[Applause] alright well hi everyone my name is
alright well hi everyone my name is
alright well hi everyone my name is chain as she said I am a Georgia Tech
chain as she said I am a Georgia Tech
chain as she said I am a Georgia Tech graduate majored in chemical engineering
graduate majored in chemical engineering
graduate majored in chemical engineering class of 2012 and now that does song
class of 2012 and now that does song
class of 2012 and now that does song like long time ago but it feels good to
like long time ago but it feels good to
like long time ago but it feels good to be back after I graduated I started
be back after I graduated I started
be back after I graduated I started working in the corporate as the process
working in the corporate as the process
working in the corporate as the process engineer for about two years before I
engineer for about two years before I
engineer for about two years before I came back to help with this we had
came back to help with this we had
came back to help with this we had expansion sweet hut for Joseph you who
expansion sweet hut for Joseph you who
expansion sweet hut for Joseph you who don’t know is a bakery and cafe that
don’t know is a bakery and cafe that
don’t know is a bakery and cafe that specializes in Chinese pastries like
specializes in Chinese pastries like
specializes in Chinese pastries like barbecue pork bun or egg tart and a lot
barbecue pork bun or egg tart and a lot
barbecue pork bun or egg tart and a lot of Parvati and when I first came back to
of Parvati and when I first came back to
of Parvati and when I first came back to sweet hug we have one location right on
sweet hug we have one location right on
sweet hug we have one location right on before highway now we have three
before highway now we have three
before highway now we have three location with former location pending to
location with former location pending to
location with former location pending to launch this year so one of the most
launch this year so one of the most
launch this year so one of the most frequent question I get asked is why did
frequent question I get asked is why did
frequent question I get asked is why did I leave my fortune 500 company just to
I leave my fortune 500 company just to
I leave my fortune 500 company just to come back to a mom-and-pop bakery um you
come back to a mom-and-pop bakery um you
come back to a mom-and-pop bakery um you know it’s super long hours it’s a lot of
know it’s super long hours it’s a lot of
know it’s super long hours it’s a lot of physical labor and in general food
physical labor and in general food
physical labor and in general food industry really doesn’t require a
industry really doesn’t require a
industry really doesn’t require a college degree so why spend four years
college degree so why spend four years
college degree so why spend four years that Georgia Tech just to come back but
that Georgia Tech just to come back but
that Georgia Tech just to come back but in fact having been a Georgia Tech has
in fact having been a Georgia Tech has
in fact having been a Georgia Tech has actually helps me a lot to manage
actually helps me a lot to manage
actually helps me a lot to manage business like communication skills that
business like communication skills that
business like communication skills that we have to we learn in when we manage a
we have to we learn in when we manage a
we have to we learn in when we manage a class project you get a team of people
class project you get a team of people
class project you get a team of people together you talk about project scope
together you talk about project scope
together you talk about project scope you assign responsibilities and you
you assign responsibilities and you
you assign responsibilities and you execute the project and then at the end
execute the project and then at the end
execute the project and then at the end you come together and you discuss
you come together and you discuss
you come together and you discuss results sometimes you even have to deal
results sometimes you even have to deal
results sometimes you even have to deal with a horrible team member that doesn’t
with a horrible team member that doesn’t
with a horrible team member that doesn’t do any work but we still get results I
do any work but we still get results I
do any work but we still get results I mean these are all soft skills that I
mean these are all soft skills that I
mean these are all soft skills that I learned in school and then there’s a
learned in school and then there’s a
learned in school and then there’s a technical skills right like data
technical skills right like data
technical skills right like data analysis using statistics to a valid
analysis using statistics to a valid
analysis using statistics to a valid production efficiency or even just being
production efficiency or even just being
production efficiency or even just being in school and learning about existing
in school and learning about existing
in school and learning about existing technology that can help streamline the
technology that can help streamline the
technology that can help streamline the process I mean without ever
process I mean without ever
process I mean without ever attending Georgia Tech I wouldn’t be
attending Georgia Tech I wouldn’t be
attending Georgia Tech I wouldn’t be able to do my job or a problem solve as
able to do my job or a problem solve as
able to do my job or a problem solve as efficiently as I do now and without my
efficiently as I do now and without my
efficiently as I do now and without my previous experience as the actual
previous experience as the actual
previous experience as the actual engineer I wouldn’t be able to manage my
engineer I wouldn’t be able to manage my
engineer I wouldn’t be able to manage my team as confidently as I do now now of
team as confidently as I do now now of
team as confidently as I do now now of course not all the skills were
course not all the skills were
course not all the skills were transferable that we learned in Georgia
transferable that we learned in Georgia
transferable that we learned in Georgia Tech of when I first went back to sweet
Tech of when I first went back to sweet
Tech of when I first went back to sweet hood the first year there was a period
hood the first year there was a period
hood the first year there was a period of time where we were very very short
of time where we were very very short
of time where we were very very short staffed so I actually had to go into the
staffed so I actually had to go into the
staffed so I actually had to go into the kitchen every morning five in the
kitchen every morning five in the
kitchen every morning five in the morning and we have to lift these 50 50
morning and we have to lift these 50 50
morning and we have to lift these 50 50 pounds bag of flour in and out of the
pounds bag of flour in and out of the
pounds bag of flour in and out of the kitchen we have to process over a
kitchen we have to process over a
kitchen we have to process over a hundred kilograms of dough and we do
hundred kilograms of dough and we do
hundred kilograms of dough and we do this for about 10 hours over and over
this for about 10 hours over and over
this for about 10 hours over and over and after that we actually have to go to
and after that we actually have to go to
and after that we actually have to go to our second location and we would
our second location and we would
our second location and we would actually have to and I would have to
actually have to and I would have to
actually have to and I would have to train new employees and we have to brew
train new employees and we have to brew
train new employees and we have to brew tea and somewhere in between all of that
tea and somewhere in between all of that
tea and somewhere in between all of that we we have to find a time I have the
we we have to find a time I have the
we we have to find a time I have the fine just had to sit down to process
fine just had to sit down to process
fine just had to sit down to process payroll and and things that the new
payroll and and things that the new
payroll and and things that the new requirements for the new information
requirements for the new information
requirements for the new information system that we’re going to have to
system that we’re going to have to
system that we’re going to have to execute and be in place by the time our
execute and be in place by the time our
execute and be in place by the time our third store open so it was a lot of hard
third store open so it was a lot of hard
third store open so it was a lot of hard work but being in sweet hut has been a
work but being in sweet hut has been a
work but being in sweet hut has been a very exciting experience there’s really
very exciting experience there’s really
very exciting experience there’s really nothing more exciting than to grow your
nothing more exciting than to grow your
nothing more exciting than to grow your own business grow your own team and
own business grow your own team and
own business grow your own team and share your culture with people whose
share your culture with people whose
share your culture with people whose never experienced it before and of
never experienced it before and of
never experienced it before and of course grow financially now for a lot of
course grow financially now for a lot of
course grow financially now for a lot of you here I’m assuming once you guys
you here I’m assuming once you guys
you here I’m assuming once you guys graduate you’re going to have a
graduate you’re going to have a
graduate you’re going to have a corporate job lined up and usually with
corporate job lined up and usually with
corporate job lined up and usually with corporate you get things like very good
corporate you get things like very good
corporate you get things like very good job security you get really good health
job security you get really good health
job security you get really good health insurance and you probably get matching
insurance and you probably get matching
insurance and you probably get matching 401k and these are all really
401k and these are all really
401k and these are all really really good benefits but sometimes in a
really good benefits but sometimes in a
really good benefits but sometimes in a position like that there’s it’s easy to
position like that there’s it’s easy to
position like that there’s it’s easy to become complacent it’s sometimes it’s
become complacent it’s sometimes it’s
become complacent it’s sometimes it’s easy to feel stagnant and sometimes it’s
easy to feel stagnant and sometimes it’s
easy to feel stagnant and sometimes it’s easy to just say no it this week I’m
easy to just say no it this week I’m
easy to just say no it this week I’m just gonna cruise along my 40 hours this
just gonna cruise along my 40 hours this
just gonna cruise along my 40 hours this week just so I can get to the end of the
week just so I can get to the end of the
week just so I can get to the end of the month paycheck and so for me when the
month paycheck and so for me when the
month paycheck and so for me when the opportunity for sweet hut came up and my
opportunity for sweet hut came up and my
opportunity for sweet hut came up and my family called and asked me to come back
family called and asked me to come back
family called and asked me to come back and help with the expansion I I took the
and help with the expansion I I took the
and help with the expansion I I took the chance you know looking back now you
chance you know looking back now you
chance you know looking back now you know taking this chance has been one of
know taking this chance has been one of
know taking this chance has been one of the best decision I’ve ever made oh but
the best decision I’ve ever made oh but
the best decision I’ve ever made oh but it’s also one of the most important
it’s also one of the most important
it’s also one of the most important aspect of being an entrepreneur so
aspect of being an entrepreneur so
aspect of being an entrepreneur so before our first door opens uh we
before our first door opens uh we
before our first door opens uh we actually you very very very little about
actually you very very very little about
actually you very very very little about the bakery business or the baking
the bakery business or the baking
the bakery business or the baking process my family and I we just love
process my family and I we just love
process my family and I we just love Chinese food goods and you know but at
Chinese food goods and you know but at
Chinese food goods and you know but at the time there wasn’t a lot of options
the time there wasn’t a lot of options
the time there wasn’t a lot of options in Atlanta so we started thinking why
in Atlanta so we started thinking why
in Atlanta so we started thinking why not make one for our own but running a
not make one for our own but running a
not make one for our own but running a bakery without any prior experience is
bakery without any prior experience is
bakery without any prior experience is it really as easy as it sounds I
it really as easy as it sounds I
it really as easy as it sounds I remember on our Grand Opening Day we
remember on our Grand Opening Day we
remember on our Grand Opening Day we were actually so behind production that
were actually so behind production that
were actually so behind production that we actually ran out of things to sell by
we actually ran out of things to sell by
we actually ran out of things to sell by 2pm and keep in mind we were actually
2pm and keep in mind we were actually
2pm and keep in mind we were actually supposed to open until midnight that day
supposed to open until midnight that day
supposed to open until midnight that day so we actually get close to store the
so we actually get close to store the
so we actually get close to store the next day and we kind of SAT around and
next day and we kind of SAT around and
next day and we kind of SAT around and reflect on what is it we’re doing right
reflect on what is it we’re doing right
reflect on what is it we’re doing right now and what we need to change so that
now and what we need to change so that
now and what we need to change so that the next day when we open we can
the next day when we open we can
the next day when we open we can actually stay open and have product
actually stay open and have product
actually stay open and have product supply for the whole day so we kept
supply for the whole day so we kept
supply for the whole day so we kept trying you know everyone worked 16 hour
trying you know everyone worked 16 hour
trying you know everyone worked 16 hour day and we tweaked away we were baking
day and we tweaked away we were baking
day and we tweaked away we were baking our bread we were we changed the way we
our bread we were we changed the way we
our bread we were we changed the way we were brewing our tea we train our
were brewing our tea we train our
were brewing our tea we train our employees a little bit differently so
employees a little bit differently so
employees a little bit differently so maybe they can be a little bit more
maybe they can be a little bit more
maybe they can be a little bit more efficient to you know and eventually
efficient to you know and eventually
efficient to you know and eventually we got pretty good eventually we got
we got pretty good eventually we got
we got pretty good eventually we got really good at baking our bread we got
really good at baking our bread we got
really good at baking our bread we got really good at brewing our tea and facts
really good at brewing our tea and facts
really good at brewing our tea and facts we got so good that the mayor of
we got so good that the mayor of
we got so good that the mayor of doraville actually awarded us with the
doraville actually awarded us with the
doraville actually awarded us with the model business just a year after
model business just a year after
model business just a year after operation and proclaims april fifteenth
operation and proclaims april fifteenth
operation and proclaims april fifteenth as the official see HUD day now i know
as the official see HUD day now i know
as the official see HUD day now i know it’s only official in this video
it’s only official in this video
it’s only official in this video doraville but it’s still really exciting
doraville but it’s still really exciting
doraville but it’s still really exciting for us and you know taking a chance has
for us and you know taking a chance has
for us and you know taking a chance has its rewards now after the first
its rewards now after the first
its rewards now after the first successful store open and we said while
successful store open and we said while
successful store open and we said while there’s a lot of potential in this
there’s a lot of potential in this
there’s a lot of potential in this business concept we started looking at a
business concept we started looking at a
business concept we started looking at a second store at first we were looking at
second store at first we were looking at
second store at first we were looking at more asian or into communities like
more asian or into communities like
more asian or into communities like maybe buford highway or du louvre but
maybe buford highway or du louvre but
maybe buford highway or du louvre but then we thought to ourselves maybe we
then we thought to ourselves maybe we
then we thought to ourselves maybe we want to share our products with
want to share our products with
want to share our products with non-asian communities to we want we but
non-asian communities to we want we but
non-asian communities to we want we but at the time we were scared at the time
at the time we were scared at the time
at the time we were scared at the time we were thinking what if non asian
we were thinking what if non asian
we were thinking what if non asian americans have never tried bubble tea
americans have never tried bubble tea
americans have never tried bubble tea and never heard of it what if they think
and never heard of it what if they think
and never heard of it what if they think you know products like barbecue pork bun
you know products like barbecue pork bun
you know products like barbecue pork bun or taro pastry or red bean pastry those
or taro pastry or red bean pastry those
or taro pastry or red bean pastry those are all too weird of a product to even
are all too weird of a product to even
are all too weird of a product to even want to try what is this great business
want to try what is this great business
want to try what is this great business model we have only works in Asian
model we have only works in Asian
model we have only works in Asian communities so but you know we told
communities so but you know we told
communities so but you know we told ourselves you know we have to take a
ourselves you know we have to take a
ourselves you know we have to take a chance so we chose Midtown we chose
chance so we chose Midtown we chose
chance so we chose Midtown we chose Midtown as a proof of concept as a test
Midtown as a proof of concept as a test
Midtown as a proof of concept as a test to see whether or not our product can be
to see whether or not our product can be
to see whether or not our product can be accepted in the non asian communities as
accepted in the non asian communities as
accepted in the non asian communities as a test to see if this great new business
a test to see if this great new business
a test to see if this great new business concept that we have really has a
concept that we have really has a
concept that we have really has a demographical limit so i mentioned
demographical limit so i mentioned
demographical limit so i mentioned before that taking a chance is a via has
before that taking a chance is a via has
before that taking a chance is a via has a vital role in entrepreneurship but it
a vital role in entrepreneurship but it
a vital role in entrepreneurship but it doesn’t always work out as smoothly as
doesn’t always work out as smoothly as
doesn’t always work out as smoothly as we had hoped so unlike doraville Midtown
we had hoped so unlike doraville Midtown
we had hoped so unlike doraville Midtown when they first opened when we first
when they first opened when we first
when they first opened when we first opened the start of course not as good
opened the start of course not as good
opened the start of course not as good as we had expected and it took months
as we had expected and it took months
as we had expected and it took months and months of trial and error before we
and months of trial and error before we
and months of trial and error before we were satisfied with the sales number and
were satisfied with the sales number and
were satisfied with the sales number and when the sales weren’t ideal my sister
when the sales weren’t ideal my sister
when the sales weren’t ideal my sister and I we we would talk at night and kind
and I we we would talk at night and kind
and I we we would talk at night and kind of doubtful and wondering did we make
of doubtful and wondering did we make
of doubtful and wondering did we make the wrong decision you know did we you
the wrong decision you know did we you
the wrong decision you know did we you know should we have just stayed open in
know should we have just stayed open in
know should we have just stayed open in the Asian communities that we were so
the Asian communities that we were so
the Asian communities that we were so familiar with but then there’s the thing
familiar with but then there’s the thing
familiar with but then there’s the thing about entrepreneurship you know there’s
about entrepreneurship you know there’s
about entrepreneurship you know there’s really no turning back so you’ve got to
really no turning back so you’ve got to
really no turning back so you’ve got to deal with the hand that you’ve got so
deal with the hand that you’ve got so
deal with the hand that you’ve got so who we started expanding the menu we
who we started expanding the menu we
who we started expanding the menu we created a whole new sandwich section to
created a whole new sandwich section to
created a whole new sandwich section to attracted businesses around midtown we
attracted businesses around midtown we
attracted businesses around midtown we created a whole new catering menu hired
created a whole new catering menu hired
created a whole new catering menu hired a catering manager just to tackle this
a catering manager just to tackle this
a catering manager just to tackle this catering business and we came up with a
catering business and we came up with a
catering business and we came up with a lot of different products and put on and
lot of different products and put on and
lot of different products and put on and then you receive feedback from the
then you receive feedback from the
then you receive feedback from the customer and kind of decided to want to
customer and kind of decided to want to
customer and kind of decided to want to keep it a menu or leave it out of the
keep it a menu or leave it out of the
keep it a menu or leave it out of the menu we came a lot of catering packages
menu we came a lot of catering packages
menu we came a lot of catering packages so that we can figure out what type of
so that we can figure out what type of
so that we can figure out what type of package can fit the consumer needs the
package can fit the consumer needs the
package can fit the consumer needs the most it’s a lot like taking your first
most it’s a lot like taking your first
most it’s a lot like taking your first CS class doing a matlab question and
CS class doing a matlab question and
CS class doing a matlab question and you’re doing all these different lines
you’re doing all these different lines
you’re doing all these different lines posed to finally get to the right answer
posed to finally get to the right answer
posed to finally get to the right answer and only a CS question you know maybe
and only a CS question you know maybe
and only a CS question you know maybe take you a few hours at max getting the
take you a few hours at max getting the
take you a few hours at max getting the right business model could take months
right business model could take months
right business model could take months if if not years so some people could
if if not years so some people could
if if not years so some people could consider it to be fairly lucky um so
consider it to be fairly lucky um so
consider it to be fairly lucky um so having been on this week I trainee it’s
having been on this week I trainee it’s
having been on this week I trainee it’s been very very fulfilling I mean we’ve
been very very fulfilling I mean we’ve
been very very fulfilling I mean we’ve gone from having 30 people on the team
gone from having 30 people on the team
gone from having 30 people on the team to now we have over 160 people on the
to now we have over 160 people on the
to now we have over 160 people on the team and you know we still have some in
team and you know we still have some in
team and you know we still have some in place that has been with us since very
place that has been with us since very
place that has been with us since very day one since that Grand Opening Day on
day one since that Grand Opening Day on
day one since that Grand Opening Day on our Buford Highway location
our Buford Highway location
our Buford Highway location and we have a particular employee who
and we have a particular employee who
and we have a particular employee who actually worked for us as his first job
actually worked for us as his first job
actually worked for us as his first job ever and once he graduated out of
ever and once he graduated out of
ever and once he graduated out of Georgia State with a double major
Georgia State with a double major
Georgia State with a double major decided he wants to come back and work
decided he wants to come back and work
decided he wants to come back and work for us and now he’s responsible for our
for us and now he’s responsible for our
for us and now he’s responsible for our Texas expansion projects you know
Texas expansion projects you know
Texas expansion projects you know hearing house a hairy sweet hug become a
hearing house a hairy sweet hug become a
hearing house a hairy sweet hug become a household name now for a lot of families
household name now for a lot of families
household name now for a lot of families I even hear you know bubble tea
I even hear you know bubble tea
I even hear you know bubble tea described now as the elixir of life Oh
described now as the elixir of life Oh
described now as the elixir of life Oh or you know having customer come up to
or you know having customer come up to
or you know having customer come up to me and tell me hey I’ve never tried
me and tell me hey I’ve never tried
me and tell me hey I’ve never tried bubble tea before but now that I tried
bubble tea before but now that I tried
bubble tea before but now that I tried it it’s really changed my life or even
it it’s really changed my life or even
it it’s really changed my life or even or even having some customers posting on
or even having some customers posting on
or even having some customers posting on social media a little kind of our
social media a little kind of our
social media a little kind of our products and the caption will be this is
products and the caption will be this is
products and the caption will be this is what heaven looks like you know it’s
what heaven looks like you know it’s
what heaven looks like you know it’s things like this that makes it worth it
things like this that makes it worth it
things like this that makes it worth it you know it’s things like this that
you know it’s things like this that
you know it’s things like this that makes me feel like we have really made
makes me feel like we have really made
makes me feel like we have really made an impact in our small little community
an impact in our small little community
an impact in our small little community and it makes all the hard work and all
and it makes all the hard work and all
and it makes all the hard work and all the late nights all worth it now of
the late nights all worth it now of
the late nights all worth it now of course I’m not here to discourage you
course I’m not here to discourage you
course I’m not here to discourage you from working for corporate because
from working for corporate because
from working for corporate because corporate is a great place to learn and
corporate is a great place to learn and
corporate is a great place to learn and to grow but as you guys graduate and
to grow but as you guys graduate and
to grow but as you guys graduate and hoping to start to the next phase of
hoping to start to the next phase of
hoping to start to the next phase of your life I do hope that you guys will
your life I do hope that you guys will
your life I do hope that you guys will start taking chances take a chance in a
start taking chances take a chance in a
start taking chances take a chance in a small business idea take a chance in a
small business idea take a chance in a
small business idea take a chance in a tech startup take a chance and maybe a
tech startup take a chance and maybe a
tech startup take a chance and maybe a small company that will help you grow
small company that will help you grow
small company that will help you grow but most importantly take a chance and
but most importantly take a chance and
but most importantly take a chance and an idea that will make you light up
an idea that will make you light up
an idea that will make you light up thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Applause]
”
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