Hoje à tarde, Alex and I went to talk with his parents about our decision of having a loja. As we predicted, the old couple reacted tremendously negatively about the loja idea :-(...I know they wouldn't agree, because Alex has mentioned with them before, and they were not happy with my 'crazy' idea at all.
Economic crisis, jobless at the moment (Alex and me), full of risks in business, being apart (Alex is probably going to work in Porto, and I want to have my store in Bairro Alto in Lisboa), a risk to Alex's brother (since we are going to ask his brother to be the guarantor of the store renting contract), I don't speak much Portuguese, Bairro Alto is a dangerous area for me to run a shop alone......All possible and impossible reasons have been mentioned to make us give up our 'crazy' idea.
I am very sad, very very sad about it. I understand the old couple want to protect and help us, but I don't agree that this is the way how children should be protected and helped. Maybe this is the generation gap, culture gap, or even family gap? I didn't just dream about opening a store, then the next day wake up with this fancy dream in mind and announce everyone that I'm going for it. I've been conceiving the idea of having a store with Chinese designs since March this year. Then I conducted an online survey about people's interest in oriental stuffs. Encouraged by people's massive positive attitude, I didn't hesitate at all to fly back to China to search for possible products in April. In July and August, I participated two fairs to get a better image of the market here in Portugal. During the fairs, a lot of customers were quited interested in my stuffs and questioning if I have a shop. Encouraged again, I made up my mind to make one step forward with the business, that is to run a shop here. I DO feel that people here are suffering from the ongoing economic crisis, I know there are risks, BUT still, I have a strong wish to have my own store. I don't believe the crisis will last forever, and there exists risks for everything, doesn't it?
Anyway, I've made up my mind. I know there is a rocky road in front of me, but if I never go through it, I will never ever know what's on the other side of the road.
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1 comment:
Dear Qiao,
Me and my brother are living quite the same problem as you, we too want to open a store but it looks like everybody knows someone that had a store and had to close it.
I've seen your articles and I personally think they are very good articles and above all different that the usual stuff we see everywhere. The information I have, is that beeing different is the secret!
Why wouldn't you consider to open your store in Porto, be sure that in Porto you wouldn't have less clients then in Lisbon.
Good luck with your bussiness.
Cláudia
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