Episode 29. Special Advice (1)
Executive Director Yoo In-seok, who had come to the office, happened to run into Director Shin Young-jun, who was just leaving a team leader-level meeting, in the office hallway.
“Good morning, Executive Director-nim.”
Director Shin Young-jun respectfully greeted Executive Director Yoo In-seok.
There was a particular reason why Director Shin was so respectful towards him. It was because Executive Director Yoo In-seok was the one who brought him to Amare.
Two men who were university seniors/juniors and also worked together in the same industry. Thanks to Executive Director Yoo In-seok introducing a good position to Director Shin Young-jun, who wasn’t satisfied with his current company at the time, his gratitude towards him doubled.
Executive Director Yoo In-seok scanned the HR team employees standing with Director Shin, including Director Shin himself.
“Where’s the CEO-nim? I heard it was a team leader-level meeting, so I thought the CEO-nim would be here too.”
“Well…”
Director Shin trailed off.
As soon as he saw that, Executive Director Yoo In-seok slightly raised his hand, signaling that there was no need to speak.
“He went to the store again, didn’t he?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
Executive Director Yoo In-seok gently pressed his temples for a moment.
He generally wished that Kang Dae-oh, as a CEO, would stay in the office and keep his seat. However, Kang Dae-oh loved interacting directly with customers at the store and making drinks and desserts himself.
Well, he wouldn’t have started a cafe if he didn’t love this work, would he?
Executive Director Yoo In-seok let out a hearty laugh and said.
“Usually, they say the problem is that CEOs don’t know enough about practical work. But our CEO-nim knows too much about practical work, which is the trouble.”
“You’re right. Still, I think people with a disposition like CEO Kang Dae-oh-nim are better.”
Director Shin Young-jun was quite satisfied with the fact that he was serving Kang Dae-oh.
At these words, Executive Director Yoo In-seok shrugged lightly and replied.
“Me too.”
The two men smiled, looking at each other.
If Kang Dae-oh had heard these words, he would have been very happy. It was simply a pity that he wasn’t there.
“Achoo!”
Seeing Kang Dae-oh suddenly sneeze, Choi Se-in shook her head.
“CEO-nim. Did you catch a cold?”
“No. I don’t think so…”
There was no reason for him to catch a cold either.
Kang Dae-oh, who was working with the staff at Store No. 2, which Choi Se-in was in charge of, blew his nose with a tissue and said.
“Looks like someone’s talking behind my back.”
“Isn’t it Executive Director Yoo In-seok-nim? He might be angry, saying, ‘Where did CEO-nim go again—!’”
At Choi Se-in’s words, Kang Dae-oh made a grimace.
“When I go back to the office later, I should buy something delicious to take with me. Bread would be good, right?”
“Yes. Executive Director-nim loves bread a lot.”
Perhaps because he came from Etoile, Executive Director Yoo In-seok was quite fond of bread. To the point where he would always say breakfast was bread.
Choi Se-in chuckled at Kang Dae-oh’s predicament.
“CEO-nim. You have many people to be mindful of.”
“Well, what can I do?”
Because that is the fate a company’s CEO must bear.
Kang Dae-oh decided to accept it.
Just as he was wondering what kind of bread to buy.
A familiar customer came to Amare Store No. 2, where Kang Dae-oh was.
“Oh, you really were here. I looked for a long time, CEO Kang.”
A wide smile spread across Kang Dae-oh’s face as he encountered the laundry owner at the store after a long time.
“CEO-nim! It’s been a very long time!”
“What are you talking about? I’ve come to Amare almost every day. It’s just that CEO Kang has been busy and rarely at the store, so we rarely ran into each other.”
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
As Kang Dae-oh scratched his head and apologized, the laundry owner burst into laughter.
“Why apologize for something like that? You haven’t done anything to be particularly sorry for.”
Because it meant that Kang Dae-oh and Amare were gradually growing. The laundry owner felt even happier seeing Kang Dae-oh, who had become noticeably busier lately.
Kang Dae-oh asked the laundry owner about coming all the way to Store No. 2.
“Did you come to see me?”
“That’s right. You know me well.”
Originally, the laundry owner usually frequented the main branch, not Store No. 2. Even considering the distance from the laundry he operates, the main branch is closer than Store No. 2. Nevertheless, the fact that he deliberately came to Store No. 2 where Kang Dae-oh was, meant that the purpose of his visit was not for drinks as usual, but for Kang Dae-oh himself.
Kang Dae-oh immediately caught on to this fact. Thanks to this, the laundry owner didn’t have to explain the whole situation in detail.
“I have a favor to ask of CEO Kang.”
“What kind of favor is it?”
“A friend of mine is thinking of starting a small cafe this time. But since it’s their first time with a cafe, they said they don’t have a clue what to do… so they asked me to introduce them to someone who could give advice. The moment I heard that, CEO Kang was the first person who came to mind. So I came to ask for a favor.”
It could be said that starting a cafe was Kang Dae-oh’s specialty.
If you were to ask what the most competitive sector in the food service industry in South Korea is, most people would mention cafes. The number of coffee shops in Korea exceeded 100,000 as of 2022. With so many competitors, it was also a place where one wouldn’t easily dare to challenge.
But he couldn’t just say ‘Don’t do it.’ Kang Dae-oh wasn’t living the life of the laundry owner’s friend for them. And since he wasn’t going to take responsibility, it was awkward to interfere too deeply by telling them what to do. And perhaps, even if they failed, trying it themselves could be more helpful. Because then, at least, they wouldn’t have regrets about not having tried.
“Understood. What’s the store’s location?”
“It’s not around here. CEO Kang has a tight grip on this area.”
An awkward smile spread across Kang Dae-oh’s lips. Around the area where Amare’s main branch and Store No. 2 were located, even large corporate franchises dared not open stores. As the laundry owner said, it was because Amare had a tight grip on the area.
“When you have time later, let’s drive there together.”
“Understood. Just a moment. I… I think today will be difficult. I don’t have any schedule this Thursday, though? Let’s go together then.”
“Alright. Thank you, CEO Kang. You must be very busy. I wonder if I’ve asked for an unnecessary favor…”
“No, not at all. CEO-nim helped me a lot before. This time, it’s my turn to help you.”
Kang Dae-oh didn’t want to live a life of only receiving. He wanted to be someone who knew how to repay as much as he received. Helping the laundry owner’s friend was also part of Kang Dae-oh’s wish.
Thursday morning.
Kang Dae-oh, who arrived at the cafe store that the laundry owner’s friend was preparing to open, stopped in his tracks for a moment. As soon as Kang Dae-oh took his first step inside the store and went into ‘pause mode’, the laundry owner and his friend simultaneously tilted their heads.
“What’s wrong, CEO Kang?”
“Do you see anything that might be a problem?”
Kang Dae-oh, who had come back to his senses, shook his head and said.
“No. Could I perhaps taste the drinks first? Since it’s the food service industry, taste is bound to be the most important thing.”
The laundry owner’s friend nodded vigorously and guided the two men to a seat.
“Yes, of course. What would you like us to prepare?”
“I’d appreciate it if you could bring out an Americano and a Cafe Latte, and all the representative dishes that CEO-nim would like to promote as this cafe’s signature.”
Americano and Cafe Latte are the most frequently ordered drinks. That’s why these two were explicitly pointed out and mentioned. The signature menu was also the same.
However, the laundry owner’s friend looked troubled and implicitly asked Kang Dae-oh for understanding.
“We don’t really have a menu that could be considered a signature…”
“Ah… I see. In that case… please bring one Vanilla Latte, one Ade, and one from the tea selection.”
“Yes, understood.”
As soon as he left, Kang Dae-oh took out a notebook and quickly began jotting something down.
A short while later.
After tasting all the drinks, Kang Dae-oh summarized his impressions so far and began giving detailed feedback.
“I think it would be better to make the store interior tidier. ‘Tidier’ doesn’t mean ‘cleaner’. It means clearing out miscellaneous items. It seems better to re-establish the concept with a design that looks simple and neat. Especially if the space is a relatively small store like this one, you’ll need to change it even more.”
This was why Kang Dae-oh had paused for a moment as soon as he entered the entrance.
There was another problem.
“The taste of the drinks was decent, but it’s good to create a signature menu. In the past, businesses might have done well even without one, but these days, with the explosive increase in the number of cafes, it’s essential to have competitiveness. One of the elements to secure this competitiveness is the existence of a signature menu.”
Famous coffee brands are also staking their lives on developing and selling their own signature menus. To avoid being pushed aside by these large corporations, they must put in more effort than what those corporations do.
The laundry owner’s friend, who quickly jotted down Kang Dae-oh’s words, nodded repeatedly.
“It definitely feels very different when an expert comes and takes a look. Thank you. I will certainly implement what you’ve advised!”
He had worried that they might show resentment towards Kang Dae-oh’s words. But seeing their proactive attitude to accept it, Kang Dae-oh was even more grateful.
“If there’s anything you need, please tell me anytime.”
“Yes, thank you very much!”
He held Kang Dae-oh’s hand and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
Kang Dae-oh, who came out of the store alongside the laundry owner, looked at the spot where the sign had not yet been installed and said.
“I hope it goes well.”
The laundry owner, who heard his muttered words, made a confident expression.
“Since CEO Kang taught them everything from A to Z. If they just follow that, it’s bound to go well.”
It would be great if it really turned out that way.
Today, Kang Dae-oh decided to quietly stay in the office instead of escaping to the store. It was because he realized that if he went to the store again like last time, approval documents would pile up.
‘I need to finish all of this today.’
He couldn’t keep neglecting it. Otherwise, it would return as an uncontrollable wave for Kang Dae-oh alone later.
After clearing his mind of distracting thoughts. Just as he was about to seriously start work.
Ring-ring!
Kang Dae-oh’s smartphone rang. A call came from the laundry owner.
“Yes, CEO-nim. What brings you to call me at this hour…? Yes?”
Kang Dae-oh blinked several times.
“You’re saying many customers flocked to their store?”
“That’s right! It’s all thanks to CEO Kang. Thank you.”
“That’s a relief. Really.”
The good news that the advice he had given a few days ago had finally borne fruit made him feel good from the morning.
