Meet Ken Shigeru | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ken Shigeru and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ken, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Typically, people start their own business to pursue their passion, create something new, have greater control over their work, seek financial independence, or solve a problem they are passionate about. It involves developing a business idea, conducting market research, creating a business plan, securing funding, and taking the necessary legal and regulatory steps to start.

What should our readers know about your business?
At the moment I’m building an Anime-inspired Boutique Minimart (SOCIETI) in Downtown Miami in a skyscraper Luxury Hotel / Condominium. This first one is corporately-owned and will be a template for future expansion.

What makes this minimart different and I suppose you can call it “speciality or boutique” is that it will have product-assortments that are near-and-dear to me: things that are rated best-in-class or are more earth-friendly (traceable and sustainable) and more wholesome for the human body – think GMO/chem-free, preservative-free, and the like.

Hmm… I’m precisely at this point not by careful-planning or plotting … I suppose organic-growth has channeled me to where I am at this very juncture.

I can say that my intention of getting into the retail brick-and-mortar business was a conscious effort to diversify my business portfolio.

You see everything up to this point has been mostly “virtual”. All my businesses are based on “Brokering and Consulting”. I sell to Fortune 50-100 companies – people who own thew conversation in their respective segments: Starbucks Coffee, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters. Amazon, Whole Foods Market, Sysco, Costco.com and the like.

They’re all great businesses as it’s all “virtual” – I pitch, they accept (love), get it co-packed and shipped, then collect payments. Sounds simple right?? It is. Keeps you super busy because these clients are “super demanding”.

Now it is time for me to actually own physical assets in the name of business portfolio diversification. This minimart is planned to kick things off, then Butcher Shops… then we shall see.. .

The one true lesson I learned that I will pass on to you is to challenge yourself by aiming high. What I mean by that is I only target companies that are Top-of-their-game. Granted they are harder to penetrate. But when you succeed, you can then enjoy higher velocity of sales and frequency of reordering. Besides, if you already service the pinnacle, adding others would be comparatively easier for so many reason 🙂

Lessons? Gosh… are we writing a book here?! 100″s of lessons daily … watch out for my e-book I will be self-publishing on Amazon Publishing soon.

But, kidding aside, the biggest lessons I learnt are not be driven to act based solely on emotions and an aloof self-grandiosity. I think you know what Im referring to.

BIGGEST LESSON: Always learn about a business as if your life depended on it BEFORE you go into the “pitching room”. Be the smartest in the room (politely of course) on the subject matter at hand. If you just do this, you will very likely enjoy same enviable batting average as me… .

While I do not attempt to transform the world, I like my businesses to be developed in a collaborative, transparent, and ethical manner and is committed to advancing the state-of-the-art while addressing potential risks and challenges.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Finally …I love love the newly-opened Chocolate Factory in Sobe. Its signature 8os burger is out-of-this-world and its desserts are just outrageous.

Naturally no visit to Miami is complete without paying homage to the Versailles – its a rite of passage.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely – no man is an island. We all have personal relationships or emotions, but I do not have someone or something specific to dedicate a shoutout to. However, I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of scientists, researchers, healthcare professionals, and other essential workers who have been working tirelessly to make the world a better place. I also want to acknowledge the invaluable support and love provided by families and friends to their loved ones, especially during trying times.

Instagram: @kenshigeru

Image Credits
All owned