sbdcsierra Chapter 113 Appreciating Coffee
Chapter 113 Appreciating Coffee
"Oh right, I forgot to introduce myself. Hello, I'm the owner of this Yueze Coffee Shop."
In fact, Zhang Ruoran had already guessed the other party's identity in her heart.
After all, those who dress so elegantly in a store like this and proactively ask customers for their opinions are usually the owners or senior managers.
Upon hearing Bai Qianyue's question, Zhang Ruoran answered naturally:
"The coffee in your shop is very good, the taste is very authentic, and the 20 yuan promotion is also a great deal."
Sitting opposite, Xiao Li quickly nodded in agreement, giving the same reaction:
"Yes, yes, boss, your coffee is really delicious, much better than the ones I used to buy outside."
After hearing their praise, Bai Qianyue's smile became even wider.
She nodded very politely and said, "Thank you very much for your support and appreciation."
Immediately afterwards, Bai Qianyue looked at the empty seat next to Zhang Ruoran and tentatively asked:
"I wonder if you two mind if I sit here too? My store just opened today, and I'd like to get more honest feedback about our products from you, our first customers. Would that be convenient?"
Zhang Ruoran herself is also a manager of a high-end restaurant.
In her daily work, she often goes to the guests' tables to ask for their evaluation and opinions on the dishes.
Therefore, Zhang Ruoran was not at all surprised by the other party's request, nor did she mind it at all.
She completely understands the desire of a business owner to run a successful business.
So, Zhang Ruoran gestured to Bai Qianyue, and said with a smile:
"Of course, please have a seat. We don't have anything else to do, we just came over to sit and chat."
When Bai Qianyue heard that Zhang Ruoran had agreed, she moved a chair over and sat down naturally next to Zhang Ruoran and Xiao Li.
After sitting down, Bai Qianyue waved to the waiter at the bar.
The waiter immediately came over, and Bai Qianyue instructed him:
"Go and make a small cup of each of our best Western-style coffees and bring them over."
The waiter nodded and went to make the arrangements immediately.
Bai Qianyue turned her head, looked at Zhang Ruoran and Xiao Li, and said in a very serious tone:
"Actually, my purpose in opening this coffee shop is to create a truly high-end coffee brand in Seoul."
"As you know, coffee culture isn't very strong in Seoul right now. Many people still just see coffee as a simple beverage."
"If I want to expand my business on a larger scale in the future, I first need to have a very well-known brand."
Bai Qianyue has a very pleasant voice, and she speaks eloquently about business.
"Once I deeply imprint this high-end brand image in the minds of the people of Seoul, their acceptance of our coffee will naturally improve."
"Therefore, I have specially prepared some of the best coffees in our shop for you to taste. This way, I can also find out how these top-quality coffees make an impression on you, which will be very helpful for my future business."
After listening to Bai Qianyue's words, Zhang Ruoran felt that they made a lot of sense.
Having managed restaurants for so many years, she naturally understands the importance of brand positioning.
She nodded to Bai Qianyue and said:
"Thank you for your invitation. I also agree with your business philosophy. It's true that establishing a strong brand is essential for doing business."
Immediately afterwards, the waiter came over with a large tray and placed the small cups of steaming coffee on the table.
This Western-style coffee has a different color and aroma.
Zhang Ruoran, Xiao Li, and Bai Qianyue each picked up their cups and began to taste.
Zhang Ruoran took a sip of her first cup of coffee, savored it carefully, and said:
"This coffee has a very rich flavor, and the aftertaste after the bitterness is very noticeable. I think people who usually like to drink strong tea would really like it."
Xiao Li drank another cup and also offered his opinion:
"I think this one tastes even better with milk. It's very smooth and not bitter at all, which is perfect for people like me who don't know much about coffee."
Zhang Ruoran and Xiao Li gave different opinions on this Western-style coffee.
However, the two women were basically in agreement; they both thought the coffee tasted very good and that it was made with the finest ingredients.
Bai Qianyue nodded repeatedly as she listened to their comments, and said:
"I'm glad to hear that. It means that, at least in your minds, these coffees are quite well-received. As long as the quality is excellent, I'm not worried about future business."
When we get to this point...
Bai Qianyue put down her coffee cup.
She looked at Zhang Ruoran, and casually changed the subject.
She asked Zhang Ruoran:
"By the way, you guys work at the restaurant across the street. What do you think of the flower shop next door, which also focuses on creating top-tier products?"
Upon hearing this question, Zhang Ruoran immediately uttered a statement:
"Huh?"
She froze for a moment.
She never expected that the female boss in front of her would suddenly change the subject to the flower shop next door.
However, Zhang Ruoran changed her mind again.
That seems to be normal.
After all, on the surface, Li Ze's Zeran Flower Shop is...
The flowers inside are all top-quality varieties flown in from all over the world, and the decor is also the most luxurious, so it's actually targeting the high-end market.
The two shops next to each other both cater to high-end businesses, so it's common for business people to inquire about each other's business.
Although Li Ze's real purpose in opening that flower shop was not to create any high-end brand.
Zhang Ruoran was about to answer Bai Qianyue's question.
But before she could even respond, Xiao Li, who was sitting next to her, eagerly answered first.
Xiao Li looked at Bai Qianyue and said in a loud voice:
"Boss, ask about the flower shop next door. I think the quality of that flower shop, like the coffee in your shop, is top-notch."
"And their prices are really reasonable. They have coffee for 20 yuan, and yesterday they had a promotion where they would give away snow lotus flowers to our restaurant customers."
Xiao Li usually enjoys observing these kinds of things, and she continued excitedly:
"It can be said that your two stores are exactly the same in many ways."
"Whether it's the extravagance of bringing out the most high-end items for the first time in a promotion, or the very upscale decor of the store, if I didn't know better, I would even think that the owners of the two stores are the same person."
Bai Qianyue laughed immediately when she heard Xiao Li say that.
She looked at Xiao Li and said in a very relaxed tone:
"You're mistaken. I know the owner of the flower shop next door. We're not the same person."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Li quickly waved his hand and said:
"Yes, I know that. I know that our store manager Zhang's husband... no, I mean, that store manager Zhang knows the owner of that flower shop."
"However, I think your business philosophies are really similar. Otherwise, it wouldn't be such a coincidence that your two stores are so close to each other, and that your design concepts and promotional styles are so similar. It's definitely a case of great minds thinking alike."
Upon hearing Xiao Li's words, Bai Qianyue covered her mouth with one hand and laughed heartily.
Her laughter sounded very crisp in the coffee shop.
As the saying goes, what is said without intention may be taken to heart by the listener.
Xiao Li just said those things casually because he thought the two stores looked very similar.
However, Zhang Ruoran heard the female boss say that she was very familiar with the owner of the flower shop.
Zhang Ruoran instantly became alert.
She looked at the female boss in front of her, who was wearing a white veil, and her mind began to race.
This Yueze Coffee Shop should have just opened this morning.
When she got off work yesterday, this place was just an empty shop.
How come this female boss says she's very familiar with the owner of the flower shop next door, Li Ze, on her first day of business?
Moreover, what made Zhang Ruoran most uneasy was Xiao Li's unintentional remark.
Xiao Li is right, the styles of these two stores are really too similar.
Not only are their styles similar, but even their names are very similar.
Zeran Flower Shop, Yueze Coffee.
Last night, Li Ze received a phone call at home.
That phone call was from the woman named Bai Qianyue.
Bai Qianyue said on the phone that she opened a coffee shop next to the flower shop, and it opened this morning.
Zhang Ruoran's heart suddenly started racing.
She looked at the woman in white in front of her, and a very terrible thought popped into her mind.
Could it be that the veiled woman in front of me is Bai Qianyue, whom I haven't seen for eighteen years?
If that's the case, then what she just said and the questions she asked were definitely not just casual conversation between ordinary business people.
She deliberately came over to talk to me.
She was deliberately testing me here.
Zhang Ruoran unconsciously tightened her grip on the coffee cup in her hand.
Xiao Li's unintentional remark only increased her unease.
What does it mean that the two stores have very similar concepts? What does it mean that their design ideas are so similar?
This shows that the woman named Bai Qianyue deliberately wanted to open a coffee shop that was exactly the same as Li Ze's flower shop.
She wanted to use this method to prove to everyone that she shared the same thoughts as Li Ze.