Hong Kong-based Winnif Pang, whose design firm, Hoobee, creates lifestyle products for the home and office, has turned a hobby into a thriving business. You can see his products in Homeless, under the brand name Fred.
"We are constantly designing new products, about 100 a year, but we sell a lot of silicon ice trays with humorous designs like guns, chickens laying eggs and dinosaurs. The gun ice mould is not about celebrating weapons; I like the way the gun melts away in a drink. That is a big seller in the United States. The US is our biggest market but we also sell in Japan, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Another bestseller is the melted chocolate door stop."
"We have deliberately avoided having a detailed website because, though it is very important for any business, my products and even the website itself have been stolen so many times by mainland manufacturers. I am not the only one. Many designers face this serious problem."
"The duration of a project is usually 90 days; 70 days for [research and development] and mould making, and 10 to 20 for lab testing. We follow stringent safety tests; for example, our silicon moulds are tested for about 45 days to reach food-grade quality. It's frustrating because it only takes between seven and 20 days to counterfeit the same product because they just miss the quality control."
"Yes. Before setting up my own company I designed electronic components such as hi-fis and powerboats. Then I saw a gap in the market for products that are fun and useful but inexpensive. I decided to mix iconic things with a new way of thinking and started thinking of ideas in 2000. Some people thought it was strange that I was making things like that but I think there is a kid inside everybody."
"I do a lot of travelling but I am always thinking about things and people. It is like researching non-stop. I have a habit of observing people and will automatically analyse the style and colour of what people are wearing. Thinking of an idea sometimes comes from just sitting around a table."
