‘Where there’s a will there’s a way’. This age old adage truly applies to Jimmy Yap, the visionary CEO behind the well-established vinyl flooring company, Coco Floor Sdn Bhd (Coco Floor). Located in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Selangor, the company has risen to become one of Malaysia’s most sought-after supply and installation experts of vinyl surfaces that are imported from countries like Korea, Vietnam and China. Coco Floor, with Yap’s entrepreneurial spirit together with his wife’s devoted support and children’s efforts, has become a pioneering leader in its industry. In the recent interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, Yap shares his secret of success as well as the struggles he faced in the business.
Jimmy Yap went to the US with his then girlfriend (now wife), Lilian, in the 1980s and returned to Malaysia in 1994 to work in various sectors. Later on, they started their first company which is now their current holding company that still remains as their beloved ‘brain child’. “We started Coco Design & Renovation Works in 2000 and ventured into the design-and-build business. We had much success in completing office renovations and interior fit-out projects for IBM in Bandar Utama and many others,” says Yap. “Our hard work and risk-taking have brought great rewards in securing built-in furniture contracts and projects that needed partitions, office and kitchen cabinets, counters, wardrobes and other items which gave us the confidence to eventually start Coco Floor.”
Having won 3 different prestigious Asia Honesty awards in 2015 and being voted as one of Asia’s-Top-100 brands has further enhanced Coco Floor’s good reputation. “In 2016 we will be getting the support of the Japanese to help Coco Floor conquer the Asian markets also,” reveals Yap. “God, Lillian and my children are instrumental in helping me overcome many of the obstacles and challenges faced besides giving me all the moral support I needed.” Yap feels that his greatest achievement (one that is happily shared by his wife) is successfully bringing up and educating their 3 wonderful children even though he has achieved much business success. Yap is a humble man who does things with all his heart and still continues to do so even though he has had his fair share of disappointments and heartaches.
“The main challenge faced by Coco Floor now is finding good and reliable workers that will stay long with the company,” says Yap. “I always turn to God for answers and I really see Him as my role model for life and business. I used to put business before Him and my family but now my priority is God, followed by my family and the business.”
Yap is not anxious about where he or the company will be in 5 years’ time as he has learnt to leave it all in God’s hands. As for why he chose the name Coco Floor for this company, he says, “It represents something natural, rich and has a friendly-sounding tone to it.”
As the CEO, Yap has to ensure that the company’s growth continue with a healthy momentum. “I will go on employing top salesmen while making use of all forms of communication and advertising channels like Facebook, WhatsApp, websites and also exhibitions to promote to market my products and services further,” he explains
Yap has this to say when asked about his advice to those who want to venture into this line of business: “Inculcate a culture of discipline, hard work and self-confidence into your business for these values will help you through thick and thin, good or bad times and bring in the success that you so desire. And don’t forget to commit all things to God.”
Issue 24/2016
