19 minute read
Sink or Swim
NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED
The ongoing pandemic has presented a huge challenge for Hong Kong’s startups and SMEs. But amid the difficulties, an enterprising cohort of new business owners have discovered that even in difficult circumstances, there are opportunities for the bold. We speak to six local founders that have either launched or expanded their operations during the pandemic to get their insights. By Sarah Fung and Carla Thomas.
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Nobin K. John and Aswini Rachel
ORKA WELLNESS
A board-certified functional medicine coach and a culinary nutritionist by training, Nobin and Aswini are creators of multiple award-winning fitness and wellness cafe projects overseas. Their initial focus was to grow the Orka brand in India, but when COVID closed borders and left them stranded in Hong Kong, they moved their dream of launching Orka in Hong Kong forward.
Q Why did you decide to launch Orka during the pandemic? Bringing Orka to Hong Kong was the big dream even before COVID struck, but we had it as our 5 year plan starting 2020. At the beginning of the pandemic there was a lot of uncertainty and anxiety, and we decided to channel our worry into something productive - bringing our brand ‘Orka’ to Hong Kong even quicker. Since we couldn’t get back to India, we fast-tracked the process and now what we were planning on doing in five years’ time, we are doing now.
Q What have been some of the challenges of launching during this time? Logistics has been a huge issue. We used to travel and meet directly with suppliers. It’s important to us that our products are genuine, and something we truly believe in. As a result we’ve had to rely a lot on Fedex and DHL. Waiting for consignments to arrive has led to delays in our R&D process. But we got there!
Q Any upsides? A sense of community - both personally and professionally. Before the pandemic we were hardly in Hong Kong as we traveled so much, but now that we’ve been grounded we’ve had this amazing opportunity to meet like-minded entrepreneurs working in health and wellness, as well as get to know potential customers and understand what they want. It’s helped us to create balance in our lives. Orka is all about community, and now that we have built good relationships with our suppliers we hope to be able to get quality raw materials for young entrepreneurs and start-ups, without having to worry about minimum order quantities.
Q We talk a lot in the media about the struggles of entrepreneurs, but has the pandemic been good for business at all? More people are becoming aware that they need to take care of their health and wellbeing. Pre-COVID, I think if we had launched at this time people wouldn’t care as much as they don’t understand why they need to change their habits. But now in terms of improving your diet that will safeguard your health.
Q What sets Orka apart from other health food brands? We have always envisioned Orka as a wellness hub. We have started with products but there is so much more to come, including our two-time award-winning concept, Orka Cafe, which we are aiming to open in Hong Kong by the end of the year. More than anything we put sustainability first. There is so much waste in the supply chain so we sought to streamline the process and reduce waste. As a result our products have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. From packing our products onsite to working on a fixed-batch monthly production so we don’t over-produce, Our beverages come in glass bottles and our dry foods are packed in plant-based pouches that can be composted at home.
Q What have you learned about business in the past 12 months? Just keep trying, persevering and pushing, but have a lot of patience. And always have a plan B, C, D and E!
Q Any advice for a budding entrepreneur? Do the maths. Dreaming is great, but make sure your numbers make sense. And don’t be afraid to reach out to people who have been on this journey. You’d be surprised at how many people are ready to help.
orkawellness.com
Zacki Hamid
BIG DILL
One of the most exciting additions to the city’s plant-based dining scene this year, vegan bar and restaurant Big Dill serves up mouthwatering comfort food - think burgers, fried chicken and milkshakes - that’s made entirely from homemade (not lab-grown) plant-based protein.
Q How did you come to launch Big Dill during the pandemic? Big Dill started off as an events brand, after I launched the Vegan Block Parties in 2019. I could see a strong appetite for plant-based food, so my current business partner Chris Growney joined me and we developed a pop-up concept where we would take over the food service in other bars. When one of the bars that we were working out of left the space suddenly, we had the opportunity to create our first flagship store.
Q Did you have any reservations?
Yes of course! The main reservation was how we will survive if dine-in restrictions continue or worsen. The Hong Kong food scene is already an extremely competitive market and when you add the difficulties the pandemic has on the service industry it was a risk.
What ultimately made us decide to go for it was our core mission, which is to change the way the world eats. We want to offer plant-based alternatives to people who might typically find it hard to adopt a vegan lifestyle. Being driven by purpose over profits helped keep us on our path despite all the circumstantial challenges.
Q What do you think sets you apart from other restaurants? What really sets us apart is that we make all our plant-based proteins in-house out of real ingredients you’ve known and heard of. This isn’t lab-grown food, it’s kitchen made. Also, we offer a 100 percent plant-based food and drinks menu. For example, our Whiskey Sour cocktail uses a vegan egg substitute. I think we are the only ones on Hong Kong Island who can say that.
Q Why are you so passionate about veganism? Where do we start?! Whether it’s from the perspective of personal health, environmental sustainability or animal welfare, adopting a more plant-based lifestyle has a significant positive effect on your health but also the longterm sustainability of the planet. I’ve been vegan for five years now, and I was frustrated by the lack of choices I had when dining out. You could say my passion was borne from that personal experience.
Q What lessons have you learned so far? Listen to others, but always stay true to your core purpose and don’t follow trends. The pandemic required business operations to be agile, and you need to be able to stay on top of constantly changing requirements and conditions to make sure everyone stays safe. Finally, plant-based eating can be fun!
Q How has business been going? Any plans to expand? Since we’ve opened our own restaurant, things have been very positive. We are happy with the direction of the brand but also recognise it’s only been five months so we have a lot more learning and growing to do! And yes of course, we’d like a Big Dill on every corner!
bigdillhk.com
Simran Mohinani
MOHLIA
Inspired by the infinity roses that filled her apartment when studying in Boston, Simran Mohinani decided to bring the concept to Asia, offering long-lasting naturally preserved floral arrangements that last up to two years. Simran was blown away by the positive response and decided to work on MOHLIA full time just days after her official launch. In addition to the infinity roses, MOHLIA offers sustainable luxury gifting and has just launched a physical presence in K11 MUSEA.
Q Was launching during COVID part of your plan? Not at all! I had always planned on going into the family business, and set up MOHLIA expecting to make a couple of sales a week. Within five days I realised that I had to take it up full time to keep up with demand. I was overwhelmed by demand for customised pieces and ideas for different designs, and we were selling out quickly.
Q What lessons have you learnt during the pandemic? To find a good team, and to trust them. I’m a perfectionist and was always more comfortable doing things on my own. But I realised that in order to be successful, you need to build
a network and rely on them to do their job. I’ve also learned to be tougher. Once, we had a huge corporate order come through. We were working with a new supplier and they held up our order and were refusing to release it, and because of the pandemic I couldn’t fly down and sort it out in person. It was a dark and scary time but a huge lesson in not taking slack from anyone. I was a bit of a pushover before but I certainly am not anymore!
Q What other challenges have you faced? Some, mostly related to logistics and not being able to visit suppliers in person. Because borders have been closed, we also haven’t been able to establish a bigger presence in some other markets and expand the way we would have liked in those locations. But challenges are good, because every time you pick yourself up you know what you need to do to improve. We also had an issue where another company tried to replicate our brand name and identity and launched the same concept in the US. It was tough as we were trying to investigate them remotely, and eventually it became a legal issue. Fortunately it has been resolved and they’ve backed off now, but trying to find out what’s going on halfway across the world was definitely a challenge.
Q Has the pandemic been good for business in any way? I think people would have loved the product regardless of whether there was a pandemic, but at this period of time, when borders are closed and loved ones are far away, sending gifts is one way for people to make a connection. We are very grateful to be a part of something that allows us to share the love between friends, family and significant others, no matter how many miles keeps them apart.
Q Any advice for entrepreneurs just starting up? Follow your dreams and don’t pay too much attention to opinions of others, particularly if it’s not coming from someone who has your best interests at heart. I had people tell me that they hate the brand name, that I wasn’t really working hard and that MOHLIA is only successful because of my family’s support, when in truth I work on it non-stop. Their comments just make me want to prove to them that I am hungry and I am building my success on my own terms. Success to me is being happy doing what I love every single day.
mohlia.shop
Damien Mouellic
CENTRAL & STANLEY WELLNESS
An integrative allied health practice in the heart of the city, Central Wellness was conceived during the 2019 protests. Then, just three months after its official opening, COVID-19 struck. Founder and osteopath Damien Mouellic tells us how he navigated these challenging times.
Q You already had a successful osteopathic practice in Stanley. Why did you make the leap to expand into Central? I first made the call in July 2019. At first I was thinking of joining another practice as a practitioner, but then I realised that I had everything in place to open my own clinic. It was in the middle of the protests, which presented some logistical challenges, but of course we never saw the pandemic coming.
Q Tell us about the early days of the pandemic. We opened in September 2019 and by January 2020, COVID was in Hong Kong. We shut the clinic for two weeks in March to protect staff and figure out how to move forward.
I had two options. Option one was to cut costs, reduce headcount and try to wait out the pandemic. Option two was to use the downtime to invest in getting our name out there, tune up our operations, optimise the website and be ready to go once restrictions were lifted. So I decided to double up and take the chance. We invested in marketing, PR, hiring new practitioners and advertising all the disciplines we offer. There’s no use in sitting back and hoping that word of mouth is going to be enough.
Q Did the gamble pay off? When we reopened on April 1, I had about three or four days when I thought, wow, it’s not going to work. But then footfall picked up, and within two months we had our best months ever since we opened, and it’s been going well ever since.
Q Why do you think that is? There are a few reasons. With borders closed, people have more time and they’re thinking about their health. Preventative health has thrived in the pandemic and it’s only getting bigger.
Q Were there any upsides to the pandemic, expected or otherwise? The clinic closure allowed me to really develop a clearer vision. I am also a partner in IKIGAI, a movement studio located one floor above Central Wellness. As we move towards the functional medicine model, it became important to have a meditation and yoga centre to refer people to. When I suggested to my partners that we open a new studio they thought I was crazy. But why not? Rents are low and people aren’t going anywhere right now. We’re in a transitional period and when the world recalibrates, that’s the time to start a business. This is a town of entrepreneurs and you need to take the chance when you have power and momentum behind you.
Q What advice would you give to an entrepreneur facing a crisis? First, don’t panic and don’t rush to get rid of your staff and downsize right away. Think about how you are going to use that moment to generate more business down the track. No knee-jerk reactions - it will backfire. If you’re a business owner who started in the pandemic, I think you will do well. If you can survive this, you’re invincible.
Q How do you feel about the future? People are saying that the pandemic and the protests have killed Hong Kong. I think Hong Kong is about to explode. I see what’s happening in Kai Tak, in West Kowloon. The people with money have a vision and I think Hong Kong is going to the next stage. People wouldn’t invest if they didn’t believe in Hong Kong’s future.
stanleywellnesscentre.com
Susana Chan,
LOP & LOA
A newly-launched pet care brand, LOP & LOA centres around quality, design, sustainability and responsibility. Short for Love Our Planet and Love Our Animals, the brand’s first product is a high quality pet CBD formulated by CBDcertified veterinarians. Founder and CEO Susana Chan spent 16 years in the finance industry, until the pandemic made her shift her priorities and pursue her passion.
Q Tell us how you started LOP & LOA. I had been working in the finance industry for 16 years, and as much as I loved my work, my passion has always been animals. My ultimate dream is to open an animal sanctuary ,but for now I have launched a pet business that not only helps animals but offers well-designed, environmentally conscious products. We chose CBD as the initial product launch because I saw how much it has helped my own dog, who suffers from autoimmune disease. He was in constant pain and it broke my heart to see him suffer, but CBD has helped him immensely. When the pandemic happened I came to realise the importance of life and the need to value each day; it was the catalyst to push me to do something I’m truly passionate about. Working with veterinarians and a top production facility in the US, we now offer high quality CBD products including CBD oil, balm, isolate powder and dog treats.
Q What have been some of the challenges of launching at this time? One of the biggest decisions we faced was whether or not to open a physical store. Ultimately, we decided against it as the risks were far too high for a start-up to take on. Instead we opted to put our resources into our digital platform and presence. However, we realised that some clients still prefer to see the product physically before purchasing, so we partnered up with various reputable veterinary clinics and our products are also available through them.
Q Any upsides? Expected or otherwise? As COVID-19 still looms over us, people have found themselves at home a lot more and because of this a lot more pets have been adopted which is absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, the reality of adopted pets are that some have been abused or neglected in a previous life. Our CBD oils have shown amazing results with pets struggling with separation anxiety and overaggressiveness. We’re happy with the results our clients have been seeing and the feedback has been incredibly positive. It’s so rewarding when customers share their stories with us as our goal has always been to help animals.
Q Has the pandemic been good for your business? The pandemic has undoubtedly benefited online retail, which we are happy to be a part of. Businesses and consumers alike have been turning to online platforms for their shopping needs. It has opened the general public’s eyes to the convenience of online shopping and even older consumers have gotten more tech-savvy. Be that as it may, a need for a strong online platform that’s user-friendly and engaging is definitely a must.
Q What lessons have you learned since you launched? LOP & LOA opened its digital doors four months ago, and though this period has been short, there has been a lot to learn. We focus a lot on customer engagement, going as far as connecting them with our vets to answer and address any and all concerns regarding our products. We created in-depth pages for consumers who want to learn all there is about CBD. All in all, it’s been a rewarding experience and the greatest lesson I’ve taken away is to follow your passion and forge your own path because no matter how difficult it may seem, it all starts from a simple conversation and taking that first step.
lopandloa.com
Rachel Haslam and Jimmy Pang,
TIDAL WEIGHTLIFTING
Tidal Weightlifting is a new strength training gym on Arbuthnot Road. Opened just last month, it was founded by PTs Rachel Haslam and Jimmy Pang after increasing demand from their regular clients.
Q How did you get started? Jimmy and I were freelance PTs and were running Olympic Weightlifting classes at gyms all over Hong Kong. We reached a point where our community grew so large that we could barely accommodate all of our weightlifting clients in classes, and renting gym spaces became unsustainable. Expanding was a no-brainer! And it just so happened that when Covid-19 hit hardest, it brought some commercial rental prices down. That’s when we seized the opportunity.
Q Was it tough to launch mid-pandemic? The pandemic was both an obstacle and an opportunity for us. With gym closures we weren’t able to work at our usual capacity, particularly as some clients were understandably nervous about seeing other people and being in a gym. Luckily for us, we still had a large number of clients that insisted on training and braved all circumstances (parks, living rooms, rooftop workouts with minimal equipment) just to get themselves moving! We even hosted weightlifting classes in my living room to my parents’ dismay (luckily we didn’t drop anything!), and it was a whole lot of fun and the clients loved it. We were posting about it on social media and unexpectedly grabbed a lot of positive attention: supporters, admirers, and even new clients!
Q What have you learned about business since launching? We’re a brand new business and we’ve only been soft-opened for a month so we’ve still a lot to learn. However, so far we’ve learnt that hard work definitely pays off; no matter how small your business, as long as the clients appreciate you, you will thrive; time management is key… and always remember to take payments!
Q Any advice for budding entrepreneurs? The best advice I can give during this time is to seize any opportunity if it comes to you. COVID-19 is merely an obstacle and can even sometimes be surprisingly beneficial toward new endeavours. No one’s going anywhere, so now’s a great time to knuckle down, work hard, and focus!
MEET MORE PANDEMIC-PRENEURS
ON PAPER LAB
Founded by two local artists, Elsa Jeandedieu and Carol Choi, On Paper Lab offers creative and quirky art prints and postcards. Best known for their vibrant murals, which you can find all over Hong Kong, On Paper Lab is pandemic-born project that came about when the artists realised that the pandemic had led to a heightened interest in interior decor and a more widespread adoption of online shopping. Their mission is to bring affordable design to Hong Kong.
onpaperlab.com
PIVOT POINT
Perfect for these trying times, Pivot Point is run by Sarah Kalmeta, a former corporate high-flier, who has “pivoted” and reinvented herself as a success coach, yoga instructor and reiki practitioner. Whether the pandemic is threatening your job or you’ve started to notice your priorities shifting, Sarah can help guide you through the process, redefining what success means to you, and helping to create a life that you’re excited to live - whatever that looks like.
sarahkalmeta.com
QURIOUS
Serving up quirky, fun homewares with a sustainable bent, Qurious was founded in 2020 by entrepreneurs Rowena Hoy and Cheryl Wilson, who wanted to create a lifestyle, homeware and gift e-retailer with a focus on wellness and positivity. Stocking more than 20 niche brands, you’re bound to find something you love.
qurious.life
MABEL LAU CALLIGRAPHY
Newly launched last year, Mabel Au launched her eponymous Chinese calligraphy studio in order to promote positive thinking and mental health through creative activities during these challenging times. In addition to classes and workshops, she also offers on-site calligraphy services, original artwork and commissions. Despite the challenges of the past year, she has been able to connect with other creatives and clients looking for meaningful, one-of-a-kind artworks.
