Siheyuan: Starting as a Chef Apprentice

The waiter smiled and replied: "Thank you for your compliment! We have always been honest and trustworthy and hope to bring the best experience to every customer."

In this fierce business competition, Wang Jianye relied on decisive decision-making, firm integrity principles and clever coping strategies to not only successfully repel the malicious competition from his peers, but also make the reputation of Wang's branches even more famous.

On a quiet night, Wang Jianye stood at the door of the store, looking at the brightly lit streets and the lively scene inside the store, feeling filled with emotion.

He knows very well that business competition is full of challenges and traps, but as long as he insists on operating with integrity and is guided by customer needs, he will be able to stand out in difficult situations.

"There will be more difficulties in the future, but I believe that as long as we stick to our original aspirations, nothing can defeat us."

Wang Jianye looked up at the starry sky with a firm gaze, as if he saw a brighter future for the Wang branch.

As the reputation of Wang's branch grows, not only local diners but also many outsiders come here to eat.

The size of the store gradually became a bit cramped and could not meet the growing customer flow.

Wang Jianye fell into deep thought and decided to look for a bigger store to expand his business.

In the process of looking for a store, Wang Jianye encountered various problems.

Although some locations have large traffic flow, the rent is high and the cost pressure is huge; the layout of some stores is not ideal and requires large-scale renovation.

"This store is in a good location, but the rent is too expensive. I'm afraid our current profits can't support it."

Wang Jianye's assistant Xiao Li looked at a store and said with a frown.

Wang Jianye looked at the store carefully, thought for a moment and said: "Rent is indeed a problem, but there are many potential customers in this area. If it is managed properly, it should be able to recover the cost and make a profit.

Let’s calculate the costs carefully to see if there is room for optimization.”

After some calculations and evaluations, Wang Jianye finally selected a store.

This is a three-story building located in a bustling commercial area. The store is spacious and bright, and the surrounding transportation is convenient.

However, greater challenges lie ahead.

The decoration of a new store takes a lot of time and money.

Wang Jianye had to ensure the quality of the decoration, control costs, and ensure that the normal operation of the old store was not affected.

During the renovation period, Wang Jianye would visit the new store every day to check on the progress.

Wearing a hard hat, he moved among a pile of building materials and construction workers, carefully checking every detail of the decoration.

"Master, the shape of this suspended ceiling must be done well to reflect the unique style of our store.

And when laying these wires, you must pay attention to safety and not be careless.”

Wang Jianye gave instructions to the construction masters.

The construction masters nodded one after another: "Don't worry, Boss Wang, we will definitely do it according to your requirements."

While the renovation was going on, Wang Jianye also started preparing for the recruitment and training of staff for the new store.

He hopes that new employees can become familiar with the store's business philosophy and service standards as soon as possible and form a good team with the employees of the old store.

“The new employees recruited this time must be friendly and have a strong sense of service.

We need to provide systematic training to new employees to let them understand that the integrity of our store is the most important thing.”

Wang Jianye emphasized this at the management meeting.

As the opening of the new store draws closer, Wang Jianye is under increasing pressure.

He not only has to worry about the progress of decoration and staff training, but also has to consider many matters such as opening promotion.

"Boss Wang, we have already prepared the opening promotion plan. What do you think of it?" Planner Xiao Zhang handed a thick plan to Wang Jianye.

Wang Jianye carefully reviewed the plan and proposed some revisions: "The focus of this promotion is not prominent enough. We should focus on promoting the two characteristics of fresh ingredients and honest management.

In addition, the channels for publicity can be further expanded. In addition to traditional media and online platforms, we can also consider cooperating with some surrounding businesses for joint promotion.”

Finally, after months of hard work, the new store opened successfully.

On the opening day, the store entrance was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns, and the sound of gongs and drums was deafening.

The huge arch, colorful balloons and lively lion dance performances attracted the attention of many passers-by.

The store was packed and customers were full of praise for the new store's environment.

"Wow, this new store is so spacious and beautiful! And it still has the same fresh ingredients and the same great taste."

An old customer said with satisfaction.

"Yes, Boss Wang is really bold and has expanded the store.

We will have a new place to eat in the future!" a customer nearby echoed.

At the busy opening ceremony, Wang Jianye looked at the lively scene with a gratified smile on his face.

He knew that this was just a new starting point.

There will be more challenges and opportunities waiting for him on the future business road, but he has made full preparations and will continue to adhere to the concept of honest business and write a glorious chapter for the Wang branch.

With the successful opening of the new store, the brand influence of Wang’s branch has been further expanded.

However, as the tree grows taller, it attracts the wind, and new problems arise one after another.

Driven by commercial interests, some unscrupulous businesses began to impersonate the names of Wang's branches and open imitation stores in other places, trying to deceive consumers.

The quality of ingredients in these imitation stores is uneven, and the service is completely unstandardized, which has had a huge negative impact on the reputation of Wang's branches.

When Wang Jianye learned about this, he was furious: "These people actually dared to use our signboard and damage our reputation. We must take measures to stop them!" He first contacted the industrial and commercial department, explained the situation in detail, and provided relevant evidence.

“Comrade from the Industrial and Commercial Department, our Wang’s branch has always been operating with integrity, but now these fake stores have seriously affected our reputation and the trust of our customers.

I hope you can help investigate and punish these illegal businesses.”

Wang Jianye said anxiously to the staff of the industrial and commercial department.

The staff member consoled him: "Boss Wang, don't worry, we will immediately investigate and deal with these violations according to the law."

At the same time, Wang Jianye issued a statement through the store's social media account, in-store posters and other channels, reminding customers to be careful to identify authentic Wang's branches and avoid going to fake stores. "Dear customers, some stores that pretend to be Wang's branches have appeared recently. Please look for our official address and logo and don't be misled.

We only have branches in Lianyungang Xinpu Street and [new store address], all others are fake.”

After the statement was posted online, it attracted widespread attention from customers.

One customer left a message online: "Boss Wang, you must punish these counterfeiters severely. We trust you and don't want to be deceived by those fake stores."

Wang Jianye replied: "Thank you for your concern and support. We will definitely maintain the brand reputation and provide everyone with a safe consumption environment."

After in-depth investigation and severe crackdown by the industrial and commercial departments, many counterfeit stores were banned according to law, and the reputation of Wang's branch gradually recovered.

During this process, Wang Jianye also realized the importance of brand protection.

He began to apply for trademark registration to establish a more complete legal protection barrier for Wang's branches.

“After the trademark is registered, we can better protect our brand and prevent others from misusing it.

This is a necessary measure for our long-term development.”

Wang Jianye said to the team members.

While working hard to solve external problems, Wang Jianye did not neglect the management and quality improvement of the store.

He continues to strengthen his control over the food supply chain and personally establishes long-term cooperative relationships with more high-quality suppliers to ensure that both new and old stores can use the freshest and highest quality ingredients.

"The quality of our suppliers is directly related to the quality of our dishes. We have to screen them strictly and cannot be careless at all."

Wang Jianye emphasized this at the purchasing department meeting.

In terms of service, he regularly organizes employee training and invites professional lecturers to impart the latest service skills and concepts, striving to provide customers with more considerate and thoughtful services.

“Customers are our bread and butter, and we want every customer to feel the warmth of home.

During the service process, everyone should pay attention to details and care about the needs of customers. "

Wang Jianye said at the employee training conference.

With the implementation of a series of measures, Wang's branch regained the trust and love of customers.

Not only are there more and more local repeat customers, but tourists from other places are also coming here, and there are often long queues in front of the store.

On a busy weekend, a tourist from BJ walked into the store and said excitedly, "I have been researching online for a long time, and everyone says your restaurant is a must-eat restaurant in Lianyungang.

I finally got to try it today!" The waiter greeted enthusiastically, "Welcome to come from afar! We guarantee that you will be satisfied with the meal."

After tasting the dishes, the tourist was full of praise: "It's really delicious! The ingredients are fresh, the taste is authentic, and the service is great.

I will definitely recommend it to my friends when I return.”

Wang Jianye was delighted when he heard the tourists' praise: "This is what we want. As long as we keep improving our quality and service, we will win the recognition of our customers."

……

In the mid-1990s, Nantong South Street still exuded a unique charm that blended simplicity with prosperity.

The shops on the street are lined up one after another. The wooden doors and windows are mottled with time. The signs sway slightly in the breeze, making crisp sounds.

The streets and alleys are filled with a variety of aromas, including the sweet fragrance from cake shops and the tempting smell of fireworks from snack stalls.

It was on this busy street that Wang Jianye opened a branch full of Xuzhou flavor with full enthusiasm and expectation.

On the opening day, the sun shone generously on the store door, the brand-new sign was shining brightly, firecrackers were crackling, and scraps of paper were scattered on the ground like red silk.

Wang Jianye stood at the door of the store with a confident smile on his face. He was wearing a neat Zhongshan suit and kept waving to passers-by, inviting them to come into the store to taste the delicacies from Xuzhou.

The decoration inside the store is simple yet distinctive. There are several landscape paintings of Xuzhou hanging on the walls. The tables and chairs are neatly arranged. The waiters are energetic and ready to greet customers at any time.

However, reality was like a bucket of cold water, ruthlessly extinguishing Wang Jianye's enthusiasm.

The copied Xuzhou specialties have encountered unprecedented cold reception here.

People in Nantong prefer sweet and fresh food and like the lightness and freshness of the ingredients themselves. They find it difficult to accept the strong salt and sauce flavor of Xuzhou cuisine.

On the first day after opening, the store was deserted. The waiters stood in the empty store with lost and confused looks in their eyes. Occasionally, a few people came into the store, looked at the menu, frowned, and turned away.

The situation did not improve during the first week of opening, with the average daily customer flow being less than 20 people.

The store seemed particularly deserted, the tables and chairs were empty, and the lights seemed a little dim.

Wang Jianye was extremely anxious. He paced back and forth in the store with a frown on his face, his heart filled with anxiety and confusion: "Why is it that Xuzhou cuisine, which is equally popular, has no one interested in it in Nantong?" However, the scene in front of the old brand "Siyi Cake Shop" next door was quite different.

This store has been around for many years and has an excellent reputation. There is always a long queue in front of the door.

The sweet aroma wafting from the store and the laughter of people formed a sharp contrast with Wang Jianye’s deserted restaurant.

The guys at "Siyi Cake Shop" would occasionally look towards Wang Jianye's Xuzhou Restaurant and couldn't help but smile with disdain.

One of the tall and thin guys, wearing a clean apron, leaned against the door, raised his chin to his colleague and said loudly: "That store from the north is always empty every day, and they sell those things with heavy salt and sauce, which is no match for our clam cakes!" The colleague next to him couldn't help laughing when he heard it: "That's right, we Nantong people like this fresh and sweet taste. Who would like those salty and bitter dishes!" Wang Jianye who was passing by happened to hear this. His face turned red instantly, and he felt angry and unwilling in his heart: "Is there really no way out for my Xuzhou cuisine here?" In order to find the root of the problem, Wang Jianye decided to take his team of chefs to the streets and alleys of Nantong to understand the local eating customs.

In the early morning of Nantong, the sunlight is soft and warm, shining on the bluestone road, giving off a faint luster.

Wang Jianye and the chefs walked on the street, looking at the breakfast stalls lined with people, holding steaming noodles in their hands with satisfied smiles on their faces.

"Look, people in Nantong like to eat noodles for breakfast so much. Can we start from this aspect?" Wang Jianye said excitedly to the chefs, pointing to the busy breakfast stalls.

The chefs nodded, hope glittering in their eyes.

They went into one breakfast shop after another, ordered local specialty noodles, savored them carefully, and chatted with the owners from time to time.

"Boss, your noodles taste really good. Can you tell us the tips for making them?" Wang Jianye asked a breakfast shop owner with a smile.

The boss replied enthusiastically: "Our noodles are very fresh. The soup is made with bones and fresh fish, and topped with shrimp roe. It tastes so delicious.

You also have to choose the noodles carefully so that they are chewy when cooked.

You are from other places, right? Why are you interested in this?" Wang Jianye hurriedly explained: "We opened a restaurant here and want to understand the local taste and integrate into it." (End of this chapter)