First bucket of gold in their golden youth
By Cristy, Luisa Iong

"My daughter is in charge of everything. She is so Brilliant!" Lam's mother, Jessica Chan, said proudly.	Yolanda Ung has tried her best to get the sole dealership right of Bros. in Macao

Nowadays young people, including some university students, tend to start their own business in their golden youth rather than serving employers. 

To open a shop in a shopping mall is not so complicated as before. According to Candy Law, a student of the University of Macao and an owner of an accessories shop, you only have to find a desired location, prepare a minimum of about $50,000-$60,000 as your initial investment, contact the landlord and discuss the rent. Usually the rent is determined by the location and the customer flow. She also said that it is possible to purchase or import goods from other foreign countries, or from Hong Kong and Mainland China. 

"I don't expect to find a job which can bring in better income than opening my own shop in this depressing atmosphere," said Law.

It is not a new topic for the global depression around the world and people have got used to the dismal conditions. Job vacancies are diminishing and, according to the annual statistics of the government published on its official web page, the unemployment rate stayed around six per cent for the last two years. This translates into 14,000 people who have found no jobs. The situation is even deteriorating after the terrorist attack of September 11 in the United States. Salaries have been lowered as well. According to the statistics, the average monthly income for a clerk is about MOP$6,000, and for a service and sales worker is just around MOP$4,500.

In fact, earning money is not the only reason for industrious young people to open their shops. Cathy Lam, a 21-year-old girl, said that it was the sense of success that attracted her into the business. With financial assistance from her husband, she has set up her boutique in a shopping mall located at one of the busiest streets in Macao.

"My husband is a chemist but he is rather stubborn. He wants a traditional wife rather than a strong businesswoman. However, I don't want to be a useless lazy worm. To prove that I am still smart after my marriage, I have opened this shop and employed a salesgirl for the night shift. This way I can prepare dinner and stay with my honey in the evening," said Lam proudly. 

Actually, starting one's own business is not so easy as they said because Macao residents do not favour local merchants. People would rather consume in the Mainland. 

"It is one of the reasons for Macao's long-lasting depression," claimed Yolanda Ung, a student from the Macao University of Science and Technology and an owner of a boutique with the exclusive right to sell in Macao the Bros products, a famous Japanese fashion brand.

Her shop is located in the Sun Star Shopping Mall in the so-called White Horse Alley. The rent costs her over HK$7,000 each month. She found a harsh time when she was selling European products. So she has succeeded in securing a sole dealership with Bros. Now she hopes her business would pick up with this new advantage.

Consumers usually expect "low price, good quality and uniqueness," explained Ung, "However, it is impossible to meet these requirements simultaneously."