Business culture

Besides the custom of "first visitor" and "first outing" at the beginning of the new year, business people often choose an auspicious day to open their businesses for the first time in the year, hoping for a prosperous and successful year of trading.

Customers making purchases at Thanh Hoa Bird's Nest Production and Trading Company Limited at the beginning of the new year.

According to folk beliefs, a smooth start to the year for a business is a harbinger of a prosperous year ahead. Therefore, choosing an auspicious day and time to open a business is very important and is carefully prepared for by those in the business world.

Sharing his thoughts on choosing an auspicious day to open a business at the beginning of the new year, Mr. Nguyen Van Tu, Director of Thanh Hoa Bird's Nest Production and Trading Company, said: “Most business owners choose an auspicious day to open their business at the beginning of the year, selecting someone whose age is compatible to be the first to enter the store, hoping for a prosperous and smooth year ahead. However, there are also years when customers come in to buy as soon as the store opens, and we happily welcome them without worrying about whether their age is compatible or not. Because, in my opinion, in business, the spiritual element only plays a small part; the most important thing is still the quality of the product and a suitable business strategy.”

Phi Vu, the owner of a coffee shop in Thanh Hoa City, also carefully chose an auspicious date to open his business at the beginning of the new year. He shared: “I was born in the year of the Earth Snake (Kỷ Tỵ), and according to folk beliefs, this year is my ‘year of the zodiac,’ meaning I might encounter some misfortune. Therefore, I consulted a fortune teller to choose an auspicious date for opening my business and asked someone compatible with my zodiac sign, such as the Monkey or Ox, to be the first person to enter my shop at the start of the year. This has been our ancestor's belief for generations, so I followed it to avoid unwanted events. However, I truly believe that if I do everything meticulously, carefully, and with sincerity, everything will go well and smoothly.”

Besides choosing an auspicious day to open their business at the beginning of the year, business owners often choose someone whose age is compatible with theirs and who has a quick-witted personality to be the first customer of the year, hoping to receive good luck, attract many customers, and ensure everything goes smoothly for the business.

Thu Thủy, owner of Thu Thủy hair salon on Ben Ngu Street, Truong Thi Ward (Thanh Hoa City), shared: “I've been running my hair salon for many years, so I have a large number of regular customers. Every New Year, I choose loyal, cheerful, easy-going customers who are successful in business and have happy families to be the first customers of the year to bring good luck. To ensure both the owner and the customer are happy, after the first customer comes, I usually give them a lucky money gift or offer an additional small service as a bonus alongside the service they requested.”

It's not just large businesses and stores that choose auspicious dates and people to be their first customers of the year; small business owners and traders also believe in the saying "a good start leads to a good finish," so they also choose suitable dates to open their businesses on a lucky day.

Ms. Le Nhung, from Phu Son ward (Thanh Hoa city), runs a grocery store at home. Because it's a family business, it's very convenient for her to both look after the goods and receive guests who come to visit and wish her a happy New Year, without worrying about losing regular customers.

Ms. Nhung said: "Items like confectionery, beer, wine, salt... are still very popular after Tet. Not only do I sell well to regular customers, but also to passersby, so I usually choose an auspicious day and open my shop early."

Right after Tet, Nguyen Phong Food production facility (Rung Thong ward, Thanh Hoa city) was busy preparing orders for the New Year's festivities and the Lantern Festival.

Ms. Bich Lien, owner of Nguyen Phong Food in Rung Thong ward (Thanh Hoa City), said: "Choosing an auspicious opening day is also a way to boost optimism and confidence in the goals and plans set for the new year; thereby creating motivation and enthusiasm to turn those goals into reality."

For businesses that have low demand at the beginning of the new year, such as clothing stores and pharmacies, where most customers have already made their purchases before Tet, many shop owners will choose an auspicious day to open their businesses.

Opening a business at the beginning of the year is a cultural tradition. However, business owners should not become so dependent on this belief that it turns into superstition.

Linh Huong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/mo-hang-dau-nam-net-van-hoa-cua-nguoi-kinh-doanh-238640.htm