Adjusting to Life in the US

It’s been four weeks since I arrived in the US, and I’m still settling in. I’ve been busy with a long to-do list, including leasing an apartment, furnishing it, getting groceries, learning how to cook, doing laundry, and taking some time to relax. Although it hasn’t been easy to move to a completely new environment, I’m doing my best to adapt and take everything in stride.

Organizational Changes at Work

I started working immediately upon arrival, and since then, there has been an organizational change internally. We have reformed the US business organization, and another team member has been appointed to help us get started. As of now, there are three of us running the business from the ground up. As the business grows, we will hire more people for each division.

Overview of Our Business Model

Our company mainly manufactures office furniture, such as desks, partitions, and seating. The products are produced in South Korea and Vietnam and then imported to the US, where they are stored in third-party logistics warehouses and sold to customers. Our primary selling channels are B2B vendors and dealers, and B2C retail customers via e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.com, Wayfair, and our own commerce mall powered by Shopify. Although we have already been doing business from our HQ in Korea, we decided to expand to the US for further growth opportunities.

My Role in the Company

As the business development manager, my main responsibilities include sales (B2B and B2C), marketing, operations, and management. I need to grow sales in both channels by developing new channels, launching new products, and executing optimized promotions and campaigns. Regarding marketing, I am in a position to build brand awareness, to make people consider our brand when purchasing furniture. This includes brand campaigns and running social media and ads. Since we keep inventory, I need to optimize the supply chain and operate the process efficiently with cost management. As warehousing costs have skyrocketed, this is currently a big challenge to overcome. Finally, management is the other half of the work to operate the company well. I need to set up the accounting system, conduct monthly P&L analysis, keep track of inventory monthly, and make payments and bills. Although it may seem like a lot of work for one person, currently, there is no one except me and the general manager. My goal is to stabilize everything as quickly as possible, hire managers for each division, and implement and deep dive into the work.

Trials and Errors Ahead

As I navigate my role in the company, I anticipate making mistakes and learning from them along the way. I’m excited to share my trials and errors in each category with you in future blog posts. Stay tuned.