Net-a-Porter comes to Asia-Pacific
Net-a-Porter is bringing its world-beating brand of luxurye-commerce to Asia, its fashion director tellsVivian Chen
When she arrived in Hong Kong from London on Monday morning, Holli Rogers, fashion director for Net-a-Porter didn't know what to expect of the online luxury fashion retailer's new office space in the centre of Causeway Bay. Looking fresh in a cashmere knit and leather skirt despite the long-haul flight, Rogers is excited about Net-a-Porter's expansion into the region.
Spanning about 4,000 sq ft, the spacious office is the company's first branch in the Asia-Pacific region, adding to its two bases in London and two others in New York. A location in Shanghai is also scheduled to open next year.
Customers will be able to pay in their local currencies - Hong Kong dollars and yuan - for both sites. A warehouse in the New Territories is being built to ensure same-day delivery for local customers.
Net-a-Porter's Asia-Pacific partner, also the founder of shouke.com, is entrepreneur Adrienne Ma, whose mother, Joyce Ma, is the name behind Hong Kong's high fashion multi-brand retailer. Adrienne Ma worked closely with her mother as president of Joyce before turning to a consultancy role in 2008. She is now senior vice-president of its operations in the Asia-Pacific.
She describes her e-commerce venture as a tough learning curve but an exciting one. "I think I learned a bit in my Joyce days and now, working with Net-a-Porter, I'm fortunate enough to be in a situation to learn more," she says.