Los Angeles, November 21 (Friday) – The Taiwanese American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles (TACCLA) held its annual “Enterprise Visit” event, leading over 40 members and representatives from the youth business association to visit two iconic companies founded by Taiwanese entrepreneurs in the United States: the consumer electronics brand Sceptre and the global IT solution provider GST.
The visit focused on the legacy and global presence of Taiwanese businesses in the United States, showcasing the development trajectory of Taiwanese entrepreneurs from startup, cultivation to successful entry into the mainstream American market. Both companies have been operating in the United States for over thirty years, not only establishing successful brands and core technologies but also holding a significant position in the American market, serving as vital players in the Taiwan-US industry chain connection.
Founded by Taiwanese engineer Liu You in the 1980s, Sceptre specializes in manufacturing screens and televisions, competing fiercely with international brands from Japan and Korea. From 2018 to 2022, Sceptre consecutively topped the Walmart and Amazon LCD screen sales charts for four years, representing a prominent brand in the affordable display monitor market in the United States.
Sceptre’s products are widely available on major retail and e-commerce platforms such as Walmart, Amazon, and Costco, accumulating tens of thousands of consumer reviews with high ratings. Liu You, the founder, shared with the visiting group that the key to establishing a foothold in North America lies in having a complete “one-stop” supply chain and the advantage of rapid response for small and medium-sized enterprises.
He said, “To prevent returns from American consumers, we must provide the best service. We do not just sell a brand once; we want consumers to keep choosing us.” Providing more after-sales services, responding to consumer inquiries, continuously improving, is crucial for the company’s success.
Liu You aims to create a brand effect where screens are synonymous with Sceptre, akin to how cola brings to mind Coca-Cola.
Amidst recent fluctuations in Sino-American trade relations, Liu You demonstrated the resilience of Taiwanese businesses by promptly initiating factories in Vietnam and Thailand to adjust production layouts and mitigate tariff risks. For example, during this year’s Black Friday, Sceptre efficiently adjusted its supply chain to meet Amazon’s doubled shipment demand.
Liu You’s son, Liu Renhao, is responsible for product design engineering at the company, focusing on the development of curved monitors, portable monitors, and more to provide consumers with a wider range of choices.
Curved monitors are designed with a curvature that matches the human eye’s field of view, presenting a more natural viewing angle, reducing edge distortion and visual fatigue. The portable structure allows screens to be easily carried, supporting USB-C, HDMI, or wireless connectivity for seamless connection with laptops, tablets, smartphones, or gaming consoles, making it plug-and-play for business trips, remote work, presentations, and mobile entertainment.
Established in Los Angeles in 1985 by Wang Jiapei and Xu Yueqin, GST started from scratch with a strong emphasis on professionalism and integrity, evolving into a global IT solution provider with clients across North America, Asia, and Europe. The company was honored with the 25th Overseas Taiwanese Entrepreneur’s Rock Award in 2023, serving as a model for Taiwanese businesses deeply rooted overseas.
Wang Jiapei shared during the exchange, “Keep a kind heart, for unintentional help towards others may bring unexpected rewards.” His willingness to go the extra mile in service, regardless of remuneration, has led to numerous client referrals and friendships lasting more than thirty years.
GST’s collaborations span across the American public and private sectors, holding multiple government contracts to provide IT system integration, network construction, and audiovisual services to federal and state agencies. With a strong presence in aerospace and defense, GST maintains long-term partnerships with NASA, the US Navy, and Raytheon. Additionally, GST actively engages in the education sector, assisting universities and school districts in creating modernized learning environments.
Wang Jiapei and Xu Yueqin established the Alice and JP Wang Foundation, awarding scholarships annually to support “average” students in attending college, showcasing the company’s commitment to giving back to society. The couple is gradually preparing the next generation to take over, with their eldest son Wang Junping serving as the current CEO, and their second son Wang Jundao as the Chief Operating Officer, allowing the younger generation to take the reins of the business and expand into new markets.
President of TACCLA, Chen Linghua, noted that the purpose of the visit was not only to connect resources but also to allow second-generation Taiwanese-Americans to see the foundation laid by their predecessors in the United States and understand how to extend Taiwan’s brand competitiveness in mainstream markets. She highlighted that it is relatively rare among Taiwanese-American businesses for both Sceptre and GST to have arranged for the second generation to take over, and their experience in succession planning is worth emulating by all entrepreneurs.
Ji Qin Yao, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, also attended the event, highly praising the contributions of both companies to the Taiwan-US industry chain. He emphasized, “The establishment, expansion, and growth of Taiwanese companies in the United States are vital testaments to Taiwan-US economic and trade cooperation.” He further stressed that Taiwanese businesses’ long-term efforts in the United States are underpinned by the robust support of the Republic of China government overseas.
This event attracted numerous young entrepreneurs to participate. Through interactions with first-generation founders, youth representatives learned how to build brands in the United States, utilize market channels, and navigate cross-border supply chains and tariff policies in the current complex US-China relationship, transforming the “Taiwanese spirit” into a competitive edge for their businesses. ◇