After dozens of wedding invitations and 10 years of faffing, Nunu Luan had had enough. She was so frustrated trying to find the perfect gift that she created Double Happiness, her own online, centralised gift registry. The venture is a first for Hong Kong and a breakthrough for those who prefer to shop for gifts by pointing and clicking. 'I found shopping for wedding gifts in Hong Kong so inconvenient,' she says. 'For one, there was no centralised channel, so if people wanted things from different stores they needed to have a list in each of those stores. 'Also, what was available was very limited, and often required you to go to the shop in person to buy the gift,' says the 35-year-old US-born Chinese, who trained as an architect and who also owns Brown restaurant in Happy Valley. With more than 70 Hong Kong merchants available through the registry, putting together the perfect suggestion gift list has never been so easy. Simply take the registry form on a tour of any of the 70 outlets, pick your bounty, write the product number on the form and fax it to Ms Luan's office. Then wait for your friends and family to logon and start buying. Brands to choose from include G.O.D., Alessi, Bang & Olufsen, Bed & Bath, Royal Doulton and Macintosh. For those seeking the unconventional, pampering sessions, helicopter rides over Hong Kong and wine appreciation courses could provide an interesting option. The registry, however, is not just for weddings. Anyone can buy any of the site's online products, making it a handy present-buying resource. Minimal delivery charges are an added attraction and Ms Luan guarantees that all prices are the same as those in the shops. A wide range of baby goods should also satisfy baby showers. 'Actually, a list can be set up for any occasion. Wedding lists probably make up 80 per cent of our business and baby showers account for about 15 per cent, but we get requests for Christmas, anniversaries, birthdays, house-warming parties, anything really.' The registry makes its money on the product mark up, with vendors providing goods at wholesale prices. By agreement, none of the items she sells online retail for prices below those found in stores. 'Many of the smaller shops don't have a registry and if they do, it's not as convenient as ours. We take on all the administration and allow them to reach an audience they might not otherwise.' Ms Luan hopes to add a further 20 brands to the website within the next three months. 'When I get them on board, I think we'll have a really good core of stores. It's nice to know that people can now really specify, and get, what they want,' she says. For more information, visit www.doublehappiness.com.hk
