When Yuni Shiramizu left Korea in 1977, she hoped for a better life in the United States. Along with her mother and five siblings, Yuni made a new home in Honolulu. She began working as a coffee waitress, but struggled with the culture and new language. Little did she know at the time that in 14 years, she would become owner of a local scale business with perhaps the largest service territory on Earth.
It all started in 1987 when Jack Young needed an office assistant for his business, Young Scale. Ten years had passed since Yuni moved to Hawaii. She was making good money as a waitress, but recognized the opportunity for a career in which she could better utilize her mind. Yuni’s English had improved in the decade living in Hawaii and she learned excellent customer service skills as a waitress. She interviewed for the job and Jack offered her the position, which she accepted despite a decrease in pay.
At first, Yuni didn’t know why anyone would need a scale. She wasn’t sure if Young Scale would have enough business to survive. Yuni wondered how the company remained successful since its origin in 1959 selling such a niche product. Soon, however, she realized scales are essential to virtually every industry on Earth. Her mind raced with possibilities as she discovered this new, secret industry. It didn’t take long for Yuni to decide her future was in scales. Although she was a new hire, Yuni told Jack she wanted to buy the business from him when he retired. Surprised with his new employee, Jack responded “Ask me again in one year and we’ll see if you are still interested.” The year passed, and Yuni and Jack revisited their discussion about the future. He asked Yuni if she was still interested in buying the business from him. Yuni responded, “Ask me again in one year.”
In 1991, Yuni achieved her goal and bought Young Scale. Excited for the vast potential the scale industry offers, she was also uncertain if she would be successful. The industry was male-dominated and she wasn’t sure if a female immigrant would be accepted. To compound matters, her English skills were still limited and the scale industry had a language of its own. Indeed, there were many obstacles already in her path, but Yuni envisioned a new approach for the company to ensure success: focus on customer service.
Yuni instilled the fundamental imperative she learned as a waitress—taking care of the customer is the first priority. She began with her own employees. Yuni knew what it was like to struggle. She had witnessed it firsthand through her single mother, who would have been forced to give up her six children to an orphanage in order to remarry in Korea. Yuni decided to offer excellent wages and benefits to ensure Young Scale’s employees could take care of their families and would, in turn, value their careers.
