It looks like every business under the sun is on Instagram these days. So are we. Websites have become quite sophisticated, and as I alluded to in an earlier blog, there are abundant resources both effective and not effective available in what's become a thriving web builder and SEO industry.  Obviously, what a business hopes to achieve by spending time, effort and money on all this is to reach clients and build business. In the old days, for us, trade shows were a means of accomplishing this. Now, everyone is online. The issue is, so is every competitor. 

   The window in to what a business is about is often only their website, posts, and a few emails. The integrity of who your dealing with may be judged by only its' posted reviews. All of this can be manipulated. So what is one to do?

   We're fortunate to have been in business so long and having established relationships. We have a good idea of what our client are looking for and what to expect. They too, can count on our efforts. This process has created a mindset for me that what works best and is the most comfortable manner to conduct business is  relationships in the trade. Companies starting out don't have this luxury and we ourselves need to continue to find new clients. So how?

   We try to target specifically clients that are in line with our aesthetic. IG, our website and other platforms have value here in attracting those that fit. They find you and I also search for them. The next step is to cultivate the relationship. It you truly have a product that they can value and is of benefit to the client,  they will likely take a look. I'm more interested in this targeted follow up rather that a blanket approach of continually bombarding people with information that doesn't suit their needs. How many followers or hits you get is of little importance relative to how much revenue is generated.

  I do see value in exploring new avenues of reaching new audiences. That is an integral part of expanding an audience. It's of little value to continue soliciting the same audience of folks who just aren't interested.

   Once I see that we can benefit one another and that there is some interest on the part of the client, we pay attention to what we can do to fulfill the client's needs and facilitate business. Numerous times I've been complimented on my answering the phone or responding to a client so quickly. Pay attention to clients and providing customer service works! Us old timers remember that it's how many businesses were run.

Wally Stryk   Asian Art Imports   asianartimports@yahoo.com   323 578 4677   www.asianartimports.net

   I correspond with many interior designers, store owners, importers and manufacturers daily. We use to spend more time discussing market trends. Now the topic is the state of the economy, tariffs and where we're headed. Without exception, owners are concerned. It's little consolation that we're in this boat together. People have various ideas about what's created the current market conditions including uncertainty, tariffs, world conflicts, politics, interest rates, inflation etc. In my view I think all of these things contribute.  

  Many small businesses are having a very difficult time navigated this period. Several of my oldest customers are calling it quits. So where do we go from here and what to do? Well, I'm seeing a bit of activity after a big lull. We're fortunate in that our expenses are somewhat manageable, and we are positioned to offer good value because of our buying position. We've been around long enough to have a fairly substantial customer base. How can the rest of us manage?

  It appears that there is still some buying and building happening. You have to tap in the best you can. If your regular target customer is not active, then you have to expand that target group. Let others know that you're in the game. Find new channels to contact new customers. Retailers may find that the market becomes even more competitive with other retailers offering deep discounts just to turn inventory into cash. It's better to survive the slow times and live to see a better day than to hold out for normal price points. If a retailer can set themselves apart from the rest, offering unique, desirable product, then they'll have a big advantage. On that note, I'm seeing many companies that appear to be mirror images of others. That applies to both retail establishments and interior design firms. Instagram and the internet in general facilitate this. Folks see something that appeals to them and replicate the look. The creative element takes a back seat. That's not setting yourself apart.

   

   Hopefully, things settle down and the business environment for discretionary goods and renovations rebounds before too long. I wish everyone the best during this period.

Wally Stryk   Asian Art Imports   www.asianartimports.net

  

Things are changing fast! Our business environment, customer sentiment, design trends, marketing opportunities, etc. have always moved forward. The difference that I see today is that there is a confluence of factors merging coupled with an acceleration in development of online strategies. The move to online sales is one of the biggest factors affecting many in business. Brick and mortar stores have difficulty in competing with the big online retailers. Couple this with a sometimes less insightful consumer and sales are down at most small retailers. Quality compared to price often takes a back seat. 

   Interior designers which often supported the box store can also feel the pinch. You can set up a visual demonstration online and place an item of in context in a virtual setting eliminating the need for professional advice. Not the same obviously, but the point is, it affects the number of clients looking. 

   The online retailers tend to carry products that have appeal, have a good margin, and can be bought in quantity making listing easier. Not too many out there will take the time to list one-of-a-kind items (like us :). Browsing site to site, I see the same type of products store to store. 

    So, how do retailers navigate this market? They distinguish themselves with a niche and cater to that clientele. But the thing is, how can a small business compete with the big guys? How can they create traffic to their location, website and social media? And that's the acceleration I've seen in the past year. Websites have become quite developed. SEO can be as involved as you like and the amount of SEO advisors, developers, back link companies, on and on, has grown exponentially. I've spoken with a few and have evaluated some to be knowledgeable, some to be earning a buck as quickly as possible, and some to be shysters. 

   This is the environment that we navigate today. I'm grateful to my old customers that keep us going. I'm also pushing for new contacts that appreciate our aesthetic and business values. So, is all lost?

   Not at all, it's simply important to have somewhat of an understanding of the dynamics at work. Although business can be less personal than in years past, that can create firmer relationships with those that have the same values. You can see what trends are at a glance these days which can make for more informed decisions. Buyers and sellers are a keyboard away. Distinguishing yourself. Getting through may take more perseverance but the possibilities are really endless.

Be well,

Wally and Pat    Asian Art Imports   www.asianartimports.net

What's new?

 One of the requirements of a business like ours is the constant searching for what we can bring in that will work. We try to inspire new ideas keeping in mind that we are in the business of selling and there has to be a balance there. Sometimes, it takes time for a line to catch on. Other times, we move more stock than we can keep up with. As of late, we've been bringing in more sculptures both in ceramic and cement and here we've found demand. Part of the allure is the individual personality of each piece. These are not mass produced, and our clients appreciate that. In fact, much of what we do is essentially one of a kind and that's what brings clients to us. The stone planters we now carry also fall into that category. Bottom line is we don't stagnate. We have clients with successful businesses that we've worked with for over twenty years and this method helps us all. We pay attention to feedback and sometimes adjust our thinking to fit the market.

We do carry on with what brought us here, namely natural wood furniture and vintage pieces, vine art, and Urchin Light Pendants will continue to be in our stock. So, it's a process of exploring and adjusting. Things change and so do we.

Wally and Pat   Asian Art Imports   asianartimports.net

We unloaded a new shipment!

 We received a 40' container at our Van Nuys, California location yesterday. It contained mixed freight including 30 tables 8' to 16' in length and a dozen organic consoles. So, where do these come from? The short answer is Thailand. The process starts with obtaining reclaimed wood. The wood is obtained from areas that are cleared for a variety of reasons. The wood isn't grown to made furniture. In the case of the tables we just brought in, we bought a large section of a tree that was reclaimed and had it sliced to our specifications. The slabs are thick. The wood is then cleaned up and dried, finished and fitted with legs. We keep these in our Thailand warehouse and ship to California with our logistics company as we need them. Being in control of the entire process allows us to have the product we want and being to offer it at an extremely good value. It's also rewarding to us to know that the wood is responsibly obtained.   

We have new product, website and blog so, why not start at the beginning?

 

   We started small. In 1998 our sourcing consisted of scouring small cottage industry shops, literally mom and pop, throughout Thailand. Most of the people we delt with were serving the domestic market. My wife Pat, who is Thai, and I traveled around in a pickup truck and often found our vendors by stopping by in our travels. Internet was not what it is today and finding a source was primarily by word of mouth. We enjoyed the exploring and sourcing which led us to some wonderful experiences and finds. Reclaimed architectural pieces and farm tools were some of what we sourced. We developed relationships with some people who are friends to this day. This process is more than just business to us. We want to feel good about the entire process.

   We found a good market for our finds in Los Angeles. As we grew, we expanded our sourcing by fulfilling customer requests. We discovered that tables, coffee tables, stools, wall art and other natural wood decor were in demand. We did some shows including New York Gift Show, ICFF and Las Vegas Market. Initially, we were the only vendors selling natural wood furniture. This changes over the following years but we've navigated the ups and downs and continue to stay inspired and yes, we're still sourcing from great suppliers.

We've just come back from the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in NYC. The show offers high end, design inspired decor. It's truly an international show and I'm always impressed with the quality of the exhibitors and participants. We've exhibited these past three years and this year was no exception. I've seen the higher end businesses succeeding. They tend to offer new, exciting product and concepts to their clients; be it retail customers or design clients. The innovative entities are the ones succeeding. For more on this show and our lines, view www.asianartimports.com.
Wally Stryk   Asian Art Imports