A Difficult Time For Businesses | 現時做生意非常困難

Hi Everyone,

Businesses are finding it hard to sustain their usual expenses during COVID19. I rarely go out during the lockdown and this week I have gone out more than I have over the last few months. Everywhere I go, I see businesses still closed at various shopping centers and food courts especially seem to have taken the hit the most. Food vendors run on low margins and require high quality. To survive, they need to either take a loss each week and reduce the staff level. Let me show you how “sad” a typical food court looks during this time.

因為疫情的關係好多細商戶都用盡辦法渡過這個難關. 這個星期外出比較多所以留意到多一些周圍的情況. 現在還有一些商店仍然在關門但明顯看見最受影響就是飲食業.飲食業利潤已經非常低，疫情期間人流少了很多生意一定受影響. 要生存就要減少人手或蝕錢來維持這盤生意. 今個星期在其中一個 food court 看見的情景讓我覺得非常之難過.

This food court is located in a smaller center in Chatswood. Normally it's packed with people to a point you cannot find a seat anywhere which is why I don’t like coming here. The food prices are at least 10% cheaper than mainstream food courts which is why people like coming here to get a quick meal. Why I came to this food court is I was at Daiso getting some home stuff so it was more convenient for me. As per government advice, food courts are still closed. All seats and tables cornered off.

因為要在 Daiso 日本店買一些家居用品所以到一個比較細的food court買點東西回家吃.這個food court平常非常受歡迎因為價錢比大型food court平起碼 10% 所以附近的人都喜歡在這裡買東西吃.因為政府仍然不讓在 food court 內吃東西所以可以看見枱和凳子都放在一邊,這樣人流就會自然少.

Did I mention that this food court is usually cheaper priced than other ones in big centers like Westfields? Check out the meals. They are giving you an extra discount for buying a meal! Margins are low, they are discounting more! A bowl of full-size ramen with 10 gyoza for $16! Normally you would expect to pay $20. This meal could feed me and the two kids. The shop owners are doing all they can to keep themselves afloat. Check the shop next door. They only take made to order meals. If you are out and about, please consider supporting these small businesses. We need to them be around when everything is back to normal.

之前都有提過這裡的食物比較便宜但看見以下我們買日本餐的地方給客人更多優惠. 一碗拉麵加10隻餃子只要$16，平時這個套餐要$20. 一個套餐足以夠我和兩個小朋友吃，你可以想像他們的利潤已經減得越來越少.又看看他們隔離另外一間外面店，是空空的.現時做生意非常吃力所以有機會都盡量支持這些小商戶希望疫情過後他們仍然會可以為大家做好東西吃.

we bought two meals so we had 20 gyoza!

animation by @catwomanteresa

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