Chinese finding it tough at competitive Vaitele

By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia 17 September 2016, 12:00AM

On the busy streets of Vaitele, a new Chinese business is emerging.

Owned by William Zhang and Jolie Cui, the Happiness Link Company opened two months ago is located opposite the Vaigaga Primary School. 

From the city of Qingdao in China, the couple fell in love with Samoa and had set their eyes on establishing a business in the country. 

But business hasn’t been blissful and busy as the couple expected. 

Like every other new business, the first few months are always hard to get revenue. 

“We don’t make much,” Mr. Zhang told the Weekend Observer. 

“You see the road there is busy but we don’t have a parking space like the other businesses. People can’t stop by if they don’t have space to park in so it’s very hard to make money here.”

According to the Chinese man their shop makes about $200 some days. 

On a really bad day they get zero dollar.  

“It’s not enough to pay for rent of $1,000 a month,” he said. 

“The businesses are very competitive in Vaitele. We can’t afford to bring in other new products if we cannot make profit. We spent about $200,000 on setting up the shop and bringing in the products.”  

The Happiness Link sells car accessories, and other general merchandise imported from China.     

Mr. Zhang who is an engineer by profession said the move was his wife’s idea. 

“My wife was working with Qing Dao Construction Company,” he said. 

“She came here to work for the company and she loved the island. She came back to China and said she wanted to return to Samoa and setup a business here. That is how we ended up on this side of the world.”

Two months ago the couple managed to secure the space they are renting in opposite the Vaigaga Primary School. 

They are now looking for another space to rent in where they can have parking space area. 

By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia 17 September 2016, 12:00AM

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