Building Kahli One Step at a Time | July 2026 Update

Another month has gone by, and while Kahli still hasn't officially opened, I feel closer than ever.

This month has been filled with the kind of work that most people will never see. It wasn't the exciting side of running a business, but it was the foundation that every great shop needs before opening its doors.

Over the past several weeks, I've organized hundreds of products, built out my inventory system, finalized SKUs, updated product categories and brands, refined pricing, and completed product descriptions for every item in my first order. Every listing has been carefully written to create a consistent experience throughout the shop.

One realization I've had recently is that Kahli is naturally evolving into something different from what I originally imagined.

When I first started, I expected Kahli to focus heavily on original artwork and products. While that is still my dream, reality has a way of reshaping plans.

Unfortunately, nearly all of the artists I've worked with over the years have become unresponsive. I completely understand that everyone has their own careers, families, and lives outside of art, and I don't hold anything against them. Looking back, I underestimated how difficult it would be to rely on multiple artists with different priorities.

Because of that, Kahli has gradually become more of a curated Japanese stationery and gift shop. If you've followed this journey for a while, you've probably heard me say that I'm more of a merchant than an artist. I genuinely love discovering beautiful products and sharing them with others. There's something incredibly rewarding about finding an item that makes someone's day a little brighter or helps them find the perfect gift.

That doesn't mean original products are disappearing.

Far from it.

I'll continue doing everything I can to grow the Kahli brand through original products, collaborations, and artwork whenever possible. It may simply happen at a slower pace than I originally expected. As the business grows, I hope I'll be able to work with more talented artists and create more original collections together.

If you're an artist whose style fits Kahli, I'd always love to hear from you. Building a small business from the ground up means finances are limited at the beginning, but supporting artists has always been part of this brand's long-term vision.

On a more exciting note, I think I've finally settled on names for Kahli's future characters.

The black tiger mascot will be named Moriko, and the anime girl will be named Rara.

These characters are still early in development, but I'm excited to slowly bring them to life over the coming months and years. I want them to become part of Kahli's identity and, hopefully, something customers will grow attached to over time.

Right now, I'm eagerly waiting for my first shipment of products to arrive from Japan. Once everything arrives, I'll begin photographing each item, preparing the online store, and putting the finishing touches on the website before opening to the public.

It's exciting to finally be approaching that moment.

There's still plenty to do, but for the first time, Kahli feels less like an idea and more like a real business taking shape.

Thank you for following along with this journey. Whether you've been here since the beginning or just recently discovered Kahli, your support truly means the world to me.

I'll see you in the next update.

Huy Ðăng Nguyễn
Founder of Kahli