episode-2

The opening was great.
Next step is Hanoi No.1 – merchandise, service and 5S!

The cafe’s opening event on August 16th ended successfully.
We’ve got so many flowers that we didn’t know what to do with them. The flowers were from Japanese partners and Vietnamese supervising companies, acquaintances and friends.

The tradition to decorate flowers at opening is same in Japan and Vietnam.
Also we were given an embroidered huge picture from Mr. T’s company which is supervising us. «ARIGATOU» cafe is very small company but they treated us very nicely. We are very grateful for that.

The happiest thing for us was the coming to our coffee shop of neighbors and citizens.
We were asked before opening a lot: “When are you going to open?”. I was quite anxiety before the opening, but the customers came so much that it startled me.
As soon as we opened, a group of ladies came to the cafe and danced Vietnamese dance, sang songs and asked about pictures in there. Besides, after we gave a short description of one the pictures, one lady complimented one, telling us “It’s wonderful”.
I’m not sure if the interpreter translated it correctly but I think that lady who said “It’s wonderful” probably took care of us.
One of the managerial basis of «ARIGATOU» cafe is introducing Japanese culture.
So, first of all, we are very happy that they found it interesting.

Was there any rude customer service because the staff was unfamiliar? Did they give incorrect merchandise?
Did they keep clients waiting too long? Now, when I look back, there were so many worries. I would like to apologize here if we failed at doing something.
After opening, «ARIGATOU» cafe is working on three themes:

1.Service, Hanoi No.1
2.Merchandise, Hanoi No.1
3.5S, Hanoi No.1
(Arrange、Tidy、Refresh、Clean、Follow the rules you have decided)

When there are no visitors, we use a Vietnamese poster on «ARIGATOU» cafe’s web page and always try to practice and clean up.
The managing store is another important Japanese culture. It seems like, In Hanoi, Japanese products have a very good reputation.
«ARIGATOU» cafe promise to provide to customers with «Customer satisfaction». Can we inform it to the Vietnamese staff?
How much they will understand and perform?
I’m looking forward to three month, six month and one year later.

When it’s nine p.m. at night, I can only hear the sound of motorcycles.
I wake up at the midnight and open the window. I can see LED billboards far away.
As I silently watch the light boards continue to glow, I don't know why but maybe I have fallen in love with it.