「我不知道這間店會不會賺錢，但如果不做，兩年後即使我能捧著兩百萬，然後呢，再去買夢想嗎？這樣是買不到夢想的，夢想需要流血、流汗、流淚去建築。」老闆說。
“I’m not sure if the café would be successful, but I want to do this. I couldn’t hold tons of money years later and try to purchase a dream. Dreams couldn’t be reached by that, they require blood, sweat and tears,” said the owner of Sugarholic.
午後 的暖陽穿透小店的隅角，熟練地將遮陽棚拉起，他望向店內，眼神像是慈父望向孩子那般地驕傲與炙熱。開店近兩個月的《嗜甜》，選材的堅持、最後削灑檸檬的屑香，小小的動作，卻是顧客著迷的原因之一，深信甜點魔力的老闆，期許蛋糕帶來的幸福感，能讓嚐下口的顧客們，將這份幸福渲染著身邊的每一個人。
淡江大學化學系畢業的他，一開始只是為了女友而學習做甜點，做著、做著、做出了熱情，一面幫忙三芝的咖啡廳《石牆仔內》，一面焦頭爛額地接著外頭的訂單，漸漸地，散播更多快樂的信念日益茁壯。老闆決定投入百分百的心力與時間於母校附近的店面。目前除卻經營，持續提供甜點給其他咖啡廳之餘，也希望未來能穩定地與更多衷愛甜品的店家合作，一同將這份熱情回饋予在地的學生，提供他們更多價格上的優惠。
The sun was still strong in the afternoon, getting through the windows. He slid out the awning, and looked into the café. This is Sogarholic, a café located in Tamsui, which Lin, the owner, is so proud of. Lin opened the café about two month ago. He insists on high quality ingredients and detailed services, which got the customers addicted.Lin believes in the magic of desserts, and continues making them to bring happiness to people.
Graduating from Department of Chemistry at Tamkang University, Lin started making desserts for his girlfriend then, and found great interests in it. At that time, he was helping another café in Sanzhi and getting several orders from others as well. He spent lots of time doing this and decided to get a more efficient way to spread the happiness.Therefore, he opened Sugarholic, and made it be his only focus. Lin still provides the desserts to some other cafés, and hopes this model could be even more stable and profitable. In this case, he could give out more discounts to local students.
一路走來，途經最大的困難是什麼？
What is the most significant challenge so far?
想得到、看得到的都是困難。
Anything you could see, could think of is a challenge.
創業最大的困難就是資金來源，開頭自備的資金約 15 萬，設備都還沒有買，房租和押金、外面遮陽棚就已耗去了 8 萬。後來因為要申請政府補助，仔細評估創業成本，才知道實際要 65 萬，單憑原始資金根本行不通，才開始拉贊助，感謝周遭朋友的協助。不論是實質資金上的贊助、口頭上的支持、包括裝潢與擺飾，不限於任何形式的幫助，現在店面裡的燈就是系上同學送的呢！
The biggest challenge is the cash flow. At the beginning, I got around 150 thousand NT dollars (five thousand US dollars) more or less, and spent 80 thousand on the rent, deposit and the awning. Hadn’t got the equipment yet. I did the calculation, realizing I would need 650 thousand to cover the initial cost. So I started seeking sponsorship and help. I got a lot of help from family and friends. Like the pendant lights here, they are from my college mate.
原本是蒙古火鍋店的牆壁，承租下來時發現滿是油汙，本身是化學系的背景，找了氫氧化鈉和檸檬酸等清潔劑用最省錢的方式自己動手清理。本來只是想要個工作室，但兩面通透，鐵門拉起來一清二楚的採光，驅使我不得不在沒有多餘資金的情況下，自己著手清理油汙，拔除鏽釘、粉刷油漆，從一開始盯著天花板發呆的無助，最後面向克服 4 米、8 米的天花板後的微笑。
The space was for a hotpot restaurant, and I did all the cleaning on my own after I took over. I studied Chemistry so I know sodium hydroxide or citric acid might be good detergent to remove the oil on the walls. Actually I was looking for a place as my baking studio, but at this place with glass windows, I had no choice but to make it look nicer. Besides removing the oil, I drew out the useless nails, and painted the walls as well as ceilings. I was staring at the high ceilings but eventually I turned them all white.
父母的支持？
Did you get supports from your parents?
最早的時候，幾乎沒有人知道。
At the very beginning, almost no one knew my plan.
初期，除了幾個幫忙的朋友，我的父母親、最好的朋友都不知道。當時，即使早出晚歸，父母親因為以為我都在中壢的咖啡廳幫忙，沒有懷疑。我也不是刻意的要隱瞞，只是連自己的心都充滿著不確定，連資金的蹤影都看不見，很難向他們開口。公布開店之後的迴響和意見非常的多，這些意見不是不好，但是很雜，每個人心中的店都不一樣，不同的建議反而讓我更為焦急。當初這片地板是花崗岩，有人會說「才 1 萬塊幹嘛不鋪」，或者「樓下 38 坪幹嘛不整理起來」，但我的口袋只剩 1 千塊，他們看不到我的困難、狀況、想法、理念，每天除了計畫店面的開幕、煩惱資金的來源，我還需要額外地花時間思考大家提出的建議與疑問，這應該算是店面受到親友關注之後很大的轉變吧。
At the beginning I only told some friends from whom I needed help. My parents and best friends were kept in the dark. I was also working for a café in Zhongli, Taoyuan, so my parents were not aware of my big plan then. I didn’t mean to lie to them, but I was not sure if I could open the café or get enough money for it. Later I did tell them. I got a lot of feedbacks and advices from friends. It’s good to have those advices or suggestions; however, it’s stressful as well. They asked me to have the wood flooring, or to renovate the basement. I would like to, but I got only a thousand bucks. I was developing all the plans, and worrying about the source of capital, plus I had to spare some time to go through all the questions and suggestions. This is somehow bittersweet.
之前是否有相關的實習經驗呢？
Do you have any related internship experience?
敢問，就有機會。
Ask and it shall be given to you.
透過政府的交換計畫，我在黃石公園的 Yellow Stone Lake Hotel 工作了三個月，剛開始是在餐廳擔任洗碗工。一個禮拜後感到有點厭倦，我就拿著在台灣做甜點的照片給主廚看，告訴他我能做到不一樣的事情。在美國，只要敢問就有機會得到想要的東西，主廚同意把我調到冷食部門。餐廳定期會有個測驗，主廚和經理假裝是客人坐在位子上，留下小兵小將在廚房裡作菜，當天，我做了烤布蕾，大家吃了都很滿意，主廚指定我的烤布蕾為下一週的特選甜點。那是我第一次在餐廳大顯身手，發現自己的點心原來可以賣到 9.5 美元那麼高的價格。兩個禮拜後，我又升為冷食部的領班，直到工作簽證到期，離開那裡。
I have got the temporary work visa and worked in the States for three months. I was a dishwasher at Yellow Stone Lake Hotel. I got bored after a week, so I showed Chef the photos of the desserts I had made, and told him I could accomplish something different. In the States, people get the chance if they dare to ask for it. I was not an exception. Chef assigned me to be the pantry cook. One day, the managers and Chef came in the restaurant as guests and left us, the cooks, handling everything. I made the crème brûlée on that day, and everyone loved it. Chef even listed it as the dessert special for the following week. It was the first time I felt so proud of my work. Two weeks later, I was promoted to pantry lead, and continued working there till my visa expired.
創業至今有沒有遇到有趣的小故事呢？
Is there any interesting incident?
兩個徐老師。
Yes, stories about two Professor Hsu’s.
店裡來了位客人徐老師，品嚐完蛋糕後打了電話到店裡抱怨我們的品質。我習慣了。這些東西無所謂，總有些人喜歡有些人不喜歡。但我對他的話「我也是希望你賺錢阿，你這樣賺不到錢」，很是納悶。老師會花時間教學生怎麼行銷、如何追求利潤，但卻沒鼓勵孩子勇敢地去追夢。或許我行銷的本質沒有做好。但我會替學生們感到擔憂，因為老師教你去追求利益，而不是追夢想。他的話讓我心裡開始有了變化，擔憂著我們的教育，或許讓很多人失去了熱情或夢想。試想，我一天睡 4 小時，工作 18 小時，光算時薪根本不划算。如果是這樣的計算，會多少人會願意留下呢？
One day, Professor Hsu, one of my customers, called after his visit, leaving some comments on my desserts and the prices. I got used to comments. I know I could not please everyone, nor do my desserts. But I’m confused about his words. “In your current model, you wouldn’t be able to profit,” he said. I’m surprised that nowadays students are taught to do marking, to pursue profits, but not to pursue their dreams. I’m kind of worried that these students would lose their passion. I sleep around 4 hours a day and work 18 hours. Counted my wage per hour, this is definitely a wrong decision. Without the passion, who would choose to live the dream?
堅持到現在，很大的原因是因為我大學教授徐老師，他鼓勵我追夢，當面臨是否升學的抉擇，他叫我做想做的事情。這間店不知道以後會不會賺錢，商業模式什麼我都不知道，但如果我不做這件事，賺多少錢我都不會開心。雖然現在還有一些東西不完整，但我隨時都可以抱著沒有後悔的心態離開。而不會捧著一堆現金，才去想著夢想。夢想買不到，夢想是要花時間精力、流血流汗流淚，它真的不容易，到處都是困難，但是我真的是明天發生什麼事情也了無遺憾。
Another Professor Hsu, who is my professor at Tamkang University, has been supporting me. I’ve struggled between entering a graduate program and starting my own business. He told me to do what I want to do. I have no marketing background and know little about business models. But I know nothing would make me happier than this. I’m not sure if the café would be successful, but I want to do this. I couldn’t hold tons of money years later and try to purchase a dream. Dreams couldn’t be reached by that, they require blood, sweat and tears. It’s challenging, but I know I wouldn’t regret even if I were to kick the bucket tomorrow.
面對口袋比較淺的孩子們，我希望他們也能擁有小確幸。有時，我甚至覺得請快期中考的孩子們吃蛋糕也沒關係。若他嚐了甜點能抱著好心情面對考試，這就值了，這種事情真的錢是算不出來的。
I hope I can have more discounts for the students. They might not have extra money to buy a dessert, but I can treat them. If they try my cake, feel happier and get higher scores in the midterms, then the cake values far more than 60 or 100 bucks.
有沒有想對年輕人說的話呢？
Any words to the young generation?
做想做的事情，勇敢追夢。
Do whatever you want, and fight for your dreams.
雖然有點老套，但，真的就是「做想做的事情，勇敢追夢。」因為在還沒閉上眼睛前，沒有任何事情有絕對的對錯，在這個時點，看來不好的事情最後變成好或壞，或看來好的事情最後到底好或壞，尚未有定論。在創業前，我準備的資金和評估出來的費用差了一大截，看起來好像不應該創業，但我還是做了，至於能不能做起來？還不知道，但我很滿足，也不後悔這個決定。
Although it’s like an old saying, but there’s some truth there. There is no absolute right or wrong before we stop breathing. At this point, we might take something as a good thing, but we don’t know how it would end; we might take something as a bad thing, but we don't know how it would end either. Before I started my business, I figured there’s a huge gap between the cash I had and the cash required. Looked like I shouldn’t have pursued my dream, but I still did. I’m fulfilled no matter what would happen tomorrow, and will never regret my decision.
地址 Address：新北市淡水區北新路 184 巷 142 弄 23 號
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