Hitting The Floor Running With A Smile

Kimo Tejada

What business are you in? I’m the store manager for Wisteria Lane Flooring and owner of K. Tejada Construction LLC.

Where did you grow up?Kahuku, born and bred.

How did you get started in this line of work? I joined the carpenters’ union right after high school and later got into sales.

What sets your business apart? Wisteria Lane is locally owned, and we can offer affordable high-end flooring because there’s no middle man. On the contracting side, I enjoy what I do, even though it’s tough.

What motivates you to go to work each day? As the oldest of six children, I helped support my family after high school. That’s my work ethic, the way I was brought up. I love the challenge and I love competition.

Do you have a business philosophy? I believe in the golden rule. Everything is give and take. Meet each other halfway. And most of all, I like joking around. It’s less on the stress and keeps me going.

What’s the most challenging aspect of your business? Pleasing everybody, which we cannot, but we try our best.

What’s most rewarding? When my customers are happy with the work and happy with the product.

Did you have any mentors? Plenty. The late Clyde Shigematsu and his foreman; people I learned selling techniques from; older contractors, who help me with the do’s and don’ts; my father-in-law, and my father, who taught me how to play sports and music.

How do you measure success? Success, to me, is not just money and riches, it’s sleeping good at night, knowing you did something good. If you want to stay in business, you have to be fair.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? All I know is whatever road I took, I would work hard at it.

Wisteria Lane Flooring,
corner of Rice and Hardy in Lihue, 245-5115;
K. Tejada Construction LLC, 346-7696.