S3, E27 | Don't Start A Business With Family? How We Built An 8-Figure Empire Against The Odds.

In 2016, Jake Yap and his brother Chris launched Lifely (originally E-Living) with a singular mission: to democratize interior design for the "renter generation." Identifying a massive gap between cheap, disposable furniture and unaffordable designer pieces, Yap built what he calls the "Zara of Furniture"—a fast-moving supply chain that delivers on-trend aesthetics at accessible price points. Starting on marketplaces like Catch.com.au and eBay to validate demand without heavy overhead, the brothers rapidly scaled the business from a garage operation to an eight-figure revenue empire, growing their team from two to 50 employees and capitalizing on a 300% growth surge during the pandemic. By 2023, Yap spearheaded the strategic pivot from a transactional reseller to a distinct lifestyle brand, rebranding the company as Lifely to better serve their core millennial persona, "Ashley." This transition wasn't just cosmetic; it was built on Yap’s unique operational philosophy of "Firm Empathy." By cutting out middlemen and maintaining direct, emotionally intelligent yet uncompromising relationships with manufacturers, he ensured high-quality control that allowed the brand to survive early supplier boycotts. Today, Lifely stands as a major player in the Australian home sector, integrating social impact by pledging 1% of profits to Habitat for Humanity. 🎙️ Watch the full episode on Hello Mentor to hear the full story (Link in Bio) Follow us on Social Media: XiaoHongShu: https://shorturl.at/uVBZO Instagram: https://shorturl.at/hT6wQ TikTok (Hiredly): https://shorturl.at/0gum2 TikTok (Grow With Hiredly): https://shorturl.at/gAObT Dou Yin: https://v.douyin.com/uQlXc4X0vaY/[email protected] 🎧 Listen and follow Hello Mentor!: http://hiredly.com/hellomentor