第１８５５堀：どんなお店がいいかな (Part2)
"That’s true. There’s little point in buying groceries at a small, independent shop like this. Even with fish, the ports sell directly to the public separately from the wholesale lots. Since they also supply Ratz’s supermarket, there’s no real need or infrastructure for us to be buying in bulk here."
Indeed, if we were to store and fillet fish, this space would be far too cramped. More importantly, the scent of seafood is surprisingly intense. You could call it the "scent of the sea" if you want to be poetic, but in reality, it’s just fishy. Truly, undeniably fishy. When you seriously consider the impact on the surroundings, it’s not something you can easily pull off on a main street packed with other shops. You’d have to put real thought into odor control.
"Then, the candidates Orelia and the others suggested are indeed the most viable."
"I agree. Besides, we aren't limited to gathering information only from our own customers. If we set up shop on the main street, it wouldn't be strange for us to pay visits to other businesses as well."
"Yes, exactly. There is no need to try and provide everything through our shop alone."
Ah, that’s true. As Yuki-sama and Prol-san say, we don’t need to gather all the information ourselves. The shop is merely a catalyst. The goal was to open a storefront and use it as a foothold to gather intelligence on Glass Port Town. The important thing is that we’re seeing it from our own perspective.
"So, shall we go with the candidates Orelia proposed?"
"Yes. While it is possible to maintain the shop even if it’s dead quiet, this is a business owned by Yuki-sama’s subordinates—Orelia and her team. My hope is that you maintain a certain level of quality and, naturally, a decent flow of customers."
Ugh, Prol-san is making some pretty intense demands. It’s true that we are Yuki-sama’s subordinates, but asking for a specific level of foot traffic and quality is a tall order...
"Foot traffic depends on the flow of the street. And as for quality, there’s no point if we make it a place where only the wealthy are welcome, so I think 'decent' is fine."
"Even so. While it’s true that if we openly advertised that Yuki-sama or you, Orelia, were running it, we’d undoubtedly attract all sorts of fools, we still require a minimum standard of quality."
"Well, I agree that we should match the standards of the other shops on the main street."
Ah, that I understand. If we don't match the other shops on the main street, we’ll stick out like a sore thumb. I know we can’t have a shop that looks like a ruin or something that only belongs in the slums.
"So, shall we choose between small sundries, accessories, or a candy shop—or perhaps combine them all?"
"I see. A candy shop is a bit different, but considering it’s a draw for children, it’s not entirely out of place. It wouldn’t be strange to stock small sundries and accessories together, either. Though, if we’re talking about high-end accessories, that’s a different story..."
"True. What kind of items are you thinking of, Hovis? And what about supply chains?"
"Well, let’s see. Regarding the accessory supply, remember when we brainstormed specialties with Ratz-sama and Micos-sama? We had a few accessory ideas then. Plus, Narjia-sama has introduced us to some artisans—we’ve even been involved in the mass production of accessories in Glass Port Town, so I think we can manage something from there."
Right, right. We came up with plenty of ideas, and there were quite a few that were scrapped after prototyping. We could always ask the artisans we’ve been helping to craft various things for us.
"I see. Indeed, the artisans helping out here would likely be eager to create and sell their own original works. Oh, and does that mean the same goes for you, Orelia, regarding the sundries?"
"Yes."
"Then, is it doable? Well, the rest is the interior, but we should see the site and match it to the surroundings."
"I believe that would be best."
There’s a possibility that the design we have in mind differs from the aesthetic of Glass Port Town’s main street, so I agree that we should see it for ourselves.
"Alright, work has settled down, so let’s head over to Glass Port Town."
And so, we set off to inspect the site for our new shop. The nice thing is that we don’t really have to worry about turning a profit. It’s a situation other shopkeepers would be incredibly envious of, but our true goal is information gathering, after all. I just hope it becomes a place where people naturally want to gather.