Background: The Dilemma of Supermarket Management

In the autumn of 2024, 55-year-old Mr. Zhang looked at the sparse crowds of customers at his supermarket, feeling a chill in his heart, as if struck by the autumn wind. His “Huimin Supermarket,” located at a crossroads in the old city, had been operating for eight years. While business wasn’t booming in the first few years, it had a steady daily turnover, enough to support his family of five and even save enough for his son’s mortgage. However, since the beginning of this year, business has been declining. Lao Zhang analyzed the reasons: a new chain convenience store opened across from his residential complex. It’s open 24 hours a day, features stylish decor, and offers online ordering and home delivery. The nearby wet market has expanded its stalls, offering fresh vegetables and meat at lower prices than in the supermarket, attracting many elderly customers. Even more troubling for him is the gradual loss of regular customers. A woman who frequently buys soy sauce once told him, “Lao Zhang, your supermarket always feels stuffy. The shelves are so crowded, and it’s hard to find what you want. I’d rather walk the extra mile to the convenience store now.”

To win back customers, Lao Zhang tried many methods: slashing prices on some items, displaying discounted vegetables at the entrance to attract traffic, and even asking his son to help him start a community group buying group, but all proved to be ineffective. Every day, Lao Zhang would often suffer from insomnia as he opened the store, watched the snacks and daily necessities slowly gather dust on the shelves, and listened to the occasional beep of the cash register. One day, he did the math. After deducting rent, utilities, and purchasing costs, he realized a loss of over two thousand yuan that month. This was the first time in his eight years of running the store that he’d incurred a loss.
“If this keeps up, the store will have to close,” Old Zhang sighed as he sat on a small stool in the corner of the supermarket, clutching a wrinkled account book. His wife advised him, “If it really doesn’t work out, just sell the store. We’re getting old, and it’s good to take a break.” But Old Zhang couldn’t bear to let go. This supermarket was like his old friend. From the site selection and renovation to the purchasing and operation, he had poured his heart and soul into every step. How could he just give it up?
One day, Old Zhang went to the wholesale market to stock up on supplies and ran into Old Zhou, his former stallmate. Old Zhou now owned a thriving fruit shop. Seeing Old Zhang’s distressed expression, Old Zhou took the initiative to inquire about his situation. After listening to Lao Zhang’s story, Lao Zhou said, “My fruit shop almost went bankrupt. Then I had MoneyGaga, a feng shui master from LAOTLON, take a look. He put up a golden toad figurine and adjusted the shelf layout. And you’ll see, business picked up within two months. Why don’t you give it a try?”

Lao Zhang knew nothing about feng shui and even thought it a bit unreliable. But seeing the supermarket’s predicament, he still thought, “It’s always a good idea to give it a try.” He asked his son to help him look up LAOTLON’s contact information and called the number for consultation. Customer service patiently listened to his story and arranged for MoneyGaga to come and inspect the shop in two days.

On-site Inspection: MoneyGaga’s Professional Analysis

On the day of the inspection, the weather was sunny. MoneyGaga, dressed in sharp dark casual attire and carrying a canvas bag, arrived at Huimin Supermarket ten minutes early. She didn’t rush to greet Lao Zhang. Instead, she stood at the supermarket entrance and took in the surroundings. To the left was a hardware store, to the right was a barber shop, and diagonally across from the residential complex entrance, so the location wasn’t bad.

Money Gaga slowed down her pace, starting at the snack section at the entrance and examining each area: the angle of the shelves, the density of the merchandise, the brightness of the lighting, even the position and orientation of the cash register. She examined everything meticulously, occasionally bending down to examine the items on the bottom shelf or reaching out to feel the material of the shelves.

Lao Zhang followed behind, feeling a little nervous, wondering what flaws this feng shui master might uncover. About twenty minutes later, MoneyGaga stopped and said to Lao Zhang, “Uncle Zhang, the main problem with your supermarket lies in the ‘wealth position’ and the ‘aura.'”

She pointed to the cashier counter at the back of the supermarket and said, “Look, the cashier counter is in the northwest corner, but according to your store’s orientation, the wealth position should be in the southeast. Since the cashier counter isn’t in the wealth position, the wealth energy won’t stay. Furthermore, behind the cashier counter is the warehouse door. Opening and closing the door every day disperses the accumulated wealth energy, which is a major reason for your declining sales.”

MoneyGaga then walked to the aisle between the snack and daily necessities sections. “Your shelves are too close together. The aisle between shelves is only one meter wide. Customers have to lean sideways to walk, which hinders the aura flow. People who stay in there for too long will feel stuffy and naturally won’t want to shop any longer. Also, the lighting is terrible. Several of the lights on the top shelves are broken. They’re dim, making the merchandise look dull and unattractive.”

Lao Zhang suddenly realized— The cash register’s location was chosen randomly when he opened the store; he had never considered the concept of a “wealth position.” He crowded the shelves because he wanted to accommodate more merchandise, but unexpectedly, it actually impacted the customer experience. The top light broke, but he didn’t think it would affect the lighting, so he didn’t replace it in time. He hadn’t previously paid any attention to these details.
“So how should we adjust it?” Lao Zhang asked eagerly, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. MoneyGaga thought for a moment and offered specific suggestions: “First, move the checkout counter to the southeast corner, where the beverage area is now. There’s plenty of space there, and it’s close to the supermarket entrance, making it convenient for customers to check out. Then, place a three-legged golden toad figurine on the counter. The golden toad is a feng shui auspicious animal that attracts wealth and helps increase sales. Secondly, stagger the two middle rows of shelves slightly and widen the aisles to about 1.5 meters to allow for smoother flow of energy. Also, replace all the broken lights and add a row of small spotlights on the top shelves to brighten the merchandise.”

She added: “The golden toad figurine should be made of copper. It doesn’t need to be too large; about 15 centimeters is appropriate. Place it with its head facing the interior of the store, not towards the entrance, to attract wealth and energy. You can visit a LAOTLON store; the staff will help you choose the right style and teach you how to care for it.”

Old Zhang meticulously wrote down the details in his notebook, not missing a single detail, and his anxiety eased considerably.
Decorations in Place: Business Gradually Improves

That afternoon, Lao Zhang took action, following MoneyGaga’s advice. He contacted a renovation friend, who helped him move the cash register from the northwest corner to the southeast. He also repositioned the two middle rows of shelves and widened the aisles. Then, he went to the hardware store, bought new light bulbs and spotlights, and had his son help install them. The supermarket suddenly became much brighter, the aisles wider, and it looked much fresher.

The next morning, Lao Zhang made a special trip to the LAOTLON store. The staff was very welcoming. Upon hearing that he’d been recommended by MoneyGaga, they immediately introduced him to several copper three-legged golden toads of varying sizes. Lao Zhang chose a 14-centimeter-tall toad with a round belly and a copper coin in its mouth, looking festive. The clerk explained in detail, “Uncle Zhang, you need to wipe this golden toad ornament with a clean cloth every day. Keep it dust-free and avoid touching it. This will help maintain its good fortune.”

Back at the supermarket, Old Zhang carefully placed the golden toad in the center of the cash register, adjusting its orientation so its head faced the interior of the store. Afterward, he stood by the counter, looking at it again and again, feeling strangely reassured.

Surprisingly, the first day after the cash register adjustment and the placement of the golden toad, the supermarket saw more customers than usual. Several regular customers came in and exclaimed in surprise, “Old Zhang, how come your supermarket is so brighter? The aisles are wider, too. It’s so much more comfortable to shop!” That evening, when he counted the bills, Old Zhang saw a turnover of over 300 yuan more than the day before, and he was overjoyed.

Over the next few days, business continued to improve: in the morning, office workers came to buy breakfast and drinks; at noon, residents came to buy vegetables and meat; in the evening, parents brought their children to buy snacks and toys. Every day, Old Zhang polished the golden toad figurine at the checkout counter to a shine. Seeing customers lining up to pay, Old Zhang’s face lit up with smiles.

A week later, Old Zhang calculated his sales and found they had doubled, not only making up for his previous losses but also earning over a thousand yuan more. He called Old Zhou and excitedly said, “Old Zhou, thank you so much! LAOTLON’s MoneyGaga is amazing! The golden toad figurine is really effective. My supermarket is back on track!”

Old Zhou smiled and said, “I knew it was reliable. If you manage it well, business will definitely improve!”

Follow-up feedback: The continuation of a prosperous business

Today, business at “Huimin Supermarket” has returned to its former prosperity, even surpassing it. Following MoneyGaga’s advice, Old Zhang not only adjusted the layout and placement of the golden toad figurine, but also set up a small table at the entrance, displaying seasonal fruit for tasting, which attracted many new customers. He also asked his son to better manage the community group buying group, offering a special offer every day to increase customer retention. Every month, Lao Zhang visits the LAOTLON store, both to perform some basic maintenance on his golden toad ornaments and to consult the staff for some feng shui tips. One time, the staff member told him, “Uncle Zhang, you can place a small money tree in the southeast corner of the supermarket, next to the cash register, to further enhance your wealth.” Lao Zhang immediately bought one and placed it next to the cash register. Its lush green leaves are soothing to the eye.

Now, the supermarket is filled with the lively atmosphere of everyday life: the chatter between customers and Lao Zhang, the click of the cash register, and the laughter of children picking out snacks—a vibrant and warm blend. Lao Zhang no longer has to worry about business and can finally sleep soundly at night. One day, my neighbor, Aunt Li, came to buy something. Seeing the golden toad on the cash register, she smiled and asked, “Old Zhang, that’s a beautiful ornament. Where did you buy it?” Old Zhang smiled and replied, “I bought it at LAOTLON. Feng shui master MoneyGaga recommended it to me. It’s working! My supermarket is doing so well now, thanks to it!”

Aunt Li was also inspired: “My daughter runs a clothing store, and business isn’t doing so well. I asked her to consult LAOTLON about putting up a fortune-attracting ornament.”
Old Zhang nodded: “Go for it! It’s a sure thing! With good feng shui and dedicated management, business will definitely pick up!”

Now, whenever Old Zhang sees the three-legged golden toad on the cash register, his heart is filled with gratitude—it’s LAOTLON and MoneyGaga that have revitalized his “Hui Min Supermarket” and restored his confidence in running it. This small golden toad, like a silent guardian god of wealth, witnesses the prosperity of the supermarket and protects the stable life of Old Zhang’s family.