Meet Mark Ybuan of Nomad Post

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Ybuan.

Hi Mark, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As first generation immigrants, we were always taught to keep our heads down, study hard, and to seek a stable career. It wasn’t that our parents weren’t supportive of our dreams and aspirations, they just didn’t want us to have to endure the struggles they faced. For them, life wasn’t a race to the top, it was a relay race where they were committed to covering as much ground as they could, so we wouldn’t have to run as hard or as far. The baton is passed down to us so we could live the life they dreamed for themselves.

For a majority of our lives, we followed the playbook to a tee, and didn’t deviate. We worked in corporate America for 20+ years and found success in the field of advertising. Through the course of our careers, we were fortunate to have worked on some high profile accounts and for some amazing companies. And while we found success in our careers, there was a part of us that felt unfulfilled. When we weren’t working our 9 to 5, my wife and I would daydream of starting our own business, but never thought it would be something we would ever pursue in the near future.

In the summer of 2019, I took a leap of faith and applied to Amazon’s inaugural Delivery Service Partner program. We were among the first 100 chosen applicants to roll out the program nationwide. Lots of unknowns and despite having zero experience in logistics, we jumped in with both feet, and quickly learned what it took to run a successful business. The work was grueling, the learning curve was steep, but it was also very exciting. In span of 3 years, we were able to grow our company (Godspeed Logistics) to over 150 employees and 80+ vehicles.

In 2023, my wife and I, opted to walk away from the Amazon opportunity, in exchange for a quieter and less chaotic work environment. While we were open to going back to our 9 to 5, a big part of us really loved being small business owners. We explored different business ventures, read up and followed a ton of entrepreneurs on social media, and ultimately landed on a mail box rental store that had been servicing the community for 20+ years. While we knew nothing about the postal industry, we were intrigued by the simplicity of the business model, loved that it was only 5 mins away from home, and were excited to build upon something that had so much history. As long time Pasadena residents, we were excited for the opportunity to have a brick and mortar in the city that we loved and to be able to build the Nomad Post brand from the ground up.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest challenge for us was finding ways to update a business that hasn’t been touched in over two decades The mailbox rental store had an existing customer base that were accustomed to things being done a certain way. When we took over, we had to make sure we won the trust of the current box holders while trying to innovate and increase our customer base.

Unlike other businesses, where the new tenants have the luxury to close the store down for renovations and training, we had to remain open to not disrupt the mail and delivery flow. We had to accelerate our learning curve, quickly file all of our paperwork, and phase out our construction plans to not interfere with the mail service. We spent our days sorting mail and developing standard operating procedures. Our nights were dedicated to clearing the store, updating the space, and rearranging the store.

The first couple of months were a bit chaotic but exciting at the same time. For the first time in our lives, we had the opportunity to work on our own brand and build something from the ground up. It felt good to have a brick and mortar in the community we love. There were a lot of unknowns but we were determined to make it work. It was just my wife and I that operated the store. We were there 6 days a week and spent every free minute thinking of ways to optimize the business, improve work flow, and grow our customer base.

As you know, we’re big fans of Nomad Post. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Nomad Post is an independently owned mail box rental store that offers both physical and virtual mail box options, shipping services, printing, notary, and live scan fingerprinting. We understand how frustrating it is to line up in the post office, so we aim to be a one stop shop for our community’s postal needs. We re-branded the store to Nomad Post because we saw a shift in mindset post-pandemic. More and more people were working remotely, looking into side hustle opportunities, and willing to explore a more unconventional lifestyle. We built our business around the needs of these customers, so they have a central place to receive their mail and packages.

Aside for our postal and shipping services, what makes Nomad Post different, is our emphasis on customer service. Every person that walks through our door is greeted with a smile and a warm welcome. No matter how busy we are, we take the time to get to know our customers. Some are in a period of transition, others are exploring new ventures and need a physical address to register their business, while others are just looking for something constant in their ever-changing lives. Whatever the case may be, we understand how personal mail can be for the intended recipient, so we take extra care ensuring that every piece of correspondence makes it to their appropriate box.

As a Pasadena resident, it’s been such a blessing to get to know our community in such an intimate way. Strangers have become family and through the course of two years, we’ve develop meaningful friendships with our customers. When the Eaton fires devasted Altadena, we quickly jumped into action, and offered free mail box and package receiving services to those who were affected by the fire. It was a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but we recognized that we were in a position to offer immediate assistance to those who were affected by the fire. During that time, our store was flooded with those who were in need. While our heart broke to hear so many stories of loss, we were also inspired by our community’s resilience and hope.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Keep an open mind for what type of business you want to get into. The opportunities that may be available to you may not be the most appealing to you, but don’t dismiss it simply because it’s not what you envisioned for yourself. You learn from each experience and sometimes that’s all you need to propel you forward. I never thought I would leave my corporate job to start a logistics company or a mail box rental store, but I’m so glad that I did! I love being a small business owner and would have never gotten here had I limited my thinking.

Do it scared! Paralysis by analysis is a real thing. Making that initial leap is always going to be scary, especially if you’re accustomed to the corporate world, but trust your gut and make that jump with both eyes wide open! Definitely do your homework, crunch the numbers, but don’t be afraid to jump into something that you’re not an expert in. Growth happens when you step outside of your comfort zone. When faced with hardships, you’ll be surprised how resilient and resourceful you can be. The key is to have faith in yourself, keep your feet moving forward, and learn how to adapt to the situations you are faced with.

Be resourceful and operate within your means. In the beginning, you may not have the capital to completely overhaul your business, but everything doesn’t have to happen all at one time. Prioritize what it is important, phase out your projects, and learn to be resourceful. Some of our furniture and appliances were donated through our local Buy Nothing Group on Facebook. Other repairs and updates to the store were more of DIY projects that we learned to do via YouTube and other social media channels. Things don’t have to be perfect when you start, just work with what you have and focus on the parts of your business that actually matter.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nomad-post.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadpostpasadena/