If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

Almost everyone has thought about opening a cozy little café someday.

But most of the time, it’s just a passing thought.

Once you do a bit of research or read some stories about running a shop, you quickly realize—it’s not that easy.

We often say dreams drive us forward, but the truth is, you have to make money first before you can build that dream.

Otherwise, it’s just a sweet fantasy.

Physical stores, online shops, or a mix of both—all come with their own challenges and benefits.

No matter what form it takes, there’s one truth that never changes—location is king.

Rent, lease, or platform fees hold the real power behind the scenes.

Physical stores have foot traffic, but the cost is high, and price isn’t the only factor—vibe matters more.

Online stores get traffic too, but it’s mostly rational price-checkers.

Nowadays, it’s all about live-stream sales, KOL marketing, and short videos fighting for attention.

Yet platforms still take the lion’s share of the profit.

Even a famous shop bustling with customers can close overnight.

The heavy, invisible weight of rent holds the real control.

Prime spots are usually locked down by early investors, making it tough for newcomers to break in.

But despite all these difficulties,

There are still many brave souls who break through the barriers and carve out their path.

They don’t stroll out calmly with a coffee in hand—they fight their way through.

Back to the topic—

I haven’t figured out what kind of store would actually make money.

Making money doesn’t necessarily mean you have to open a store; there are many options.

As for what I’d want to spend on—

I love traveling abroad, so anything related to that catches my eye—luggage? Trip planning?

I’ve tried plenty of so-called AI-powered trip planning apps,

but they’re still far from what I’d consider ideal.

In the end, I still look up information and plan slowly by myself,

which might just be part of the fun of traveling, haha.

Maybe building an app to help plan trips is a pit I’d willingly fall into—

one I might happily dive into myself.

Reality is tough, no doubt,

but every brave attempt is stacking up possibilities for the future.

Dreams have never been just about the outcome—they’re about the persistence and passion along the way.