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Producing the fibre of success - Career Times

Author: Career Times Online Limited
Keywords: Cream of the Crop; Career Times
Language: English
Collection: opensource

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Cream of the Crop


This is the second article in a 10-part series acknowledging the achievements of Hong Kong's most esteemed female entrepreneurs

Producing the fibre of success



Clothing distributor turned fashion guru Katherine Ho offers Sophie Leung smart tips on work and life

After a long day at work, many women flock to the shopping malls for a dose of R&R (rest & relaxation) and retail therapy. Katherine Ho, managing director, mi-tu, Magazzin Group Limited however, works in the clothing industry so it's easy to imagine her fleeing the fashion scene the moment the office closes.

Not so. Despite managing 21 retail shops, she still remains energetic and enthusiastic about browsing shopping malls. "I am lucky to have the opportunity to blend my passion with business," says Ms Ho.

The key to her fascination lies perhaps in her sense of purpose. "It's a kind of mission which propels me to share my love of fashion with others," she explains. By surveying other apparel stores, Ms Ho improves her retail establishments by adjusting displays and services to complement current customer needs and expectations.

Since Ms Ho founded the first mi-tu specialty store in Tsim Sha Tsui in 2003, mi-tu has grown to the current 21-store fashion enterprise seen today. At present, 12 stores are located in mainland China, seven in Hong Kong and two in Macau.

A key player in the fashion retail industry, Ms Ho pays close attention to the China market. She analyses the economic situation, confronts challenges and seizes the opportunity to realise her vision. "Too many European mega-brands are currently rushing to set up branches in China. This leads to market over-expansion and intensifies competition within the industry. Though China has a large population, strong purchasing power for high-end products is confined to certain communities," she expands.





Katherine Ho (far left) and sister Jocelyn Ho (far right) with guests from Sinequanone's France headquarters
Photos: Courtesy of Katherine Ho



Family trio

Ms Ho and her two sisters began business in wholesale clothing distribution in 1989 and developed a vast network within the industry. Leveraging the combination of sourcing experience as a distributor, knowledge of fashion trends and her intuitive sense of style, Ms Ho introduced the Italian fashion brand mi-tu to Hong Kong while exploring the retail market with zest 10 years ago.

Thanks to a tightly knit and supportive team of employees, the fashion empire has achieved stunning growth. Ms Ho recalls the devastating impact of the 2003 SARS outbreak on her budding specialty store: "My staff and I worked as a team to combat the economic recession. Certain members actually revealed they would still support the company even if I couldn't pay their salaries." However, she concedes it has always been a challenge to recruit the right people for the sales team.



The end of university life marked the beginning of an exciting career journey



Ms Ho regards her previous experience in hospitality and advertising as helpful preparation for her business endeavour. In particular, it enables her to understand the mindset of employees. She makes a point of interacting with staff at social gatherings and encourages them to offer business improvement suggestions.

A winner of the China Top 100 Women Entrepreneur award, Ms Ho remarks she is not as ambitious as her image may suggest. "I have no plans yet to make mi-tu one of the listed companies in Hong Kong. I want to take my time to lay each block for steady expansion," she explains.

Regarding customer psyche, Ms Ho devotes much of her time to creating an attractive selection of apparel and providing the best service possible to her customers. "I always step into the customers' shoes and ask myself if certain items suit their fashion needs," she notes, adding that her customer orientated principles have played a key role in mi-tu's success.



The end of university life marked the beginning of an exciting career journey


Innovative mind

Utilising the advanced RFID (radio frequency identification) technology, Ms Ho has created the pioneering "smart dressing mirror" which helps customers enjoy the fun of mixing and matching fashion items within a short time period, maximising retail efficiency for busy female executives while also optimising the shopping experience for customers who enjoy experimenting with different colours, textures and styles. The installation of RFID mirrors is a bold move which embodies the customer-first philosophy Ms Ho propounds.

Where a healthy work-life balance is concerned, Ms Ho has mastered the art of maintaining a desirable equilibrium without major difficulties. In her eyes, leisure activities help to revitalise both mind and body, and in turn improve efficiency at work. In this respect Ms Ho has inherited the optimism and broad-mindedness of her father.

Apart from support from colleagues, Ms Ho is grateful for the assistance of her two elder sisters who are in charge of the company's finance and wholesale distribution. A strong bond and mutual trust empower her to endure the risk and pressure arising from the unpredictability of the retail industry.

Relationships with friends are equally important as family, and Ms Ho considers these the most important factors in her life. "Being able to share life with others gives your career and professional achievements greater meaning," she concludes.





Taken from Career Times 1 August 2008, p. C12
Your comments are welcome at editor@careertimes.com.hk

Creative Commons license: Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0

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