Chapter 71 - Finding a Storefront (3)
Shu Yan was familiar with the street that Lao Hu had mentioned, but it was mainly restaurants on that street and businesses for boutique was just alright there. The location of the storefront that he had mentioned wasn’t bad. When they asked about it, the asking price was $1 million, worse than highway robbery.
“I didn’t think the owner would ask for such a high amount,” said Lao Hu apologetically.
“It wasn’t your fault. Can you please keep searching for a storefront for me? It doesn’t have to be West City Nan Road; other locations will be fine as well. And that boutique on West City Nan Road, please keep an eye out on it as well. If all is well, I will take it over. And then there’s the question about clothing factories. Can you do some research for me as to which are the good ones? I will check them out myself later.”
Shu Yan had already bought a house and the kids had started school. Lately, she had been spending a lot of money with zero income. It’s time to start her own business to open up a stream of income.
There were factories local to City Nan, but most of them were located in City Hang. Many of the stores get their merchandise from there. It was a little on the far side. Shu Yan’s plan was to get her merchandise there at the beginning and eventually work with local factories to produce her own clothing.
Lao Hu had other matters to tend to so he took off first, leaving Shu Yan to walk around by herself in the area. Most of the place was the same as how she remembered it with minor differences here and there. Overall, there are not a whole lot of changes. Ideally, a jewelry store would also be nice too, but there were no other storefront available. The businesses on this street was really quite good.
West City Nan Road was 7~8 bus stops away from University Ave. On a day as hot as today, Shu Yan wasn’t going to go all the way home. She had a bowl of noodles at a small shop nearby and that took care of her lunch.
She walked around all the peripheral areas in the afternoon. Many of the places were still chalked full of short and old houses. All these would be turned into apartment buildings in the future. It was very unfortunate that she didn’t have the capital; otherwise it’s best to buy some land for development.
She went to pick up Ye Tianbao first. When City Xi Grade School let out, Lin Hui came on her bicycle. She smiled at Shu Yan when she saw her and said, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to the after school programme place.”
The place wasn’t a formal after school tutorial center but a room inside a house as the classroom. Many came here, and the little room was chalked full of little kids.
Wang Yitong’s language subject was quite good so she didn’t need a tutorial for that, just English and Mathematics. Ye Jingjing, on the other hand, was much weaker in all three of the main areas and needed tutorials on all of them. Fees were $30 per month per subject, so a total of $90 a month. Not too expensive, but not cheap either. Shu Yan paid the fees, and Ye Jingjing would start tomorrow.
The next day, when Shu Yan went home, Lao Hu came looking for her. He told her that the landlord for the storefront on West City Xi Road had returned early. They definitely wanted to rent the place out but they refused to sign a longer contract. The term was for the year, renewed annually. Plus the new rate would be adjusted depending on the market rate in the area at the time.
How was she going to do business like that? Once a year contract? What if the landlord refused to renew after she had already remodeled the place and the business was going well? She’d lose out of her nose. That wasn’t going to work at all.
“I want a minimum 3-year contract and 10% increase annually. First right of refusal when the contract is up. Plus the right to change ownership.” Shu Yan laid out her terms and conditions with Lao Hu; he could take care of the rest.
Shu Yan didn’t hear back from Lao Hu till three days later. The landlord had agreed to the terms but wanted to discuss the details in person.