Chiu: "I found it extremely satisfying selecting furniture that our clients also liked. Ben and I met and became friends 15 years ago and we decided [on a trip] that it was time for a change. We'd worked hard and made some money on property deals. Ben has always been in sales and we share a love of furniture and design.

"During our travels across Asia, we met a mainland interior designer who owned furniture stores in Macau and Zhuhai. He was very generous, teaching us a lot about the business and giving us invaluable help and guidance. When we returned to Hong Kong, we found a dream location for a shop. It was serendipitous!"

Yiu: "My given Chinese names mean 'nature', and 'evolution' felt right because we are making a change, starting a new stage in our lives. More than that, everything evolves, including furniture."

Yiu: "Contemporary paintings, sculpture, furniture and lighting [made to order], mainly. We have five elements, or collections: nature indoors (solid wood items that bring natural elements into your home); nature outdoors (furniture to enjoy outdoors); retro evolution; old style made new (reproductions of original Bauhaus classics); and modern evolution (furniture that doubles as art). Each element has its own unique characteristics, but they can be mixed to create an individual look."

"We were very fortunate; the space had been designed well by the owner. All we had to do was add shelves and a lick of paint. It was perfect, with a big plate window to the street, a mezzanine floor and an outdoor terrace."

"We sourced our products during our trip. We visited 10 Asian countries and attended the Guangzhou and Shanghai furniture fairs. It was difficult to find manufacturers and suppliers willing to work with small orders. However, they saw our passion and the fact that we had a shop in a good location and they took a leap of faith. So far, so good."

"Not at the moment but maybe we will later. We have a three-to-six week lead time on ordering, but if customers want to purchase what's in the shop we are happy with that as it keeps the stock changing. We will continue sourcing new products and try our best to create a pleasurable shopping experience."