Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 35

We've been busy, him with his work while I was with my shop. I'm planning another branch of the cafe in Tagaytay, since I've been getting a lot of suggestions from the reviews and feedback of the customers that it would've been better if we'd built a shop in the said city.

Well, looking back, it's a famous spot for those who reeks of alcohol or those who simply want to have a coffee. Kung hindi ang bulalo, mga sikat na kapehan ang dinarayo nila. Putting a shop in the city is a good idea. I just need to strategically build it in a place where a lot of people went to.

I'm currently working on it with Adeline, who still works with me. She's now my right hand. A lot of workers have come and gone but Gallo and Adeline were still with me. I frequently ask them what made them stay and they would frankly tell me that I pay a lot and was generous enough as a boss, they couldn't wish for more.

Not even offended that they only stayed because I do pay them a lot, syempre alam ko ang paghihirap nila. I would want them to be treated fair and just, gusto ko ng working environment na maganda. And if I want that, it should start with me, I should be the boss they would want.

And I was only thinking of the other opportunities that they could get too, much bigger and better than in my shop. Thinking of all the things they let pass through their grasp, I couldn't help but feel guilty. Kaya I was really trying na bigyan sila ng lahat ng magandang benefits.

Although, at the same time I was really thankful because they stayed. I consider them now as my friends and someone that I cared for.

Malapit na rin ang 4-day paid leave na itinalaga ko sa kanila, it's a four day leave where they could rest, enjoy, and spend time with their loved ones, or have some alone time without worrying about not getting paid. It was too ideal, but I know the importance of a healthy mind. I don't think it's too much loss to my business, after all it was for my workers mental health, syempre hindi lang naman physical health ang importante. Our mind needs some loving and caring too.

Siguro magbabakasyon na lang rin ako kasabay nila.

I got so many things on my plate right now, and I think I deserve it too. Adeline and I were on a quest to find a good spot to build the shop. Hindi ko naman na kailangan pang isipin ang architect, my brother and his friends existed solely for that. The reason why I was chill too.

Yung lugar lang talaga ang problema ko. Picking a place lies the future of your shop, malaking advantage rin kasi ang lugar na paglalagakan mo. Even if your shop is not a known brand, if there's people in the place, there will be customers meaning you'll also have the revenue and means to support and continuously run the café.

Next, of course the food taste and quality, along with the service and the whole ambiance. Dapat masarap ang sineserve na pagkain, para sure na babalik-balikan. And a service that they'll remember— the ambiance unique branding rin yan. That's what the customer will remember the most.

Food. Ambiance. Experience.

The holy three that you need to follow, that's what I've learned in years of handling the business. I may not have taken a business course but handling it yourself, undergoing the never ending trial and error... the gain experience was enough for the business to keep going.

Most coffee shops nowadays sell their brands not the food, what I mean is... mataas na presyo ng kape at mga tinapay pero bagsak naman sa panlasa, ngunit sikat at malakas pa rin ang kita dahil sa pangalan. Hindi consistent, at lalong dahil lang sa hype kaya patuloy pa rin.

It doesn't feel right.

One of my visions was to serve food with a good taste and quality, some products would be pricey but it was worth the price of what I'll serve them. That's why I make sure na masarap at ligtas na pagkain na ipinapakain namin sa mga customer, so they won't question how we run the business.