Motor sports enthusiast Wijak Lertprasertpakorn is as competitive on the auto racing course as he is while juggling the pressures of his family empire. The 39-year-old, whose good looks mean he could easily be mistaken for a model, is managing director of TBN Group, a Toyota dealer and operator of the popular community mall Paseo, which his father, Chan, founded.
"Racing cars has been my passion for over a decade, and my desire to do well in it does take root in the fact that, as a businessman, I am very focused to succeed," stated the suave, smartly dressed entrepreneur when asked if he is as competitive in sports as he is closing a business deal.
"In motor sports, as in business, you have to have a solid plan which you execute methodically. Nothing is done in haste.
"I am also an avid cyclist. I was encouraged by my sister to take up this sport after I had put on a lot of weight shortly after becoming preoccupied with overseeing the construction of Paseo On Nut six years ago. I was able to lose considerable amount of weight afterwards. Motorcycles are also my passion."
Wijak admits that his serene and compliant demeanour can often be misleading, describing himself instead as being bull-headed and obstinate when he so chooses.
Indulging in sports, he said, is one way for him to let off steam after a hard day at the office, which he shares with his father and younger sister.
The much deserved respite from the demands of reaching marketing targets and managing a chain of community malls is surely well earned, especially when one keeps in mind that he has to divide his time between supervising a string of Toyota showrooms and Paseo community malls, both of which come with their individual challenges.
Trials and tribulations are part and parcel of managing a family empire, points out Wijak, as one has to adapt and cordially work with family members who might have a different approach towards work related matters. He aknowledges that there have been times when they sulk, sometimes going a week without talking to each other, despite the fact they share an office. Fortunately, these have been isolated moments.
The father and son team share a mutual respect. "My dad is a very decisive individual, who is confident to invest when he sees a lucrative offer. He also has great insight into situations. When I consult with him about business matters, I often leave his room with a much better understanding of how to tackle problems.
"He is always two steps ahead of me, and always encourages me to think for myself.I suppose he wants me to learn from my mistakes."
While Wijak is appreciative of his father's mentorship, he considers it important to be judged on his own merits. He is determined to build a strong foundation of trust and sincerity amongst both his customers and staff alike, adding that this goes a long way in maintaining loyal clients.
On the work front, TBN ventured into the business of setting up community malls next to their Toyota showrooms approximately seven years ago. The idea came about after they began observing that customers to their showroom in Bang Na, visited the opposite Central department store while their car was being serviced. Wijak said they would visit the store to conduct errands, eat and shop.
It was during this period that they were invited to attend a get together of Toyota dealers in the US. During the course of this trip, they had an opportunity to get invited to an American Toyota dealer's showroom, which offered a number of services for their clients, some of which included a Starbucks and a mini movie theatre.
On their return to Bangkok, he approached his father about building a community mall, with everything from food outlets to banks and skin clinics, next to their showroom.
At first his father was not sold on the idea and felt a hypermart would be a more viable option. However, due to building restrictions, the patriarch's choice was shelved, and Wijak's original suggestion of a community mall was on the drawing board.
With all the necessary surveys already completed to guarantee its success, his father gave the green light to start construction before opening the floor to people who were interested in renting space for their businesses.
Wijak recalls the moment with raised eyebrows, saying: "So here we had an edifice without any tenants in hand. Luckily, I know the sons of MK Suki owner, so I approached their father with a proposal for them to set up a branch at our mall.
"Back then the On Nut location had very few communities encircling it, so he told me that he would think about it. Fortunately, after making their own feasibility survey, he agreed on the proposal. Having MK Suki on board got the ball rolling. We came up with the name Paseo from the 1990s Toyota Paseo, which means "open space". Due to its enormous success, we are now in the middle of completing a service apartment nearby.
"All our showrooms, except for the one in Bang Na, have community malls. It has been a highly rewarding experience to see it do so well."
