After taking over the family business, which started in 1955, Austin, with his wife, Sheila Chang, started trading goods on Charlotte Street, in Port of Spain. Austin believed in the power of making genuine connections. He cultivated relationships with his suppliers and listened attentively to his customers. He felt he had a personal responsibility to ensure he was able to provide them with quality products at affordable prices. The business grew in step with customers’ demand and developing alliances. They began finding agencies for a range of products such as galvanize, brooms and brushes from Jamaica; glassware from Anchor Hocking in the United States; wares from Oxford in Brazil and school bags from China.

Grasping the value of his legacy and the wealth of possibility he was passing forward, he encouraged his family to lead through community service. “We are all links, connected to create a chain of excellence in our business. Do good and good will be multiplied in abundance,” he said.

Eventually, their son Alan Chang began to take over and in doing so, brought a vision to expand the company even further by importing grocery food items in bulk, broadening the company catalogue. Sixty-five years on, Austin Chang and family maintains its commitment to serving customers’ needs, with a passion for excellence in customer service and quality products.

Austin Chang and Company Limited adds value to the lives of their customers.