Building business with your bank

Since taking the leap into business in 2009, Yong Bin Im, owner and operator of specialty Korean supermarket and grocery stores, KT Mart, has had a dedicated team in his corner supporting him.

Since migrating to Australia from Korea, Mr Im’s parents have formed the cornerstone of the family businesses success, which has seen KT Mart grow to four locations across Melbourne.

Alongside the Im family since those early days, providing sound financial and business support with merchant facilities, has been Josephine Tan, owner manager of Bank of Queensland (BOQ) Docklands, and her branch manager, Belinda Wynn.

“We have helped them purchase homes, we have helped them purchase warehouses, we have helped them with their personal finances and loans … they feel more like friends then they do like clients,” Ms Tan said.

“With their new location on Elizabeth St, we provided a $1.5 million equipment finance loan for the store’s fit-out. It helped purchase things like fridges, shelves, and freezers.”

It has been amazing to see Yong’s success, and I can feel the city is getting back to what it was. New shops and restaurants are popping up everywhere, and we are happy to be there for our customers to support them in this business rejuvenation.

BOQ’s Business Term Loan provides owners with 30-year loan terms and up to 85 per cent loan-value-ratio.

Mr Im, whose whole family employs the services of BOQ Docklands, told Docklands News that without Ms Tan and Ms Wynn, they would not have enjoyed the success they shared today.

“We have been with them a very long time. Without their help, we wouldn’t have been able to open this store,” Mr Im said.

“When Belinda became relationship manager of the branch, she helped me with our finance. She has been amazing throughout this whole time. I have no doubt, without their help, we wouldn’t have been able to succeed, and we wouldn’t be able to open so many shops.”

Mr Im said the response since opening their new location at 544 Elizabeth St earlier this year had been overwhelming.

KT Mart boasts a large range of exclusively sourced groceries, beer, liquor, and homewares imported directly from Korea.

“We are one of the only Korean specialty supermarkets in Melbourne. A lot of our produce is sourced directly from Korea,” Mr Im said.

“We mainly focus on Korean groceries, but also stock Japanese and Chinese goods. Our most popular items are things you don’t normally get from traditional supermarkets like kimchi, specialty packet noodles, and ready-packed Korean BBQ ingredients.”

To find your nearest KT Mart store, visit ktmartmall.com.au. To speak with a member of the BOQ Docklands team, call 9248 0188. •

For more information: boq.com.au/business/loan-and-finance

From left: BOQ Docklands’ Belinda Wynn, Chul Son Im, Yong Bin Im and Josephine Tan.