Chợ Tết Stall and the School Fundraiser
Linh, a Year 12 student in Cabramatta, is asked by her Vietnamese class teacher to run a bánh mì and chè stall at the school's multicultural fair. The stall must raise at least $600 for a local aged-care home that serves many Vietnamese-Australian elders. The teacher suggests selling at prices similar to those at the nearby chợ on John Street, but the fair runs only three hours and the school takes no commission. Linh's grandmother, who volunteers at the aged-care home, offers to cook 80 bánh mì and 60 cups of chè for free if Linh collects the ingredients by Thursday. Two classmates want to help but can only arrive after their soccer match, about 90 minutes into the fair. Linh also worries that pricing too low will look like she undervalues her grandmother's work, while pricing too high may deter students who usually spend $5–$8 at lunch.
1. Identify the main competing considerations Linh must weigh when setting her prices, and explain how each affects her decision.
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Linh faces three competing considerations. First, the fundraising target: she needs at least $600 from 80 bánh mì and 60 chè in three hours. If she sells all items, a $5 bánh mì and $3 chè would yield 80×5 + 60×3 = $580, which falls short, so she must either price slightly higher or be confident of selling out. Second, community fairness and respect: her grandmother donated labour and ingredients, so pricing must reflect that the food has real value and not be treated as a cheap giveaway. Third, student spending habits: most students bring $5–$8, so a bánh mì priced above $8 risks unsold stock. A reasonable judgement is to price bánh mì at $6–$7 and chè at $3–$4, advertise a combo deal, and prepare a backup plan (for example, pre-orders from teachers) if sales lag. The key reasoning is that the target, respect for the grandmother's contribution, and realistic demand must all be balanced rather than optimising only one.
2. Linh's two helpers arrive 90 minutes late. Explain how she should adjust her plan and justify the adjustment using the constraints in the scenario.
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The helpers' late arrival creates a staffing gap during the busiest opening period, when students usually buy food before or between events. Linh should not simply wait for them. Instead she should: (1) simplify the menu for the first 90 minutes, selling pre-assembled bánh mì and pre-poured chè so one person can serve quickly; (2) recruit one extra volunteer from her class or ask her grandmother to bring a friend from the aged-care home for the first hour; (3) use a visible sign and a queue system so customers know the stall is open and service is fast. When the helpers arrive, they can take over restocking and payment. This is justified because the three-hour window is fixed and the $600 target depends on capturing early foot traffic; losing the first 90 minutes of efficient service would likely leave stock unsold and the target unmet. The adjustment also protects the grandmother from being overworked, which is consistent with the community values the fundraiser is meant to express.