What does this coffee press release say about influencer traffic?

A woman from Guizhou who could not get an appointment with Huaihua hairstylist Xiaohua set up a makeshift pour-over coffee stall beside her car near the barbershop, reportedly earning about 700 yuan a day. The story spread quickly online, drawing both praise for her initiative and questions about whether it was a planned stunt.

Huaihua has drawn more than 200,000 visits since Xiaohua went viral, and over 60 specialty shops have opened nearby. Local authorities released a 90-minute culture and tourism circle guide, offering free scenic admission to visitors who show transport tickets and a check-in photo at the barbershop, which raises questions about what is coffee shops and how pop-up vendors fit in.

Huaihua, Hunan, quickly went viral on social media thanks to the sincere service of hairstylist Xiaohua, attracting over 200,000 visits in total. More than 60 specialty shops have already set up in the area, and the local culture and tourism department has also rolled out supporting perks such as free admission to scenic spots. Amid this surge of traffic, a woman from Guizhou who had originally planned to get a haircut from Xiaohua queued for days without managing to snag an appointment, so she simply set up a makeshift coffee stall beside her car, serving pour-over coffee to passersby and pulling in about 700 yuan in daily sales. This impromptu entrepreneurial move sparked heated discussion online, with some praising her creativity and drive, and others questioning whether it was an elaborately planned marketing stunt.

Recently, Huaihua in Hunan shot to social media fame because of a hairstylist named Xiaohua who "actually listens," and the city suddenly became a must-visit spot for countless netizens. In a very short time, visitors from all over the country poured in, and according to local authorities, cumulative foot traffic has already exceeded 200,000.

Driven by the influencer effect, a large influx of tourists and consumers has breathed new life into the area. More than 60 specialty shops have now opened here. Huaihua's culture and tourism authorities have also released a "90-minute culture and tourism circle" guide and teamed up with multiple scenic spots, hotels, and restaurants to offer promotions. Tourists only need to show their transportation tickets and a check-in photo at Li Xiaohua's barbershop to enjoy free admission to several scenic spots.

In an era where traffic is king, everyone wants a slice of the influencer economy. Recently, the popularity of Xiaohua's barbershop has continued to climb, with related topics frequently trending, among them "#GuizhouGirlSellsCoffeeOutsideXiaohuaShopEarning700YuanADay#," which shot up the trending list and triggered widespread discussion online.

According to Rednet, a woman from Guizhou said on camera that she had originally planned to return to her hometown of Leishan for the Miao New Year, but during her trip she happened to see viral videos of "Huaihua hairstylist Xiaohua" on social media. Out of a love for beauty, she also wanted Xiaohua to design a hairstyle she'd be happy with, based on her own ideas.

So the Guizhou woman changed her plans on the spot and drove to the entrance of Xiaohua's barbershop in Huaihua. Only after arriving did she discover that plenty of others had the same idea. The shop entrance was completely packed, with people spontaneously forming long lines, all hoping to get Xiaohua to cut the hairstyle they wanted as soon as possible.

Unexpectedly, the woman queued for several days in a row and still never managed to get a haircut slot from Xiaohua. Faced with this situation, most people might leave disappointed or frustrated, but this Guizhou woman showed a different kind of positive attitude and creativity.

Although she never got an appointment with Xiaohua, the Guizhou woman didn't leave right away. Instead, she had a flash of inspiration, parked her car on a nearby roadside, and used the coffee equipment she carried in her car to set up a temporary coffee stall, watching Xiaohua cut hair while offering fresh pour-over coffee to passersby.

This impromptu entrepreneurial approach not only helped her pass the time while waiting in Huaihua, but also unexpectedly drew plenty of attention from passersby. According to the Guizhou woman, daily sales from selling coffee out of her car were about 700 yuan. Though that number isn't huge, for a spur-of-the-moment attempt, it's already a pretty good start.

In response, some netizens commented that the creative awareness of today's young people is impressive—in the age of the influencer economy, you have to seize opportunities quickly and make the most of your own strengths to create value. Others, however, raised doubts, arguing that the woman bringing coffee equipment to set up a stall near Xiaohua's barbershop was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but a carefully planned marketing event.

Image source: Internet

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.