We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wally Stryk a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Wally, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

It’s easy for me to envision working for someone because I’ve done so for many years. I always felt the drive to have my own business and take responsibility for the outcomes. I felt stifled in a regular 9-5. I am happier as a business owner. I’ve appreciated the decision making process and this work in particular has allowed be to explore some wonderful places.

Wally, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My wife Pat and I started this business in 1998. We both enjoy the process of procuring interesting furniture and decor and offering it here in Van Nuys. We both have an eye for and love for what we do. That’s something that can’t be instilled in someone. It’s allowed us to have confidence in what we do and made the process pleasurable. Pat’s from Thailand which is where we primarily source from these days. Several years ago we opened our forwarding company, Two Logistics, in Thailand and that’s been beneficial in a variety of ways. We are open to a world market, shipping directly from Thailand. We have more purchasing power because of the volume. This has allowed us to offer very competitive pricing. We’re grateful for having the opportunity of earning a living with what we enjoy and for the wonderful craftsperson and customers we work with.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Pivoting has been a constant for us. The general aesthetic values,and appreciation for the not so common has been maintained but there have been changes in consumer tastes and we’ve adapted. in the past, a larger percentage of customers were concerned with the pedigree and story about items. Today, not so much, We’re currently taking on more landscape and garden pieces that can be viewed on our Instagram @asianartimports.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met my wife Pat during an early business trip to Thailand. She was a draftsperson for an oil company and was bored with her job. We hit it off from the start and began traveling and sourcing together. The trips took us throughout Thailand, Burma, China and Indonesia. Traveling together is a great way to really get to know someone. The rest, 26 years later, is history.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.asianartimports.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianartimports/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asianartimports
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/asian-art-imports-van-nuys?osq=asian+art+imports
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/asianartimports/