Meet Kim Wang | Quality Engineer & Business Owner (Hospitality, Food & Beverage)

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

Hi Kim, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
I have learned so many things from the things I do and generally they are all in a very positive way. Growing up in a small town in Malaysia, I was inspired by my dad to think outside the box and the sacrifices my mom made for our family. I have always been impressed by the opportunity presented to my aunt and how her astute wisdom helped her in terms of social mobility and towards self-independence. These tenets were engrained in me since early childhood and my ambitions were formed based on the principles of consistent hard work, entrepreneurship and education.
My early career as an engineer started in a mid-sized firm specializing in electrical switchboards and switchgears in Malaysia. I subsequently took a position at a major semiconductor company and was relocated to Chandler, AZ. I enjoy my current job supporting the business group as a quality engineer for the sensor division. In my job, I acquired the ability to interlink thoughts with skillsets in my workplace.

Through the years, I have traveled for business and pleasure, and it gave me an opportunity to learn a wide spectrum of technical skills, a cultural variety of ethnic foods, and enjoy the beautiful places I visited. I currently own and manage several short-term rental condominiums in the Phoenix area. I have always looked at real estate as a stable and secure method of investment. I acquired these properties, renovated and furnished them based on the inspiration I derived from my international travels. The short-term vacation rental business is not without its challenges as it requires decisions on pricing and interaction with guests. Above all, I always stay focused on providing the best value for our guests.

Being single and living in a foreign country requires courage, focus, hard work and dedication. I thoroughly enjoy my engineering job. It is fulfilling to be able to apply what I learned in college and use it in my day-to-day job. The technology and semiconductor sector is growing by leaps and bounds, and working alongside with some of the brightest and caring people in the industry is truly enjoyable. I have learned so many things and if I can sum it up, it is reliable teamwork that matters most. Like in sports, business requires a team of players who can play well together, and most importantly be consistent and reliable. In anything I do, I am very focused on getting to the end point. I have learned so much at my engineering job and my businesses have thought me to listen, make decisions, take criticism and be bold against adversities.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
About 3 years ago, I started Kimtastic. The business started primarily as a hospitality and a real estate investment company and utilizing its assets mainly for growth opportunity and short term rental income. The cash flow rate of return is much higher in a short-term rental portfolio compared to long-term leases. Despite ups and downs in the market, real estate assets have always outpaced inflation in the long run. Of course, the downside being it requires more attention and work.

Today, the business enjoys Superhost status with exemplary reviews by our guests. My properties are now listed on several short-term rental platforms. The central theme is to provide a clean, comfortable and welcoming stay and experience a resort-style living in the southwestern Sonoran Desert. Kimtastic also provides our guests with restaurant recommendations, tours and places to visit, and we continue to collaborate with other local establishments to provide our guests with a more complete experience when they visit Phoenix.

The business is not without its challenges. Securing funding and looking for appropriate properties to match my short-term rental portfolio, would be the most difficult task. It was through persistent research, assessing risk factors, and developing a sustainable financial pro forma that enabled me to make several key acquisitions.

Over a year ago, I expanded my short-term hospitality business to include food and beverage. I have always been a food aficionado and good in baking and cooking. I have always been proud of my heritage which prides itself on good food. During the pandemic, most restaurants were closed, and my friends would come together for potluck parties. I noticed that on many occasions a Malaysian rice noodle dish was liked by many, even those who have never tried it before. I really enjoyed seeing my friends enjoy good food and decided to obtain permits and licenses to expand my business to include food and beverage. The fried noodle dish is uniquely Malaysian and known by locals as “char koay teow”, which simply means fried rice noodles in a local Chinese dialect. The dish is made by stir-frying a rice-based noodle with eggs, sausage, sprouts and a blend of soy-based sauces and spices. I am now established at two community markets and the joy of seeing our returning customers is simply invaluable.

I am dead set focused on delivering on a quality product at my day job and my business. Customer satisfaction is my top priority. While this seems cliche, I actually believe that a business can only grow successfully if we deliver value over profit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Phoenix offers many interesting spots. Organ Stop Pizza would be my top choice! It is a family-themed pizzeria with live music. For those who love ice cream, Coldstone Creameries would be a good stop in any time and any season. With the great weather we enjoy in Phoenix, the community farmers markets offer a wide range of products and food choices. Hiking is always a fun activity and the trails at South Mountain, Camelback and Piestewa are well marked and offer great views of the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First thought that comes to mind is my mom, Agnes. She has taught me to be brave in the eyes of adversity. She wants me to be proud and happy of the things I do, even when sometimes people around me can be negative and discouraging towards the things I do. Above all, her example of dedication and loyalty to family have a great impact in my life. She has taught me to live life to the fullest.

Last but not least, my best friend, Pete. He is such a reliable and helpful person. I have learned so much from him and I cannot thank him enough for all he has done for me.

Website: https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/422310713

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimtastic.noodles/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089785471298