There was a crowd of people swarming in front of my coffee shop.
It reminded me of the people waiting from dawn to get an item from a famous brand when there were on sales or when a limited-edition item was released.
The crowd around the store increased gradually because many pedestrians passed by wondering what all the commotion was about, so they would stop to see for themselves.
'This is going better than I expected. '
I used the viral marketing strategy from modern days to arouse peoples curiosity.
'The banners worked much better than I imagined.'
These past few days, I heard many students at the academy talking about the banner with the mysterious puzzle with the missing letters.
They wondered why the phrases were left unfinished. And concluded that it looked like a menu introduction, but their interest was picked even more when the donated item appeared.
Since the people in this world do not have a fast way to update their
information or to market their products or business in unike ways, this new method intrigued them.
The chatting of the young ladies nearby reached my ears.
"This shop is opening today, right?"
"Yes, I was so curious that I couldn't wait anymore and came here."
It wasn't just the young ladies that were impatient but quite a few gentlemen as well.
"Is it a dessert shop?"
"That is what I heard. But I don't know why a dessert shop would have such a grandiose seal."
One gentleman pointed his finger at my donation.
"I'm here because my boss keeps nagging me since the day before yesterday to find out what that object is.
I mean, it's just too much of a commotion just for a desert shop."
"Don't complain so much. At least you will have a good subject to discuss with him since he seems to have an interest in social trends."
"You have a point there."
'I was right. It is important to become a hot subject in the social world.'
When the influential nobles start to gossip, it spreads like wildfire, and it becomes many peoples interest.
I looked up at the large object hidden under the fabric while I admired the power of gossip.
This large object was donated from our corporation to the Horun District Administrative Office to receive certain permissions and advantages.
When there were only ten minutes left before the opening, the staff came out and began to untie the string that was tied around the object.
"Ohhhh!"
"It is really magnificent."
"Oaaa, beautiful!"
When the fabric fell down and the object was revealed, the crowd burst into exclamation.
'I am glad that they like it because that thing made me lose a lot of money.'
The Horun District Administration Office welcomed the high-quality item that I donated, and so I was able to get a business tax reduction for one year.
A clock tower, the high-quality item that I donated to this square.
The clock tower is about seven meters high, adorned with many high-grade mana stones, and because it was made by the best clock technicians in the Empire, there is almost no error in showing the right time.
But the most important thing is that when you look up to see at the time, you can see the logo I designed with the name Armand, the name of my cafe shop.
Armand was intentionally written with small elegant letters, like on a luxury watch. I thought that like that it won't be too obvious, so the nobles won't object to it, saying that it was too croude.
In this way, the clock tower serves both as a landmark and as indirect publicity.
'I hope that my first shop will have great success.'
I held my hands tightly clasped together, eagerly anticipating the opening of my caffe shop
Bing, bang, bing, bang!!!
The clock tower bell rang loudly and clearly in the square to announce that it was ten o'clock.
'Ooo, I didn't know that the clock had a function to ring every time the hour changed. What a great function!
Since it was the Blancia Master that entrusted the best watchmakers in the Empire to make it, he must have added these additional functions.
So if people look at the clock when they hear the sound, they also see the name of the shop.
Good job Master!'ð
When the bell stopped ringing, the purple banner covering the front of the shop fell down, like when someone reveales a work of art.
For some reason it felt like a dramatic scene, which made me feel moved even though it was my shop.
"Ohh!! What a nice surprise."
"Hmm, it is quite good."
The shop windows had signs with the logo on it. The exterior was designed to give a cool and refreshing feeling by removing all the complicated designs.
I notices that the terrace seats are very popular at the dessert shops here, so I decided that it would be a good investment to install such a large window, so that the people inside would have the feeling of being outside, and the lighting will be better too, more brighter.
I was deeply moved by the good reactions my first shop had, so I stood in front of the coffee shop, on which I worked hard to achieve, feeling proud.
'My money was well spent.
This coffee shop is the work that contains the tears and hopes of a poor architectural engineer who possessed the villain of this world right before her graduation examines.
This is my real pink diamond, and no one will ever know what an unbelievable and fantastic story this three-story building represents.
But I must say that the Blancia Master did a fantastic job. He managed to remodel it according to my sketch.'
While I was immersed in my thoughts, the people around gathered together but hesitated to go inside.
"Can we go inside?"
"Well, ut opened at 10 o'clock, so I think we can go inside. "
"Then let's go in!"
I pulled my large hood lower to cover my face better and opened the door to encourage the crowd.
'Behind me, bundles of money, no, no, customers are swarming in.'
So my first day of earning an income began.
.............
Isidor sat on the roof of a building he owned near the caffe shop and looked down at the building in which the business had just started.
He was very busy the past few months managing and preparing everything that was necessary for Armand to have a successful opening.
'And it went well, with a very successful first day.'
Armand was crowded right from the opening day, so Isidore felt relieved even though he expected that the shop would be successful.
He who always conducted his business without a worry like he was playing an easy chess game, felt restless when he thought about the success of this shop.
He strangely couldn't sleep at all last night.
'Well... maybe it wasn't because of the shop as much as it was about my business partner.
Usually, nobles with businesses leave their management to skilled merchants and don't pay attention to them properly.
But Princess Deborah was very active regarding everything.
From the seal to the menu, the interior and exterior design of the store, everything has Princess Deborah's touch.
The methods she used were interesting. She knew how to get people's attention even though she
never owned a business. She is truly...'
Maybe it was because they worked together through the whole process, but Isidor didn't want to see Deborah discouraged because she was very interested in everything that involved the success of the shop.
'Well, the success was guaranteed...'
However, Isidor couldn't guarantee that everything was going to 100 % perfect, so he paid a little more attention to this business so that the results would be satisfactory.
Isidor spent a long time on the roof, watching the people gathered in front of the clock tower.
.......
"Finally, I could come to this shop. But I can't believe we had to wait two hours to get in."
"Who knew that it would be so crowded. I was so surprised."
A group of young noble ladies who entered the coffee shop chatted with excitement and took a seat a well-lit table.
"This shop is so pretty."
"Yes, I was just about to say that, too. The atmosphere is really nice."
"Oh?!"
One of the young ladies exclaimed with curiosity as she looked at the menu.
"What is a set menu?"
"We are selling black tea and scones together as a set, Miss. And there are other sets too, so please take your time to look at them."
The shop manager, who was nearby and heard her, kindly explained.
"Ooo, so that is the reason why there was a phrase on the banner saying 'deep black tea and ââ'.
It was meant for us to imagine what desserts could be paired with the black tea."
~ A SET * Deep Black Tea and Scones*~
"Then what about the flower tea?"
"Flower tea is sold as a set with a whipped cream cake."
~ B SET * Fragrant Flower Tea and Cream Cake*~
"So those blank spaces were meant for cream cake."
"Yes, and the milk tea is paired with macarons."
~ C SET * Soft Milk Tea and Macarons*~
The new, unfamiliar concept of a 'set menu' was pleasantly accepted by the young ladies because of the word puzzle on the banner.
"Black tea does go well with the scones, and the sweet macarons are perfect match for the milk tea which has a slightly bitter taste."
"I am even more excited to see the flower tea and cake combination. It is the first time I have heard of it."
So the young noble ladies excitedly ordered every set.
'If we order this way, as a set, its cheaper than ordering them separately.'
Even though the young ladys were rich, they still felt happy on the inside because it was as if they had received a financial benefit, but they tried to not let it show in order to keep their dignity.
"I will have Set A."
"Right away, Sir."
The busy mages or gentlemen who were not interested in desserts preferred the sets because they could easily order without having to say the sweet and creative names of teas and desserts.
And it was also convenient that there were only three sets, because they didn't have to think too much about what to eat besides the tea.
'It's cheaper than ordering each of them separately, and since I was slightly hungry, it's easier to decide.'
"Black tea and scones, please."
It was a simple but good combination. Everyone liked it.
"Something savoury and delicious. Should I try the C Set next?"
The mage paused for a moment.
"No, the cream cake, the young ladies over there are eating looks more delicious. I will order the B Set."
The young noblemen had a good time in the cafe.
The customers that stopped at Armand said that the puzzles that were on the banner were, in fact, a set menu and spread the news between them, which was very helpful for Armand.
"They have such an original menu, and what's even better is that it's cheaper to buy as a set than separately. How does it taste?"
"It is delicious. They used fresh and fragrant tea leaves, and the bread is well baked."
"The atmosphere in here is pleasant, and the lighting is really good. It gives of the feeling that it's open as if we are on a terrace, it is really nice."
On the other hand, the unique menu was not even slightly in the mind of the Academy Architecture professors who stopped by Armand to study its unique and beautiful design.
"Who could be the architect?"
"The closer I look at it, the more unique and beautiful this building is."
"The structure of the building is exposed with the help of the iron frame, and the big glass window makes it look light and sophisticated. This style of architecture is so interesting."
"The geometrical curves are very well combined with the original style without making it look out of place it is impressive.
And when I went inside the scent of tea got stronger it was like I was in a forest."
"It was intentional designed like that."
One of the professors who drew the blueprints for the interior of the building clarified.
"The structure of the building on the inside was designed in a straight line so that the scent can circulate well.
The space is open so that the movements of the clients and the waiters aren't restricted, and the space between tables is at a good distance too.
The chairs and tables are firm but without sharp corners in order to creat a comfortable atmosphere, and the high-quality wood floors stands out more because of the good light that is coming through the wide windows."
"Yes indeed, but it is also impressive how they used the blinds to control the changes of the light at every hour."
Another professor said after he saw the clerk lowering the blinds to adjust the indoor lighting.
"The harmony between the interior and exterior is very good designed."
"The flow of the geometrical curves is well balanced on both sides, and the purple accent colour of the seal stands out nicely. "
"I really want to meet the designer because this is such a very well planned building."
"I know, right."
Even the people that didn't know anything about architecture felt that Armand was a pleasant and unique place to spend your time, and so Armand was filled with clients.
.......
The set menu is a common thing in modern times but here it was a fresh concept.
When I first started to design and organize the menu, the Blancia Master was also curious about what a set menu was.
"It is more effective than I expected."
While I looked through the sales of Armand for the past week, I nodded my head happily.
'Even if I don't take into account the opening fever of the first day, the income of the first week is really good."
"The busy mages and the local workers don't usually eat desserts, but they seem to like the set menu."
The Blancia Master tapped his finger on the table.
"And I didn't imagine, considering the location, that the dessert sales were going to be this good. Were you expecting this?"
"Of course."
'No, I didn't! But I am not going to tell you that. After all, I have to look like a powerful tycoon in your eyes so that I can continue to use your skills in the future.'ð
"Even the customers who are used to only drink tea are now choosing one of the set menus. I like that they consume twice as much as usual and don't realise it."
The Blancia Master considered this fact amusing.
Even if it wasn't a big discount for a set menu, everyone firmly believed that it was a reasonable sum to spend.
"We made the costumers think that with this discount they are saving some money, even though it is a small sum, because they get a package deal. "
I could barely suppress a cunning smile from forming while I talked.
"That's a good thing. This set menu will serve as a good starting point for Armand for the time being."
'Time being?! These words seem to have a hidden meaning.
What could there be? Did I overlook something?
I took in to account that the costumers will get bored if we keep the same menu for to long that is why I opted to change the set menu every month so that the regulars won't get bored.
In the case of set A, which is the best selling set, I thought it would be fun to change the flavour of the jam that is in the scones...
I am thinking too much about it, it is probably just my feeling.'
But it seems that it wasn't just a feeling because it didn't take long for me to understand what the Blancia Master meant.
-We sell set menus!-
I had to swallow the bitterness I felt when I passed by a dessert shop that imitated my set menu.
The Blancia Master's words rang in my mind 'for the time being '.
He meant that the set menu strategy was something that everyone could easily copy.
Because the set menu doesn't have a standard for taste or quality and because it doesn't require a large sum of capital to apply it, our competitors were able to quickly imitate my set menu ideea.
'Now I underestimated how the merchants in this world think.'
The firsts who realized the benefits of the set sales strategy were the dessert shops from the Academy's West gate square, and they quickly implemented it.
'All this plagiarism is really unfortunate, and the most annoying thing about it is that I can't do anything to stop them.'
One shop actively promoted their set menu with phrases that resembled the ones I wrote on the banner.
.............................