The United Kingdom has launched the BNO “5+1” immigration plan for two years, and more than 140,000 Hong Kong people have been granted visas. Among them are Vivien and her husband Pong, who immigrated to Manchester City at the end of October 2021. After settling in Manchester, the couple tried to find a job, but encountered repeated setbacks. The two finally chose to start a business, returning to their “old line” in Hong Kong: opening a takoyaki restaurant. However, the process of opening their shop was full of difficulties. In addition to passing the interview and assessment of the local council, it was only after opening that they discovered that locals do not eat seafood. Fortunately, after improving the recipe, the business was gradually on track within one year of opening. The highest turnover on the first day reached £0 for 50 days (about HK$4,727). (Written by: Wendy Global Real Estate)
Frustrated in job hunting, find another way out to bring Hong Kong flavor back to the UK
Vivien and Pong went to the UK in early October of the previous year. Her husband was frustrated in job hunting due to his poor English, and it was difficult to find a job under the influence of the new crown pneumonia epidemic. Vivien therefore thought of starting a local takoyaki restaurant. They used to run well-received takoyaki restaurants in Tuen Mun and Kowloon Bay, hoping to reproduce this taste in the UK.
Complicated procedures to explain impromptu cooking to the Council
However, the process of opening a restaurant in the UK is more complicated than that in Hong Kong, where you only need to find “top hands” and transfer brands. They found a shop in a large shopping mall in Manchester City and planned to “top it off”, but the prerequisite for opening a shop was to pass the review and approval of the Council. At the beginning, the Council rejected their application because there were enough Asian food in the venue, and they believed that takoyaki was not much different from fish balls and siu mai. However, Vivien failed repeatedly and sent photos of the Hong Kong store and her products to the Council, and finally got an interview opportunity. During the interview process, they even brought all the takoyaki-making tools to the spot, made and explained the cooking process of takoyaki to the Council on the spot, and finally successfully won the admission ticket to open the shop.
The couple went through many tests and it took 3 months to successfully open the store. After taking over the store, they stepped up their pace just to open it before the summer vacation, spending just two weeks painting the shop and adding a new stove. However, the local culture and living habits are quite different from those in Hong Kong, and the business volume fell short of expectations. In addition, the shop was hit by a heat wave in the UK at the beginning of its opening, and there was no air-conditioning in the mall. The sweltering weather resulted in unsatisfactory business volume. Since she didn’t have a deep understanding of the British food culture, and didn’t know that the British seldom eat seafood, Vivien said with a smile, if she chooses again, she will not be in a hurry to open a store, and will make a decision after observing the location and understanding the culture.
Catering to the taste of the British with a daily income of up to £500
After that, they continued to improve the taste of the food, adding chicken, fried rice, French fries and other ingredients that the British people like, and the business gradually got on track. As for the business turnover, they pointed out that the average day is more than 100 pounds, and they have tried a day with a turnover of more than 500 pounds, but they have also tried that the income is just enough to pay the rent. When it comes to rent, one week’s rent needs about 300 pounds, and Vivien admits that it is not cheap.
Most importantly, when comparing the lives of the two places, the couple pointed out that doing business in the UK is also a different kind of life. Although there are no holidays throughout the year and 7 days a week, there are more working days, but they are more free than Hong Kong. The reason is the working hours It was shortened, and I only worked from 11 am to 6 pm every day. She said that there is more “me time” in the UK, and you can cook breakfast at home, which was not allowed in the previous Hong Kong model, and it is another kind of life.
Originally published on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/Real Estate/Overseas Property Market Topics-Hong Kong couple immigrating to Britain to start a business-selling takoyaki/361825?utm_source=yahoorss&utm_medium=referral
