The Struggle on Opening Day

We managed to start our otak-otak stall but with so many hurdles. *Phew..*

Supposedly this should be a daily business and opened from 6pm to 11pm for a total of 5 hour excluding the preparation time. However, the restaurant where we rented the stall from is closed every Friday. Due to our working schedule, we have to close on Saturday, Sunday and Monday which dampened our spirit a bit but we allow a month to see the progress of the business before we jump the gun.

Our first hurdle was..a car breakdown. Crazy right? Hehehe..We were on our way to transport the Malaysian chips to one of our distributor and then..suddenly the car's electricity was cut off and no power at all. Fatty bom bom

We had our fair share of the rough day but was awed by the process of

towing of the car.

Market research for small business

Remember our goal on the first post? We want to open 3 types of small business.

The first - sell Malaysian chips. - checked!

The second - finding food markets for students in Elementary/Primary school and secondary school. - in progress.

 

It's about time to start another shop in front of the school next week. We have bought a few type of snacks from Mydin Wholesale Market in Subang:

• Cloud 9
• Chocopie
• Doubledecker
• Mentos
• Choclairs
• Jelly
• Apollo cocoa layer cake
• Corncos

The price is quite okay. Some of them have higher profit but some are not. We thought that it will be okay as some are fast sellers.

So, off we went to do some serious market research in front of the school at 1.00 noon. The Primary/Elementary schools in Malaysia finish at about this time and the Secondary school a bit later. When we reached the school gate, there are 4 stalls already opened there.

Stall1: Drinks, snacks,hot dog, local ice cream, fruits

Stall2: Ice blended juice

Stall3: Ice cream ( from a 2-wheeler motorbike)

Stall4: Ice cream ( from a 3-wheeler motorbike)

Our finding

1. Malaysia is a warm country and selling hot food is not a great idea at 1 noon. Ice cream or cold snacks would be great.
2. The buying power for children nowadays is unbelievable! We asked a few children, how much money they brought to school? Most of them brought at least RM1. Another kid surprisingly brought RM4 each day and spent it all. WOW! I just spent 20 cent in 1987. ^^
3. No license needed to sell in front of school
4. The ice-cream man rules! ^^ Even we bought one from him

Our challenge

We are torn between making profits and selling nutritious food to children.

What do you think would be good for our kids?

Business v/s Job

We are building this now, for our future.

If only we can have a money making machine. ^^

Business (Pros)

• you need an idea..not only an idea but a WORKABLE IDEA
• a stash of money to start your business - loan, saving = CAPITAL
• loads of perseverance, creativity and guts = ATTITUDE
• faith in yourself and in the business
• a lot of time for yourself
• annual leave 24x7, 365 days a year
• you work your PASSION
• lowest risk in being fired/terminated

Business (Cons)

• unpredictable, you won't know your income, no bonus, no EPF/KWSP, no allowance
• you are your own boss, so you have to answer for yourself
• your business might fail

Us after 3 years too? Hmm..

Job (Pros)

• stable income with loads of fringes/benefits
• you can climb up the corporate ladders from being rookies

Job (Cons)

• Unless you totally are in love with your job, it definitely is NOT FUN
• Fixed time and you are forever ruled and regulated. Talked about being late for a minute? No..no..it means NO FREEDOM

But how many people actually really want to be freed from this prison so called JOB?
Wishing for it? 100%
Honestly implementing it? 0.00001%? Yeah..I'd better start next year..or if not, the year after next.