Chapter 4: The Authentic Supermarket
Building Legitimacy & Securing Loans
1 The Authentic Supermarket - PR Crisis
The local community isn't embracing the expansion as expected. The old tea house holds sentimental value for residents. Worse, the newspaper headlines read: "Discounty Ruthlessly Swallows Tea House, Eroding Blomkest's Cultural Heritage" - damaging your reputation severely.
📸 Public backlash over the expansion
Through conversations with journalist Cornelius, you learn the townspeople don't support your expansion approach. The tea house represents their heritage and memories.
🏗️ New Strategy
Aunt Thralll proposes building a NEW Discounty at a non-controversial location. However, this requires securing a massive 25 million loan from the bank!
2 Proving Your Legitimacy - Bank Requirements
Derek at Blomkest Bank explains that to secure the 25 million loan, you must prove Discounty is an "authentic supermarket" with stable growth and strong local economic presence.
📊 Loan Requirements
- 1. Upgrade 4 supplier agreements to Tier 2 - Demonstrate deep business relationships
- 2. Post 5+ advertising posters - Establish market presence
- 3. Maintain C.A.R. above 50% for 4 consecutive days - Prove operational excellence
- 4. Save 8,000 as down payment - Show financial responsibility
3 Professional Store Renovation
Priority one: transform Discounty into a professional operation. Visit Soluna's shop to purchase wallpaper, flooring, and decorative flowers. Then head to Eisenkram's Hardware for additional shelves and freezers.
📸 Store renovation in progress
🎨 Renovation Tips
- • Use the computer's painting function to change wallpaper and flooring
- • Reorganize shelf layouts for efficient restocking
- • Create clear customer flow paths
- • Enhance the overall shopping experience
4 Marketing & C.A.R. Management
After maintaining C.A.R. rating above 50% for 4 consecutive days, you've proven operational competence. Continue managing Discounty excellently while executing an advertising campaign.
📸 Maintaining excellent C.A.R. ratings
📢 Marketing Strategy
Visit the print shop to create posters and post them on bulletin boards throughout town. This attracts significant customer traffic and builds brand awareness.
5 Upgrading Supplier Agreements
Strengthen relationships with Barbara, Yuming, and Carl. Unlock new cooperation terms - choose between reduced purchase prices or increased order quantities to boost profitability.
🐑 Carl's Special Request
Carl has lost his special sheep, Fluffy (the last lamb born before his father passed away). It's likely hiding in Ragged Forest. Help him find it to strengthen your partnership.
⚓ Yuming's Situation
Yuming hasn't left his house for days. Everyone's worried. While he recovers, help by cleaning his boat daily to keep it seaworthy. This kindness will pay dividends.
6 Operational Excellence
Monday through Saturday, prioritize store operations. Open on time and process checkout efficiently - impatient customers will leave! Use time before and after business hours for other tasks.
📸 Helping Yuming by maintaining his boat
After cleaning Yuming's boat for 3 days, on day 4 he appears in good spirits. He's caught a new species - Periwinkle Salmon - and offers to supply it. Your kindness has upgraded the agreement to Tier 2!
7 Lari Manufacturing Partnership
Delivery guy Gus offers rides to the factory warehouse. After work, meet him at the town hall parking lot. At the factory, you'll meet CEO Tami of Lari Manufacturing.
Initially, Tami is unimpressed, calling you a "headless chicken running around the store." Improve operations significantly before she'll consider becoming a supplier. She'll return for another inspection!
📸 Market research for Barbara's products
📋 Barbara's Market Research
Barbara needs help with product research. Interview 5 townspeople about their opinions on fish-shaped snacks. Completing this upgrades your agreement to Tier 2 and unlocks Fish Stick Fish supply.
8 Ethical Supplier Relations
After passing Tami's second inspection, she's satisfied with your improvements. Visit the factory to sign the trade agreement for their new toothpaste product line.
🐑 The Slaughter Season Dilemma
Slaughter season approaches. Carl needs help marking sheep (except Fluffy). His ex-wife Hilda refuses, finding it cruel. She wants you to convince Carl to produce sheep cheese instead of meat.
📸 Carl's ethical sheep cheese venture
After persuasion, Carl decides against slaughtering. He'll launch sheep cheese at Discounty instead. Congratulations - your agreement upgrades to Tier 2!
9 Equipment Upgrades & Optimization
Through relentless effort, Discounty thrives with impressive profits. Regularly upgrade shelves, freezers, and amplifiers. Advanced versions hold more products and attract customer attention.
📸 State-of-the-art scanner system
🎯 Pro Equipment Tips
- • Scanner: Dramatically improves checkout efficiency - prioritize this purchase!
- • Upgraded Shelves: Higher capacity means fewer restocking trips
- • Advanced Freezers: Essential for expanding frozen goods selection
- • Amplifiers: Draw customer attention to high-margin products
10 Building Deeper Supplier Relationships
Maintaining strong relationships with your four suppliers is crucial. Take time to chat with them regularly - you might discover unexpected opportunities!
🔍 Tami's Investigation Request
Tami has noticed Barbara wandering around the forest near her factory at dusk and suspects she might be spying on operations. She wants your help investigating Barbara's intentions.
- • Talk to Barbara about her evening activities
- • Check the forest area near Tami's factory
- • Report back to Tami with your findings
✨ Investigation Outcome
While you won't find concrete evidence of Barbara spying on the factory, Tami appreciates your effort. As a reward, she upgrades your trade agreement to Tier 2, allowing you to sell their Party Time Plastic Straws!
11 Meeting Derek's Additional Requirements
With all four suppliers upgraded to Tier 2 agreements and sufficient funds for the down payment, it's time to visit Derek at the bank. However, he has one more requirement.
🏪 Employment Standards
Derek insists that a proper supermarket should employ at least one sales assistant to help manage workload and maintain service quality during expansion. You need to hire an employee before the loan can be approved.
👦 Chester's Situation
Derek mentions his rebellious teenage son Chester, who's been causing trouble around town. He hopes you can talk to Chester - maybe you young people can connect. Plus, Discounty needs an employee, so perhaps you can convince Chester to work at the store.
- • Find Chester in town (usually causing mischief)
- • Try to reason with him about getting a job
- • Offer him a position at Discounty
12 Dealing with Chester's Lemonade Stand
Instead of becoming your colleague, Chester sets up a lemonade stand right in front of your store, becoming your competitor! Time for some creative problem-solving.
🍋 The Competition Problem
Chester's lemonade stand is drawing customers away from Discounty. You'll need to take action to eliminate this competition.
- • Wait for Chester to be distracted
- • Secretly add some "special ingredients" to his lemonade
- • Watch as customers avoid his stand
- • Offer him a job when his business fails
📸 Chester's competitive lemonade stand
✅ Mission Complete!
After his lemonade stand fails, Chester agrees to become your employee. With this requirement met, Derek approves your loan application! You now have:
- • An employee (Chester) to help manage the store
- • 25 million loan approved for expansion
- • Everything ready for Phase 2 expansion plans
🎯 Chapter 4 Complete!
Congratulations! You've successfully navigated the PR crisis, secured all Tier 2 supplier agreements, hired your first employee, and obtained the massive loan needed for expansion. Discounty is now recognized as an authentic supermarket ready for major growth!
Chapter Overview
📋 Main Objectives
- ✓ Handle PR crisis and protests
- ✓ Help Barbara with market research
- ✓ Clean Yuming's boat for 3 days
- ✓ Convince Carl to produce cheese
- ✓ Investigate Barbara for Tami
- ✓ Upgrade 4 suppliers to Tier 2
- ✓ Maintain C.A.R. above 50% for 4 days
- ✓ Post 5+ advertising posters
- ✓ Save 8,000 down payment
- ✓ Meet Derek's employment requirement
- ✓ Deal with Chester's lemonade stand
- ✓ Secure 25 million bank loan
📊 Success Metrics
- • C.A.R. Rating: 50%+ (4 days)
- • Tier 2 Agreements: 4/4
- • Posters Posted: 5+
- • Down Payment: 8,000
- • Loan Amount: 25,000,000
🤝 Supplier Upgrades
- ☐ Barbara → Tier 2 (Survey)
- ☐ Yuming → Tier 2 (Boat cleaning)
- ☐ Carl → Tier 2 (Cheese proposal)
- ☐ Tami → New agreement
💡 Pro Strategies
- Prioritize scanner purchase for checkout efficiency
- Help suppliers with personal requests for upgrades
- Clean Yuming's boat daily for 3 days
- Convince Carl to make cheese instead of meat
- Complete Barbara's market research survey