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SCMP Reporter

Dorothy Mok Pui-shan is the manager of the Marks & Spencer department store in Times Square. Apart from selling clothes and accessories, she knows a thing or two about cold weather.

 Having spent 18 months studying for a postgraduate Master of Science degree at the University of Salford in Manchester, England, she is no stranger to wrapping up warm as temperatures plummet.

 Dorothy, 26, who was recently promoted to store manager, is single and has been with the company for 2.5 years.

 Her bosses yesterday reported that sales of winter woollies and thermals across the territory have taken off as the mercury drops.

What's on your mind?  It's quite amazing how quickly Hong Kong people react to a drop in temperatures. It has only been cold for two days and already our sales of warm winter clothing are up.

Do you find it strange that customers buy new warm winter clothes each year which they may only wear for a few days?  I think Hong Kong people want to be warm but they are also very fashion conscious.

 That is probably why they react so quickly to the change in temperature - they don't want to be left behind when it comes to looking good, whether it is cold or hot.

So what's hot and what's not this year?  The most popular are our ladies winter coats; we are selling quite a lot of them. Hong Kong people are not so big on accessories like hats and gloves because they are considered less fashionable. However, I would say overall sales of warmer clothes are up.

What about thermal underwear?  As well as being fashion conscious I believe people here are practical. They think if they buy thicker or thermal underwear and then find themselves in a warm environment, they cannot take them off to cool down.

 It's a lot easier to take off a thick coat than a pair of thermals. Also, thermal underwear tends to be less fashionable, so perhaps that puts people off too.

And how do you keep warm when the chill sets in?  I had to wrap up in a hat and scarf when I was in Manchester, so I know what it is like to be very cold. I like our products but I also have things I brought back from the UK.



Cold weather gear selling like hot cakes