A casual chatting triggered four young men to step out and start their own business.
Terry Wong, Keanu Ng, Kat Lau and Anstun Mak are all students of the University of Macau. Though still studying, they have found their way of earning money by setting up a car accessories shop.
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| The front of In's Car |
"One day, when we were doing nothing, we talked about opening shops. Maybe it was sort of a boy's play or an instant decision, but...we just did it," Wong said. Each of them took out $15,000 as initial investment and with the sum of $60,000, they began to carry out the plan.
Their shop was opened last August after they had spent around one month on preparation. Lau said that during that period, they ran everywhere to look for a good business location and suitable products. Sometimes, they had to go to China and Hong Kong, searching for wholesalers who could supply appealing and special products with competitive prices. Among many types of business, they decided to deal with car accessories because they all had their own cars, he added.
Their shop, In's Car, opens from 4 p.m. to midnight everyday and they four take turns to look after it. "Actually, it does not take too much time to spend in the shop and I don't think it affects my study," Mak said, "but it's true that your mind may be easily preoccupied with the shop's ups and downs if it's your own."
Lau said, "After deducting the rent, overhead costs and goods supply, we are now earning several thousands each month." Nonetheless, Wong pointed out that it was just a small profit which, shared by four, became even a smaller amount. Thus, they all had their own part-time jobs like private tutoring besides the shop.
Profit seeking was not their main reason to start the business. What they expected to gain from this venture was the experience which could enrich and equip them before leaping to a more professional career. Ng commented, "Though we are not making a big profit, we are gaining business experience and learning to take on challenges."
As their shop is doing better and better, they have
set themselves a new goal--they will open a second shop within one year,
Wong added confidently.
