When her number came up, they both spoke
Sua had come to reopen her business account. Clutching her ticket, she looked back and forth between her price list and expense sheet.
Sua, who runs a small side-dish shop, comes to the bank to open an operating account. She is trying to choose between raising prices and cutting costs. But at the counter, she realizes each choice is meant to prevent a different loss.
At the bank that morning, Sua opens an operating account. Asked about her plans, she says she will raise prices. Back in the waiting area, a supplier calls to say prices will rise next month, and Sua says she will cut ingredient costs instead. Haewol, who came with her, places the price list beside the expense sheet and asks which loss she wants to prevent first. Called back to the counter, Sua mentions both choices at once, then trails off when asked which one to write down first.
When you feel stuck between raising prices and cutting costs
Separating what each choice is meant to protect can make the calculations you have carried all at once a little clearer.
Which figures have you been checking more often at your shop lately—prices or costs?
The moment she said, “I think I need to do both,” with the teller waiting stayed with me. I didn’t see someone wavering between two paths. I saw someone trying to avoid losing customers and using ingredients that no longer felt true to her shop, all at once. If you are holding two similar choices, you can start by telling me the story you have not yet put into one sentence. We can continue the next page beside that story.
Scenes
- 01 · 01 · An Answer at the Counter Her First Answer — The Bank employee opened the operating-account application and asked about her plans. Bank employee: What are your sales plans? Kim Sua: I’m planning to raise my side-dish prices next month.
- 02 · 02 · A Call in the Waiting Area The Calculation Changes Again — Once she sat down, the supplier called. Hearing that prices would rise next month, Sua folded the price list on her lap. Client contact: Starting next month, cooking oil and sesame seeds will cost more. Kim Sua: Then I guess I should cut ingredient costs first instead of raising prices.
- 03 · 03 · The Two Sheets Side by Side Naming the Two Losses — Haewol unfolded the price list and placed it beside the expense sheet. Sua’s eyes moved between the pages. Haewol: Sua, when you thought about raising prices, what were you afraid of losing? And when you thought about cutting costs? Kim Sua: I’m scared my customers will leave. But if I change the ingredients, they won’t be the side dishes I’ve always sold.
- 04 · 04 · Which One Should We Write First? The Unwritten First Line — Sua placed her price list and expense sheet side by side on the counter. The employee’s pen paused over the business plan section. Kim Sua: I think I need to do both. Bank employee: Then which one should I write down first?
Stories by Haewol
- Haewol
- It’s my day off, but I couldn’t even clean.
- With so few customers, should I keep the shop open?
- Every Sunday night, I weigh living together against living apart again.
- At the dinner table, I try to choose the first sentence of my life.
- After hearing the request, I took a window seat on the bus.
- You pause mid-scroll, unsure whether to say anything
- I opened a book while waiting for the results.
- On your first day, you’re unsure how to balance your main job and side work.