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Leading Japanese designer stationery company MDSI today (December 13) opened its second store in Hong Kong, as part of a three-year plan to expand its international operations worldwide.
The new store under the brand name, QIPS, at the Miramar Shopping Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui will cater the demand from a growing cluster of Hong Kong consumers who appreciate designer and lifestyle products, which the company attributes to the growing status of Hong Kong as an international city.
MDSI (HK) Ltd Managing Director Mr Masashi Takemura said, "We chose Hong Kong to start our overseas business because Hong Kong is a genuine international city. We can find a lot of expatriates from all over the world and people from all walks of life here.
"What comes with this internationalisation is a high level of consumer acceptance of new ideas. We believe that if people living in Hong Kong appreciate the lifestyle and merchandise that we offer, the concept will work in other parts of the world," Mr Takemura said.
MDSI (HK) Ltd is the regional head office responsible for developing the company's international market network and building the QIPS brand, or Quest for Innovative Personal Style. QIPS-branded stationery carries the essence of unique Japanese workmanship and design style, and the company hopes to position it as a major lifestyle brand in Hong Kong.
The new Tsim Sha Tsui store at Miramar Shopping Centre followed QIPS first Hong Kong store that opened at the Olympian City, West Kowloon in July 2011. The company plans to open five stores in three years. It is now seeking prime retail space in Central, Causeway Bay and East Kowloon for further expansion.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Andrew Davis, welcomed MDSI's second store in Hong Kong, noting that its expansion highlighted the attractiveness of Hong Kong as an international city. "Hong Kong is a city where east meets west, and where customers are able to appreciate quality products. This gives trendsetters like MDSI the room to expand."
Starting a business in Hong Kong, for companies large and small, has become easier with the launch of the Government's electronic incorporation service in March 2011. The time required for company incorporation and business registration has now been significantly reduced from four working days to one.
About MDSI (HK) Ltd
MDSI provides lifestyle products with a focus on designer stationery with unique Japanese cultural appeal and craftsmanship quality. It is a subsidiary company of Designphil and MDS (MerchanDising Solution). Designphil is a leading high-end Japanese stationery manufacturer, which has developed its own stationery brand "Midori" and leather product brand "Knox". MDS is a main stationery distributor in Japan with a distribution network of brands including Loft, Tokyu Hands, Kiddy Lands, Maruzen, Yurindo, Ito-Ya, Kyukyoda and several department stores. For more information, please visit www.mdsi.com.hk
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong﷿s vibrant economy. As it celebrates its 11th year of operation, Invest Hong Kong has completed over 2 300 investment projects creating more than 28 000 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and HK$60 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:34
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