Dustin and Irish Lim: Driven and determined distributors

MANILA, Philippines - Doing business with your better half presents both pros and cons. Even relationship experts say it can make or break a relationship.

For Dustin and Irish Lim, who were a couple for three years before they got married in 2009, being partners—in business and in wedded bliss—prove to be the best decision of their lives. And why not, United Limsun International Trading Corp., the company the couple established in 2007, continues to be a preferred choice for premium lifestyle merchandise for the urbanites.

Recently, Dustin and Irish set up Urbanize in two strategic locations: Gateway and Shangri-La Plaza Mall. “Urbanize is a premium lifestyle store that offers unique, clever and functional products that address the needs of people living in an urban set- ting,” says Dustin. “Our ranges of products are not only based on good design and quality. More importantly, they are based on the principle of intelligence, innovation and practicality.”

Even with a successful business under their belts, Dustin and Irish remain humble because they know how it feels like to be at a low point.

“It was not an easy journey. We started with practically nothing,” begins Irish, who recalls that Dustin quitted his job in a big supermarket store because he felt there was something bigger and better for him.

So the couple, who were already friends even back in college in the De La Salle University, tried venturing into some enterprises that had to do with supermarket, considering it was Dustin’s work experience. However, none of them really made it big. But Dustin is not one to just throw in the towel in the business department. He had already faced many a challenge and he would try and try if it meant finding the perfect fit for him.

Never did he expect that a buying trip in Hong Kong will spark an interest in a different field of enterprise—lifestyle merchandise. “I was in a houseware fair when I chance upon Pacsafe. Right then and there, I saw that it was something that the Filipino market would appreciate,” relates Dustin. “So I went to the regional office in Hong Kong and requested for samples I could bring home. But of course, they would want me to present a proposal, which I did not have at the time.”

Dustin, the ever-persistent entrepreneur, went to look for stores selling Pacsafe and brought a few products. “I was excited to show them to Irish and have her rate them. It’s unique and I think it was marketable and that it would address a need,” he says. Pacsafe is a brand of high-quality smart travel gear with built-in innovative anti-theft technology. It includes adventure backpacks, urban and leisure bags, women’s bags, photography bags, motorcycle bags and travel accessories such as straps, cables and locks.

When he got home, Dustin immediately asked for Irish’s opinion. Much to his dismay, Irish saw the product boring. “I prefer more stylish products so when I saw it, I told him it was not going to work in the Philippine market,” recounts Irish. Unfazed, Dustin even went to invite friends over for dinner to show them the product. This served as an FGD to test the market. “Un- fortunately, our friends liked the food more than the prod- uct,” Dustin laughs.

Driven and determined to distribute Pacsafe, Dustin borrowed capital from his cousin. A tearful Irish recalls, “During that time, nobody believed that he could sell this product. When I saw his passion for the product, I knew I needed to support him. Thanks to his cousin, he was able to have the starting capital to purchase his first batch of Pacsafe products.”

Dustin and Irish would soon join Christmas bazaars to sell their product. The two were happily surprised when people appreciated the product and they had good sales. “There was really a market for these types of products. We think people were drawn to the product because of its anti-theft technology. Filipi- nos, especially commuters, need a product like this,” says Irish.

Soon, Pacsafe found its way to the shelves of Rustan’s and The Travel Club. “Dustin is a visionary. He could see that a certain product will create a demand. He’s very passionate about his work,” says Irish. “When the business was starting, United Lim- sun was almost a one-man team. Dustin would do everything from tagging and barcoding to inventory and even delivery. He even bought a bed and stayed in our small warehouse so he would be up early in the morning to start working.”

“Irish encourages me to go on with my ideas. She pushes me to continue thinking of ways to grow the business,” says Dustin. Today, United Limsun International Trading Corp. is more than just the exclusive distributor of Pacsafe. The company carries top-of-the-line lifestyle brands such as Outdoor, Hellolulu, p+g Design, Ivar, Swiss+Tech, Vovarova and STM. “Our goal is to improve mobile life here in the city by providing merchandise that answers to a particularly urban lifestyle,” explains Irish.

According to Dustin, it was not the capital that helped the business grow. It was their belief that theirs was a great product and that it has a need to address.

The couple agrees that to be successful in the business, one has to have passion, patience and perseverance. “In anything you do, you have to have passion. You can’t go into it half- hearted, otherwise it won’t succeed because you didn’t give your all,” says Irish. Dustin adds, “There’s no such thing as a shortcut to success so you need to be patient. Results are not always in an instant. And you need to really work hard.”

At the end of the day, Dustin and Irish continue to inspire each other to be better entrepreneurs and to never stop believ- ing in each other. After all, one needs all the support one can get in any business venture. Needless to say, they have each other’s back covered.