When it comes to opening your own business, you’ll have to prepare for the possibility of your business not thriving. Just a little over a year after opening her bakery, news outlets now say that Natalie Tong (唐詩詠) is facing difficulties with her business.
Recently, Hong Kong news reporters visited Natalie’s 33 Cubread bakery in Causeway Bay to check on the store’s current state after one year in business. The former TVB actress launched her business in October 2024, and it quickly went viral, thanks to the star power of its owner. The store’s booming popularity even prompted Natalie to expand her business with two more branches.
However, just a year and four months later, the bakery’s Causeway Bay flagship store was reportedly deserted. The news reporters visited the store for several days and found that business was slow, even during peak hours. The reporters said that the display shelves were piled high with bread. Natalie was also at the store when the reporters visited. However, she allegedly looked concerned about the lack of customers.
When the bakery first opened, it was a success with crowds lining up around the block to purchase the bread. However, popularity decreased in recent months. Many netizens speculated that 33 Cubread’s business slowed down because of the price of the bread. The bakery’s signature toast is priced at around HKD50 (approximately RM25) per piece, which many argued was too expensive for the quality of the product.
As of now, the future of 33 Cubread remains unclear. However, the bakery is reportedly facing dire financial difficulties. According to sources, the store’s daily revenue only reaches around four figures. Meanwhile, the bakery’s monthly expenditure reaches as high as HKD160,000 (approximately RM80,400). Natalie is said to have subsidised the losses every month by herself.
Despite the setback, Natalie hasn’t given up on her business. The star is actively developing new products and marketing strategies to bring more customers. Building your own business can be tough, but we wish the actress all the best and hope she’ll overcome this hurdle.
Source: Oriental Daily
