Meet Minzhy Fong | Interior Designer

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

Hi Minzhy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I always knew I will have my own business someday. It runs in my family and I just couldn’t imagine myself not being the boss.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
After I graduated with a bachelor degree in Economics I didn’t know what to do with my life for about 6 month. My parents encouraged me to go back school to pursue something that I really like and this set the path for me to became an Interior Designer. I have always dreamed of having my own design studio ever since I started attending design school. After I got my bachelor degree in Interior Design, I started working at multiple design firms in the following years, but my heart never really settled down at one place. I gained a lot of experiences as a designer but not so much on the business aspect. What made me really give up 9 to 5 job and focusing on being on my own was my kids. I wanted the freedom and flexibility. My husband has been very supportive throughout the way, letting me do what I want to do and giving me the support to start my own business by taking care of our kids and everything at home. He became a stay at home dad so that I can run my business. It was very difficult starting on my own at first, mainly financially. I basically started with zero funding, taking up odd side gigs just to get by every month, while looking for ways to get clients. I remember giving myself 3 years, if I can’t get anywhere after 3 years, I will drag myself back to 9 to 5 job. The first 2 years were the hardest, which I called it “spreading the seeds” phase. My goal at the time was to get more people to know my business/service. I worked from home or the back of my car trunk and my biggest wish at the time was to have an office space so I can be more legit and gain more clients. On the 3rd year I was able to afford an office and called it my design studio. I started getting return clients and that’s when I knew everything will be okay from then on. I am now in my 8th year since I started my business. The biggest lessons I learned along the way is to follow your heart, not giving up and always set goals (realistic goals) for yourself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am in the San Gabriel Valley area, so definitely showing them all the popular Asian food places. I would take them to Old Town Pasadena, Huntington Library, Getty Museum, San Juan Capistrano, the beach, etc. I love sightseeing and my most favorite thing to do is hanging out by the ocean.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
That would be my family for sure, my parents and my husband. Without their support, mentally and financially, I wouldn’t have the courage to start my own business and be on my own.

Website: www.fongconcepts.com