Chu
Grocery store owner
Tin Shui Wai 
07:00-19:00 (12 hours) 

“I've been here for a long time. When I was little, my parents had a shop in Sha Tin where I helped out, but it’s since relocated here. The shop has been in business for three generations, first run by my grandfather, then my father and now me. It’s a lot of work to manage a grocery shop; I have to work pretty much 365 days a year, except for Chinese New Year where I can take a few days off. I like this job because it is not too stressful, even though I have to work from 7am to 7pm every day.” 

“I used to be an electrician. My life was a bit easier compared to now, but because of a pay cut, I quit that job and came back to run this shop. My work now is quite relaxing, I just need to look after the shop all day and chit chat with the customers and the store owners next door. This is definitely not an easier job compared to being an electrician, because as an electrician you can at least earn more money even if it was more hectic. But with my current work I don’t feel too rushed or pressured - which is why I’m still doing this.”

“I don’t think grocery stores will go downhill any time soon, since people still need to eat. We do have less business compared to before as a lot of the young people will not come to these local stores to do their shopping - so I mostly get regular customers. During the pandemic, I lost half of my sales and it was very tough. It’s gotten a bit better now and I can make a decent living - I feel very content with that.”