Jack Yan was an unusual child. By his own admission, the successful New Zealand businessman 'never wanted to be normal'. So it came as no surprise when he eschewed teenage activities and instead started a business when he was barely 15.
Well able to spot a gap in the market, a decade ago he founded New Zealand's first online fashion magazine, Lucire, having found his first niche 21 years ago, when he set up a company specialising in typefaces. 'It was 10 days before Christmas,' says Yan, 'and somebody needed a menu designed but everybody was on holiday - they were very relaxed in New Zealand in those days. A friend, who knew I was interested in calligraphy, asked me if I could do it. I thought, 'I can make a few bob out of this.''
The young entrepreneur went on to create more than 100 typefaces and Yan believes he was the first New Zealander in the industry. His parents, who had migrated from Hong Kong, gave their son the freedom to continue with his lucrative sideline as long as he focused on his studies.
'My mother was adamant she didn't want me to be brought up in Hong Kong because of the threat of communism. Although it was 1976, they were already thinking about 1997,' says Yan. But he describes himself as 'an unwilling immigrant'. Although only four years old, he wasn't happy he hadn't been consulted about the move. 'I didn't want to go. I'd been told we were going on holiday.'
Yap was born in Queen Elizabeth Hospital and lived on Victory Avenue in Ho Man Tin, which he describes as being a 'pleasant and genteel neighbourhood'.
'I remember learning to walk, riding a tricycle, going to kindergarten. I have a very good memory. I recall events from when I was just nine months old. Not from photographs or my parents 'borrowed' memories. It's very unusual,' he says.
Yan was a studious pupil and he applied the same dedication to his new company.