Despite tough economic conditions, Mannings, the health and beauty specialist, plans to expand the number of its stores and keep improving its services.
'The market is difficult and increasing competition means we have to strive even harder to be the best. We will continue to grow and open more stores this year,' Mannings chief executive Gary Dunwell said.
The chain store is focusing on improving the shopping experience by giving its shops a new image. New-look stores, such as the one in Lockhart Road in Wan Chai, have a more contemporary feel and are aimed at making shopping easier, as well as enjoyable.
'We have done a lot of work improving our layouts and making them more consumer-friendly,' Mr Dunwell said.
'The aisles are wider, we have put a lot of thought into where the product goes so the layouts are more logical and we have specialised areas, such as a baby area, where similar products are displayed. There is also more signage.' Alongside the new look, Mannings is improving its product range. Health snacks are being introduced into some shops instead of chocolate to meet the demands of increasingly health-conscious consumers.
But it will take more than health bars to impress Hong Kong's currently cautious consumers, and Mr Dunwell points to good service as the key to keeping shoppers coming back.
'As the market gets tougher, customers will expect a higher standard of service. Quality expectations and service standards become even higher in the tough times,' he said.
