These are my real life problems...not a joke or make-up stories. I do not know whether you will belief me or know. Moreover, you do not know me and so do I know you.
Anyway here the truth.
First and foremost, I believed too much in people.
I came back to Penang to start the a cafe after being offer the opportunity, when someone offer to put up the capital and ask us to manage and run it. So we accepted as could look after our aged parents. But after getting all the all equipments and staffs ready..the funds stopped coming in. We were stuck with all the commitments and bills until today.
During the renovation of the rented place for our cafe, the landlord sold off the shoplot to a new owner. The new owner, demanded higher rental fees and keep getting people to view the place, telling them that we are closing down. Days in and days out, we do not have a peace of mind renting the place and running the cafe.
Unfortunately, both of our fathers, passed away after the 3rd. month we in operation. After that, the new landlord, insist that we moved out.
So we moved out to the present place, which is a new township with on-going development and with TAR college, nearby and up-coming International School (in construction now). We took up rental of the present shoplot, as the staff of the property owner told us that each shoplot will run a different type of food business and our is the only type. So we accepted the offer with a very good rental fee.
The 1st day of unofficial openning, we have very good response from people living around the shoplots. From that day onwards, business is smooth until 2 weeks later, a new cafe called West Garden open which serve local style of food and the normal beverage.
On their official openning, they put all the tables and chairs in front of all unoccupied shoplots and also put up tents. They even line-up all their guests right in front of my cafe, blocking the view of my cafe and even the door way. We did not do anything or tell them off, just keep quiet, as it their official opening and we respect them as our new neighbour.
After a few weeks, the lady boss, started talking to my waiter and invite him over for free food n drink. Finally offered him the salary, double what we pay him.
The waiter ask us for our oppinion about crossing-over, we just tell him, the decision is on him not on us. Ask him to check with his parent before make any decision. So he decided to work for the lady boss.
Then one day came, came 2 guys and a lady to our cafe and start complaining about the food & drinks, no taste. Even before the food is served and before they even taste it, started complaining and making a scene. We even offer to replace but they keeping find fault. And ask us to move out, saying that they are very influential and have connection both underworld and police. And also the the western garden cafe lady boss is their good friend. They are indeed their friends, as they walk-in and out of cafe and talking and joking etc....
After that incident, every now and then, people come and eat and give us trouble and complaining. The west garden's lady boss happened to live in a nearby apartment/condominium. And have friends living nearby too.
Every night, the West garden's lady boss will entertain her friends in front of the her cafe and on purpose talk loudly with them criticise and gossip us. But we just keep cool.
6 months, later the West garden cafe closed down, due to money problems and unclear accounts as the others partners questioning about the financial status. This was told to us by the our ex waiter.
But we just carry on, as usual, slowly maintaining our customers and getting new ones from they recommendation.
Until today, we stl have our old customers coming back, especially those who do not live around this area.
After the west garden cafe closed down, people came about and tell us, that they heard a lot of rumours and gossip about our cafe. But did not want to disclose what it all about.
Slowly, people living in nearby apartment did not come to my cafe anymore.
About a month later, the west garden cafe lady boss, found a young couple to take over.
This couple initial were very friendly and soft spoken. The young lady's father so happen to be the appointed CEO of Multinational company. Very influential background and lots of cash for the young couple to spend.
While the young couple renovating the new cafe, they were nice people. They even came and dine in our cafe with the young lady's father or by themselves.
Just about a week before the young couples open their cafe, they came over to dine and we saw them copying everything in our menu by keying into their laptop.
After they opened, we found out that their menu is similar to ours.
A month after their official opening, things is not, like it was before.
We start hearing gossip and slandering and people talking right in front of our shop or in front next vacant shop, telling people our food is not good and etc... even theirs mothers and relative telling people not to eat at our place.
Until today, still the same. Even now, some of our long time customers, who came back from oversea told us that they heard a lot of bad rumours and gossips, and even rumour that we have closed down for good. Last night, our long time and regular customer who came back from UK, told us the same thing.
Everytime when we manage to get a good waiter/waitress working for us, they will pinch them over with promise of high pay. Then after a few days, the guy will walk over and pretend that he does not know that their new waiter/waitress was working for us. But all the waiter/waitress never last for month then 2 months.
But there is one thing that we notice, their die hard customers, once came over to our place and try our food, will be disappear - do not come over to this place anymore or even go to their place.
Everytime, when we got lot of people come in and dine in our cafe, the next there will be a couple come in and dine. While eating, they will create a scene and complaining non stop and make sure our waitress get scared. When I stand there and observed them, the lady will sit sideway and used one of her hand to sheild her face.
Another thing is, almost every morning, before we open our door, the front verandah will have things, like sand, dirts, cigarrette butts, even some of our potted plant being unrooted and etc..... What we do is keep quiet and wash the floor every morning before business commence.
We even saw, their kitchen staffs, hiding behind our shoplot, peeping at us. And whenever they and/or their staffs walk pass our shop front or back, they will give all type of bad remarks and do all type of gestures to make us feel down.
We been keeping on so low a profile and not even dare to talk to our neighbours. Recently, one of our new neighbour told us that the young couple and their family and friends are talking and doing a lot of bad things to us.
With all these going on...we have difficulty in having a positive cash flow until today.
Just because we work hard and trying hard to survive without much help from anyone, or anyone really want to help us, Does it mean the world is like this,....
The question is how long can we go on like this......
We currently urgently need a good cashflow of RM50,000.00 onwards (about USD16,000.00) to be able to maintain and pay off the long outstanding bills, as soon as possible before 10 November 2010.
We are willing to give a small affordable interest in return for the amount given.
We also willing to accept any real and serious investor or partners into our cafe business.
I sincerely hope someone or group of people will help me.
When I have successfully recovered, I will keep on continuing to help people within all my capability and affordability.
If you need more details, please let me know.
Waiting to be saved.
Tammy
