Shoppers' delight

Spotting a niche in Macau's lifestyle market, three Portuguese women have opened Poutau ('shop') in the up-and-coming Nape area near Sands Casino and the Mandarin Hotel. Rather than compete against the glut of antiques shops, the trio - a legal adviser for the Macau government, a designer and an engineer - offer goods sourced from around the world, but mainly from East Asia, including Indonesian leather chairs (HK$1,972 to $3,209), bamboo ladders from Philippine hill tribes ($289) and modern versions of the Thai triangular cushion ($447 to $462) - Poutau's are made of durable cotton and come in colours not available elsewhere, according to the owners. Counting on passing trade and word of mouth, especially among the Portuguese community, Poutau plans to offer design-consultancy services, says one of the partners, Jessica Leao. She adds: 'We all love to shop and decorate our houses and we know all the best markets in the region.'

Rua de Bruxelas 232-G, Nape, Macau, tel: 853 753 402, open from 11am to 8pm, closed on Mondays.