In 1962 Arto Alajian arrived within the U.S., having fled Egypt and his shoe-manufacturing enterprise. He grew to become a milkman in Los Angeles, after which a ceramic tile installer, after which, in 1966, a tile maker.
Quick ahead to 2024, and ARTO, the corporate, is a worldwide provider of handcrafted ceramic, porcelain, and concrete merchandise. Armen Alajian, the founder’s son, now co-owns the enterprise.
He and I lately spoke, addressing the challenges and rewards of generational, family-owned firms. The audio of our complete dialog is under. The transcript is edited for size and readability.
Eric Bandholz: What do you do?
Armen Alajian: I’m the co-owner of an organization referred to as ARTO. We make rustic and chic handmade ceramic and concrete tiles. We manufacture in California and promote on-line and in showrooms in Los Angeles, nationwide, and globally.
My dad, Arto Alajian, began the enterprise. He and my mother had a manufacturing unit in Egypt. They made leather-based sneakers there, however the authorities took their enterprise. So in 1962 they got here to the U.S. My dad was a milkman within the morning and went to high school at night time to be an airplane mechanic.
He finally met a girl who made ceramics. She did mission restoration work. On his milk route, my dad would take her ceramic bricks to eating places and mothers in El Segundo and Santa Monica and return on weekends to put in them. That’s how he began, in 1966. His first product was a clay brick.
My brother Varoujan and I began putting in at a younger age. My mother and father divorced once I was 10, and I used to be estranged from my father. He fired me 5 instances, and I give up 5 instances. We argued in regards to the enterprise.
Afterward, we made peace, and we grew. My dad referred to as me and stated, let’s determine it out. And we did. He revered me, and I revered him. Earlier than he handed, we have been companions and buddies.
My brother is an proprietor. I’m studying how one can be a CEO. I’ve at all times been a associate. My brother is a full-on associate and proprietor, and we focus on technique.
He has one child. I’ve eight. We’re excited about the subsequent technology. Being in command of your future is the trick, controlling your revenue and liberty. He desires that for his child; I need it for my youngsters.
We will solely provide our kids a chance. We will’t drive them. Generational companies are nothing greater than being a household.
Bandholz: Are your youngsters within the enterprise?
Alajian: Sure. I let my youngsters work within the enterprise after they have been youthful. I’m a salesman. After we traveled the nation in a van and noticed clients, we homeschooled. The children would stroll in, shake the particular person’s hand, and say, “Good day, my title is Adam,” or, “My title is Sarah.” So, they’ve all been round enterprise. They love enterprise. However I compelled all of them to go away and work for different folks, too.
They’ve since returned. All of them need a position within the firm. I insist they arrive in early and go away late — the old school fashion of working. After which discover your home. I need the youngsters, on the finish of the day, to be house owners. They don’t need to be operators.
Bandholz: I intend to provide my youngsters possession if the enterprise pursuits them.
Alajian: A enterprise turns into generational when operators are separated from house owners. My youngsters who turn into operators might be handled like executives and compensated effectively in the event that they carry out. However house owners have a separate mentality, whether or not working the enterprise or not. That’s the best way to increase it to the third or fourth technology.
However the hot button is to provide youngsters the choice to be operators, house owners, or each. Don’t drive one or the opposite.
My purpose was reaching generational wealth. However no extra. My wealth isn’t cash. True wealth is that my youngsters’ youngsters know and love one another. Cash is a instrument that will help you maintain a household collectively. Wealth isn’t precise money. It’s expertise and the power to outlive the subsequent technology as a result of liberty comes from having capital in your pocket.
Bandholz: The place can people purchase your tiles and bricks?
Alajian: In 300 shops across the U.S. or at Arto.com. Our Instagram is @artobrick. I’m on LinkedIn.