[rabaka_g]

G'day

My parents visited me recently for the first time in HK, and my Mum (a dress maker) was surprised how little clothes there were that she could buy (having saved up to buy heaps of clothes while she was here).

We're now thinking of selling western-style clothes in HK, for 40+ women ranging from Aus size 12 - 18. We were thinking causal modern clothes in fresh plain colours ie no diamonties or large pink flowers etc..., with good quality fabric, suited to HK weather.

Just wanted to put the idea out there, what people think, if they would be a market for expats who can't easily find clothes?

Also wondering if anyone had input regarding a good way to sell the clothes... I was thinking a store front in Sai Kung?

Any ideas / comments?

Thanks!

[vmlinuz]

I think Sai Kung would be a slightly strange place for such a thing. I also think that the idea comes up pretty often around here, but nobody has actually tried to carry it though - as far as I know - and I suspect that's because there isn't really as big a market as people think...

[ontheroad]

There are many "casual" brands that cater to western women in HK:

H&M, Mango, Zara, Calvin Klein Jeans, Polo Ralph Lauren, Muji, Esprit, DKNY, Kookai etc.... you can even get Laura Ashley and Marcs and Spencers here!

The only thing that's missing is a Gap or better yet, an Old Navy. And Anthropologie...

[aussiegal]

I also think Sai Kung is a strange place for such a business. You will automatically reduce your potential market dramatically. People from Sai Kung go to central to shop but do people from other areas go to Sai Kung to shop?

I think 'bigger' local women also need more options when it comes to buying clothes here so i wouldn't target westerners exclusively and i would offer sizes 10- 16 and probably not any larger. I don't see many women here, expats or otherwise that are bigger than that.

As a business owner i would say that you really need to feel passionately about any retail business you open because they are hard, hard work. Most businesses are but retail particularly so.

[PerryCo]

Size 12 to 18 will only attract the heavy European women, so you may have a limited market. Are you sure none of the major brand stores don't carry your size?

[louloute]

Originally Posted by rabaka_g

G'day

My parents visited me recently for the first time in HK, and my Mum (a dress maker) was surprised how little clothes there were that she could buy (having saved up to buy heaps of clothes while she was here).

We're now thinking of selling western-style clothes in HK, for 40+ women ranging from Aus size 12 - 18. We were thinking causal modern clothes in fresh plain colours ie no diamonties or large pink flowers etc..., with good quality fabric, suited to HK weather.

Just wanted to put the idea out there, what people think, if they would be a market for expats who can't easily find clothes?

Also wondering if anyone had input regarding a good way to sell the clothes... I was thinking a store front in Sai Kung?

Any ideas / comments?

Thanks!

Hi,
I think it's a good idea!
Maybe, due to the large choice of size you want, a tailor shop proposing western style clothes at any size, with choices on fabrics, would be great! You just need few clothes available for each size.

For the location, Sai Kung is really not the best, Tung Chung is certainly less expensive than Central, and more convenient than sai kung.

As a heavy european I would be happy to come to your shop

[rabaka_g]

Thanks a lot for all your comments!

Point noted on the shop location. I know theres a fair few expats at Sai Kung, but I guess they live there, rather than shop there.

I'm certainly not a shopping expert (compared to the average shopping-loving HKer), but from what I've seen in stores like Espirit, Mango, they don't cater for older-women styles, or have sizes for larger women. (but Marks and Spencer are OK).

And some of the larger size clothes I've seen, aren't suited to larger people (eg skinny jeans), or they're not nice, good quality farics.

Also point noted regarding limiting the target market to westerners. However, I think the style of clothes I was thinking of, would be more in demand from western women.

Thanks again for your comments.