We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Simon Yip. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Simon below.

Hi Simon, thanks for joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

As a business owner, I can confidently say I’m happy with what I do—but my journey here hasn’t been conventional. I’ve been an autodidact since the age of 8, driven by an insatiable curiosity about how things work. Back then, I would take apart household appliances just to see what was inside and figure out how they worked. Admittedly, I ruined quite a few appliances in the process, but luckily, I was never caught—and my dad never scolded me for it.

Curiosity was the spark that ignited my self-learning journey, and the sense of accomplishment kept me going. Over the years, I taught myself a wide range of skills, many of which weren’t directly relevant to my academic path but ultimately shaped my ability to run businesses today.

What sets me apart is the way I’ve connected the diverse knowledge I’ve acquired and applied it to real-life situations. Unfortunately, these skills weren’t what schools prioritized teaching, nor were they the typical qualifications employers sought in candidates.

For instance, I taught myself coding at 16 and built a website that grew to 100,000 members. At the same time, I also taught myself graphic design. If I were to follow a traditional career path, I’d likely have to choose between being a developer, a UX designer, or a graphic designer. But that felt limiting—how could I settle for being just one piece of a larger puzzle when what I truly enjoy is building things from scratch?

I thrive on creating and leading projects from the ground up. Being confined to a single role in a large project would feel stifling to me. That’s why running a business is the perfect fit—it’s the only “job” where I can fully utilize my self-taught skills and knowledge without constraints. For me, business isn’t just work—it’s a creative outlet, a challenge, and the ultimate way to bring my ideas to life.

Simon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started my career as a graphic designer and computer programmer, and today, I’m the proud owner of Miss Cheese Tea Cafe, a boba and Japanese soufflé pancake shop with locations in Pasadena, CA, and Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. Our soufflé pancakes are a customer favorite, made fresh to order for the best taste and texture. However, because each order takes 20 minutes to prepare—and even longer during busy times—this can sometimes lead to longer wait times and potential customer frustration.

To address this, I applied my programming expertise to create a custom order preparation time estimation algorithm. This system keeps our customers informed about their wait times through in-store screens. It displays estimated wait times for existing orders and helps new customers decide whether they want to place an order. Additionally, the system is integrated with our ordering kiosks. When wait times increase, the kiosks automatically activate discount options for customers who haven’t yet placed their orders. This way, customers can choose between receiving a discount with a longer wait time or sticking to their original timing preferences.

This system not only benefits our customers by offering deals during busy periods, but it also makes things easier for our team. By clearly communicating wait times and offering discounts proactively, we’ve reduced the likelihood of complaints about delays.

Beyond efficient service, we’ve created a fun and welcoming atmosphere at Miss Cheese Tea Cafe. We offer a variety of board games, arcade machines, and books to keep customers entertained while they wait, making our cafe a place where people can connect with loved ones and enjoy quality time together.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

We primarily use email marketing, Instagram, and Facebook to stay connected with our customers. Through email marketing, we focus on providing “real coupons”—offers that don’t require a minimum purchase for redemption. This approach has been highly effective in encouraging repeat visits, as our customers appreciate genuine deals that deliver real value. By prioritizing authenticity in our promotions, we’ve built trust and loyalty with our audience.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Twelve years ago, I faced one of the most challenging periods of my life. After the collapse of my first business, I felt completely lost and uncertain about my future. During that time of soul-searching, I discovered a new passion—ocean kayaking. I dedicated myself to mastering the skills needed to venture safely into the open sea.

To prepare, I not only had to become a strong swimmer but also repeatedly practiced self-rescue techniques. This involved intentionally capsizing my kayak and learning how to get back on without assistance—an essential skill for any solo kayaker. These rigorous challenges taught me resilience and the importance of persistence.

This newfound strength didn’t just help me navigate the ocean; it helped me rebuild my confidence and courage to embark on a new business venture. The lessons I learned in the sea became the foundation for my next chapter of growth and success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://misscheese.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/misscheeseteacafe
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/misscheesetea
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/company/miss-cheese-tea-cafe
• Twitter: https://x.com/misscheesetea