Meet Yuxin Jin | Proud Hilton College Hospitality Alumni

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yuxin Jin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yuxin, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
There are two things that contribute to my business success: a commitment to product quality and a commitment to providing the best customer service. These two things are what makes Feng Cha stand out from other teahouses. Feng Cha Teahouse offers handcrafted, premium quality teas and desserts. The baristas follow recipes precisely and only use the best teas and fresh fruits. I have a responsibility to my customers to provide them with not only quality products, but with a great experience. The baristas are trained to greet customers, help them make drink and food choices, and to respond immediately to any complaints or issues. Every customer that posts a review on Google or Yelp receives a personal response. I personally reach out to customers that were not satisfied with products or service. I offer a 100% guarantee on our products. The Feng Cha commitment to the highest quality products and service has resulted in both our locations experiencing a significant increase in sales over the past year. My sincere thanks to our loyal customers and to our baristas.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Feng Cha Teahouse brand is well established in China and in 2017 Feng Cha made the decision to introduce the brand to the U.S. market. I invested in the brand in the fall of 2017 and was named Houston Area Developer. I had never owned or run a business. It was difficult with both successes and failures. I opened our first location was a kiosk in Katy Mills mall in the far west portion of Houston. The business did not do well. Others, like Smoothie king seemed to thrive, but I was losing money every day. It was difficult and depressing After a year I terminated the lease and began a search for other locations.
I learned a lot in those days. I learned about business and about myself. It was difficult. I sometimes wanted to give it up, but this is my dream. I didn’t give up. I worked harder.
In 2019 we selected and signed leases for two locations. One location, Chinatown, did quite well when it opened. Naturally location contributed significantly to that. Our other location, Sugar Land, took more time. It was in a new, not yet established shopping center. Over time the business there grew as well. Both stores now are performing well.
I learned the important of networking in all areas: marketing, finance, maintenance, and the business community. It’s often difficult, but at the same time exciting. The success or failure of the business is largely up to me. I can’t control things like the pandemic or market changes, however, we found creative ways to get through the pandemic and are now growing and looking to open new locations.
It is my goal to grow the Feng Cha brand in Houston. To make Feng Cha the preferred tea house. We pride ourselves on offering great products and especially pride ourselves on providing outstanding customer service.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I probably will take her to the Galleria shopping mall, to eat, shop, and walk around. Museum district definitely will be one of our destinations. I will take her to Houston Zoo, Hermann park, and Fine Art Museum. Of course Feng Cha Teahouse, and the restaurants I really like, such as Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood & Crab, and some brunch places.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Hilton College of UH, which offered me a great chance to get the most professional hospitality background. Hilton College has the best group of faculty to work together to educate students from the world wide. As a proud alumni of Hilton College, I worked so hard to pass the philosophy of hospitality industry to my employees and my valuable customers.

Secondly, I really appriciate my family. Because of their support, I can chase my dream. While I am working on how to balance my family and my career, my husband support me unconditionally.

Website: Www.fengchausa.com

Instagram: @fengchahouston/@fengchasugarland

Facebook: @fengchahouston/@fengchasugarland

Yelp: @Feng Cha

Image Credits
Photos are done in house.