Eleanor Kwok: The cosmetics entrepreneur with a 'can do' attitude
Perseverance and dedicated time with her family are vital to the success of one woman, writes Eunice Wong
Eleanor Kwok was a trader without a store when her landlord tripled her basement shop's rent in 1989 and she could not afford the rise.
But she and husband Simon regrouped, found another suitable shop in Wan Chai and gradually built up a cosmetics empire that turns over almost US$100 million and enabled the couple to be named on the list of Hong Kong's 40 richest people for the second consecutive year.
"I have a 'can do' attitude because I believe everything can be done as long as we find ways to solve the problems," says Kwok, the vice-chairman of Sa Sa International.
Kwok and her husband started Sa Sa in the small basement of a Causeway Bay mall in 1978. Today, there are more than 160 stores spread throughout Hong Kong, the mainland, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia and business continues to boom.
She has built her regional beauty enterprise based on the "one-stop cosmetics speciality store" concept. And it all grew out of her passion for the cosmetics industry and her love for beautiful things.
Sitting elegantly on a bench in a cosy corner of the newly opened 12,000 sq ft flagship store in Nathan Road, she says, "I simply love the industry. This is what drives me and keeps me going. As a woman, my advantage is that I know the products well".
Kwok says she likes to solve problems and believes perseverance is important for career women to excel.
In 2003, business was affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis, but Kwok quickly changed her strategy to sell more masks and disinfectant products. The change in product offerings proved to be a good move. Turnover increased and the company expanded.