James Khuri is an American businessman and entrepreneur who has been developing successful businesses for more than 20 years. He is the CEO of nine firms that center on a variety of industries, including retail shops, real estate, e-commerce platforms, and manufacturing goods and distribution. Khuri’s experience in business and industry spans a wide range of disciplines, making him one of the most well-rounded businessmen in the country.
What is Khuri Enterprises all about?
Khuri Enterprises is a Real Estate Holding Company specializing in multi-family and commercial real estate. Starting with the purchase of Class A office space and expanding into purchasing large commercial and multi-family buildings, we now own and manage multiple complexes in New York and California. Khuri Enterprises builds strong, long-term working relationships with their tenants. With our unique industry expertise, it is our goal to be efficient for both landlords and tenants alike by providing exceptional customer service.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
I was born in December of 1975 in Rochester, New York. Early on, I exhibited natural inclinations toward business and commerce. I developed a love for trading cards at a very young age and little did I know that my passion for them would propel a business that would become an instrumental part of my success as a businessman.
After high school, I attended the University of Rochester where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. At 21 years old, I enrolled in the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business where I earned my MBA. While receiving my MBA I launched my real estate career as I started taking on smaller residential projects that introduced me to the industry and taught me the ins and outs. At the age of 32, I moved to Los Angeles, where I currently reside, to launch my commercial real estate career.
Since moving to Los Angeles I have been able to grow my business through connections and successful real estate investments as every project I have taken on has been bigger than the last.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
Maintain Consistency, in order to complete something to reach the maximum success you have to keep a level of consistency. Nothing is done overnight, in one meeting, or after one try. Keeping consistent allows you to boost productivity, you are building a foundation so the more consistently you work towards your goal- the greater it will be.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
Diversify your investments, there are so many opportunities and capabilities to invest and be successful- make sure you have your hands in a few different places, this will ensure a backup plan and potential to already have ownership in growing industries. Never stop learning and obtaining assets, the world is going to change and develop and if you aren’t keeping yourself up to date you will be behind.
What was your first business idea and what did you do with it?
I developed a love for trading cards at a very young age and little did I know that my passion for them would propel into becoming an industry leader in trading card merchandising and distribution. FJ Holdings services and distributes a variety of popular mainstream for trading cards manufacturers around the world. Some of the industry-leading names we work with include Konami, Topps, Pokémon, and Wizards of the Coast. FJ Holding focuses on building and creating lasting relationships to continue to build and maintain a level of great management service.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
My son, now 18, has been my biggest motivation in life. Not only do I want to set a great example for him but I also want to provide him with opportunities and resources to reach success in whichever career he decides to pursue. For most of my life I was constantly consumed with work, always on calls, meetings, business trips. From morning to night I was working, but once my son came into the picture I had to take a step back and now take on the job of being a father. This has taught me a new skill, being a parent and a mentor. My motivations have changed and my drive for success has shifted because of being a parent.
What are your plans for the future, and how do you plan to grow this company?
My newest project is focused on investing in medical spaces. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many things, one being that healthcare needs more attention and reform. I am excited to invest in medical spaces such as offices, treatment centers, hospitals etc. This will help people’s accessibility to healthcare and provide a safe, clean and efficient structure for medical businesses. I think that investing in the commercial medical real estate market is going to be a very lucrative investment for my firm.
It is apparent now that healthcare is in need of reform and to be more accessible to the public, I am excited to take on these commercial real estate projects to build more medical offices. I started my education with a degree in Chemistry so the science and medical fields bring much interest to me, in the years to come this industry is going to completely change, and I am excited to place my investments in these changes.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
A way that I separate myself from my competitors is by developing a meaningful and long-lasting relationship with every client I connect with and in every business, I am involved with. One thing I have learned and realized throughout my whole career is that a majority of new clients and opportunities have come from referrals and word of mouth. Being so, it is extremely important that every client, no matter the business, has a great experience with me and after our business is complete they leave feeling our business relationship is that of respect and understanding.
What is your favorite quote?
The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
– Peter Drucker
I had an idea of how I wanted my life to be, I knew it wouldn’t be easy- and it wasn’t, but I knew I would have to create it for myself, no one else was going to do it for me.
What are you learning now? Why is that important?
During the pandemic, it has become more evident that E-Commerce will be the future of shopping and receiving goods. I am currently learning about this growing industry and find it fascinating how the world of shopping is changing. This is one thing I do not think will change once everything settles. For this reason, I have decided to focus my time and energy on investing in E-Commerce, so starting an online business, investing in E-Commerce, and working for an e-commerce website are great ways to take advantage and prepare for the future recovery.
How do you personally overcome fear?
I personally overcome fear by jumping headfirst into what is scaring me. The only way for me to overcome the fear is to deal with it directly, the more that I spend time avoiding fear the problem is only getting bigger. I am able to reduce my anxiety by looking at what is scaring me and finding ways to eliminate all areas of doubt, which can be solving potential problems by educating myself in ways such as reading content, watching and listening to experts in the field, and creating connections with those familiar with the industry.
How can readers get in touch with you?
My most used platforms are Instagram and LinkedIn, both can be found under my name; James Khuri. Feel free to reach out to connect with me about any questions or inquiries.
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