Rio's expansion plans were set into motion as the days flew by. With the existing success of his stores, Sarah took the initiative to rent a store in Sakura Mall for the Bluiz Cafe branch. The monthly rent for the space amounted to $30,000, and the trusted Morgan Architecture & Design firm was hired for a renovation cost of $15,000. The design of the branch maintained the theme of the main Bluiz Cafe while incorporating distinctive elements tailored to each branch's location.
Benjamin's efforts to recruit and train staff for the cafe proved to be exceptional. Six dedicated and well-prepared individuals were hired, and the opening day of the new cafe was a resounding success, drawing in crowds reminiscent of the main cafe's popularity.
Meanwhile, the demand for bubble tea soared, with customers and other malls expressing interest in having a bubble tea branch. Responding to the demand, Rio opened five new branches in different malls across the city and three additional branches in busy commercial districts. Although the initial investment impacted his balance, the branches quickly generated significant revenue. Each branch alone contributed $48,700 in daily sales, while the combined sales from the cafes and the new branch reached $36,680 daily. As a result, Rio's daily earnings skyrocketed to $85,380, even after accounting for ingredient costs and other expenses.
The extraordinary success of each store bolstered the morale of the entire team. They believed that, under Rio's leadership, they could dominate the F&B sector. With the current expansion phase on hold, Rio directed Sarah to initiate their long-awaited membership program. Within a day, all stores, including the cafes and bubble tea branches, sold out their membership cards, generating an additional income of $110,000. The cards, priced at just $10 each, proved to be a hit with customers. Rio then allowed customers to pre-order the cards, ensuring payment upon receipt, and this approach also garnered a positive response.
Keeping pace with its growth, Rio hired more staff for each department and established an in-house legal department to handle legal matters independently. Derick Grant was appointed Chief Legal Officer to oversee the department's operations.
In meetings focused on entering the beverage market, Rio discussed the introduction of their own cola, which they named 'Burp.' In her expanded role, Sarah promoted one staff member from each store to the store manager position, with all details flowing through her for finalization and reporting to Rio. Sarah's new task was to find a suitable factory for the production of 'Burp' as anticipation for the beverage grew among the team after they sampled Alex's personally crafted version.
Within days, Sarah discovered an abandoned factory available at a below-market price of $1,200,000 due to the previous owner's bankruptcy. Rio promptly purchased it, considering it a steal. The factory had a production capacity of 10,000 bottles per day, and with production costs calculated at $0.10 per bottle and ingredient costs at only $0.40, the total cost per bottle amounted to $0.50. The daily production expense stood at $5,000, allowing them to meet substantial demand. Rio also secured a warehouse for 'Burp' inventory to accommodate the production.
In addition to the cola venture, Rio invested $5,000,000 to acquire various coffee recipes from the system. This move proved to be immensely popular, solidifying their cafes as beloved destinations for coffee enthusiasts.
As the days pressed on, reaching the halfway point of the month, each store continued to thrive, and the inventory of 'Burp' reached an impressive 150,000 units. Rio then dispatched Max Opps, his business development manager, to present the beverage to various grocery stores. The legal department worked diligently to ensure all necessary permits and approvals were in place for the swift market entry of 'Burp.'
Their first client, Mercure, located in Sakura Mall, requested 1,000 bottles of 'Burp' for testing. Each bottle sold to their distributor carried a price of $3.50, with a retail price set at $4.50. With this initial sale of 1,000 bottles, 'Burp' was poised to make a splash in the market, shaking up the beverage industry.
[Status]
[Name: Rio Esgrus
Level: 3 (Ready for LVL UP)
Level Benefit: $10,000,000, Charm Aura, Cola Recipe
Experience: 2,209,660/1,000,000 (Host must earn money to accumulate experience)
Shop: Open
Balance: $10,344,103.00
Accumulated Profits: $2,209,660]