Today we’d like to introduce you to Asia Kim Prapavat.
Hi Asia Kim, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My parents immigrated from Bangkok, Thailand in the early 70’s. With very little education and money, they hustled doing different types of jobs and eventually became their own boss. From ice cream trucks, food trucks and then eventually selling @ swap meets/flea markets for the most early part of my childhood. Like a gypsy, my parents and I would travel to different cities and states to sell tools, toys and whatever my parents can make a profit on.
They did this up until I eventually started grade school and by that time, they had saved enough money to open their brick & mortar. Tools were mainly the products we bought and sold. By the early 80’s we imported directly from China and started our brand, “Pit Bull Tools” which then evolved to “AJ Wholesale Distributors, Inc”. (1987). I spent every day, after school, summers, etc. working with my parents. By the time I was eight years old, I was 10-key proficient! We didn’t have computers at that time, so we had to handwrite all receipts, which could have had 10-100 different items. My job was to tally the receipts and collect the cash. Most customers were really amazed at how fast I could calculate the numbers and receipts, often doubting my accuracy LOL. This was not going to be the only job duty I learned @ AJ’s. I learned customer service skills, purchasing, accounting, HR and so much more. Fast forward four decades later, I am now the VP of AJ Wholesale Distributors, Inc. I have a little over 50 employees and still help run the day to day functions of this business.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not! From sleeping in and under vans/trucks @ flea markets to arguing with my parents because of our different management styles of leadership. Many sleepless nights worried about how will bills be paid and anxiety about having to let an old employee go. The list goes on.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about AJ Wholesale Distributors, Inc.?
Our 150,000 sq. ft. warehouse is a one-stop shop. We have products that range from toilet tissue, pet supplies, canopy sets, houseware, toys, plumbing, power tools and so much more. We are a wholesale company that is open to the public. This has been a success by word of mouth for many decades. We have been able to remain open during Covid because we are an essential business. We have supplied hundreds of thousands of mask and face shields and a lot of other Covid supplies to all the surrounding hospitals and communities. I am proud that our brand is all over the US, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean. I am 100% confident that when you shop in our store, you know you are a getting a great deal! We keep our prices affordable, with savvy buyers in mind and our customers are always excited to come back for deals and products for half the price in other retail stores. I am big animal lover, so I am most proud of starting our pet supplies in our store 10+ years ago. It is now the top 3 best selling category!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes! I am proud of our staff and how hard everyone has worked to stay open and compliant. I realized how fortunate we are to be able to THRIVE during this pandemic and is grateful for the support we get from our customers. Life is unpredictable and I am so grateful I still get to work with my family, everyday.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6925 Paramount Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90805 open 7 days
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.ajtools.com
