Hong Kong is an attractive sourcing centre for international companies, according to a US firm specialising in the design, manufacture and distribution of customised carts, trailers and kiosks used for the sale of retail merchandise.

Oregon-based The Carriage Works, run by husband-and-wife team John and Barbara Evensizer, is currently sourcing all types of food service equipment such as bakery cases, hot pans, cold pans, refrigerators and stainless steel items from the SAR.

Barbara Evensizer, the president of Carriage Works, says: "I feel Hong Kong is a great place for buying and selling products. I have been doing this for 10 years and will continue to do so." She adds: "We have bought many different types of items such as casters, locks, hardware and restaurant equipment. We had very good experiences buying products in Hong Kong, after finding these contacts from a friend who lived in the SAR.”

More small and medium-sized companies in the US have been looking across the borders for sourcing opportunities in an effort to cut down prices and obtain faster delivery. The Evensizers were no exception.

Barbara Evensizer maintains that in order to get better prices and delivery terms, she had to turn to overseas suppliers. "In Hong Kong I found companies eager to sell and they would work with us on prices. The customer service was much better and we did not have to chase them down to buy their products."

Indeed, Carriage Works has decided to source more of its products from Hong Kong. In her view Hong Kong's strength lies in its well-established banking and financial facilities, followed by accessibility of information, its geographical location, infrastructure and tax regime.

Hong Kong is "a fascinating blend of high-tech modernism and traditional beliefs", she says, adding that business opportunities are tremendous there both now and in the future. "We visit Hong Kong at least twice a year and attend trade shows with our products. Ocean Park has bought many of our theme-type food carts while Alexandria House has one of our Espresso carts in the lobby."