans in it.

The price of coffee in Hong Kong is about the same. Three taels of coffee is not a lot, and the bags are not small, so two cans can be placed on one layer.

Aunt Ming watched and temporarily added another can to make up two rows.

Afterwards, she finished her coffee, went to the next store to buy a decoration, and then left with two bags of things.

Xue Shiqi came back from selling the ornaments and smiled as she stretched out her hand to high-five Tang Yuan: "Good luck with your business!"

"It's all thanks to you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have this business." Tang Yuan gave her a big high five. "I'm so lucky to have a friend like you."

"It's the same for me. You opened a shop next to mine, and I can drink coffee for free," Xue Shiqi said, looking into the shop. "But the shop is still empty. Can I buy a few small tables and stools? If customers come in the future, they can sit and drink coffee and chat."

"Sure, whatever you say. Just give me the bill later." Since Xue Shiqi would be the one to run the store in the future, it naturally had to meet her aesthetic standards. Tang Yuan was only responsible for paying.

After a successful start, several more customers came. This time, they did not come for Xue Shiqi's handicraft shop, but saw the sign of the coffee shop and came in to look at the coffee beans.

Perhaps the decoration of the store was really attractive, so everyone walked around the store several times and left with their hands full. The person who bought the least took away two cans of coffee beans.

After a few orders, we sold nearly three pounds of coffee beans.

Coffee beans cost 48 yuan per pound, and nearly three pounds of coffee beans can bring in more than 140 yuan.

This was only the first day. After that, the business in the store stabilized and there were repeat customers. As long as I could sell six kilograms of coffee beans a day, I could earn tens of thousands of yuan every month.

Others see this as income, but to her it is pure profit. After all, the price she paid for purchasing the coffee beans was indeed low. Even if there is an exchange rate difference between the two sides, she always ignores it out of habit. In the end, she can make money.

The coffee shop officially opened. Mother Xue came over in the evening and specially asked someone to send two flower baskets.

Later, I heard from Xue Shiqi that she would also be looking after the coffee shop. I didn't think it was a bad idea. I just said I would come again in the future. It was really nice to have an extra place to sit and have a drink.

Tang Yuan felt relieved when he saw Mother Xue's reaction.

She looked at Mother Xue and noticed that her eyes were always on Xue Jiaqi. Her eyes were full of admiration as she watched Xue Jiaqi, who was quietly making coffee for her with her head down.

Xue Shiqi made the coffee and brought it to Xue's mother, and the appreciation in her eyes turned into a deep smile.

"Mommy, I made the coffee myself, you must taste it carefully."

"The coffee my daughter made must be delicious. Your dad hasn't tasted it yet," Xue's mother took the coffee, took a sip and praised again, "It's really good. My daughter is so talented. She made coffee so well the first time. It's amazing."

"As long as Mommy likes it, I made it especially according to Mommy's taste. I'll make it for Daddy when I have time in the future," Xue Shiqi said as she sat next to Mommy Xue. "I'm so happy. I can make coffee in my spare time in the future, so I won't be so bored."

"Well, that's good." Mother Xue drank the coffee in her hand seriously.

Tang Yuan saw the conversation between the mother and daughter and understood why Xue's mother didn't care about Xue Shiqi running the store. In her eyes, there was nothing wrong with her daughter's decision. Even if she thought it was not good, she would not directly refute it, but would find ways to guide her. For example, in a sweater store, she would guide her to let others knit ordinary sweaters, but would not directly say that she was wasting her time knitting sweaters.

Although Xue Shiqi has to visit one more store now, it doesn't take up too much time for her, and she can also kill time making her own coffee. Naturally, Mother Xia will not object.

Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a little envious of Xue Shiqi. She really was a child who grew up in pampering.

But everyone's life is different, and she is very satisfied with her current life.

Tang Yuan did not interrupt the conversation between the mother and daughter. He walked into the store and filled the empty space on the shelf where the coffee beans had just been sold.

The price labels are affixed to the shelves, so customers won't have any trace of the price on the cans after they buy them. This is great for both those who like to buy low-priced coffee and those who like to buy high-priced coffee.

If you buy the former, the jar will look high-end and you will feel more proud. However, if you buy the latter and put it at home, no one will see the price, so it is not so obvious, but it is equally good.

Best of both worlds.