Megan Davies of The Flame Tree found in Hong Kong the infrastructure and support to grow her brand globally

Having started the business in 1998, Ms Davies soon found that overseas clients valued the Hong Kong connection as their platform to buy from the Chinese mainland.

"With the eyes of the world looking to the region, I found that Hong Kong provided numerous opportunities for someone like me who had lived in China, understood the way business was done, and could therefore act as an intermediary between Chinese businesses and international markets," she said.

"Hong Kong has the infrastructure to provide an ideal base for the business. The logistics here are superb, and things happen so quickly. In Hong Kong, it is understood that we need things done 'yesterday'."

The business started out as a retail operation but as the brand name grew, more clients began asking Ms Davies to source products in the mainland for other retailers and interior designers. "So I started exploring the wholesale side of the business in greater depth," she said.

Today, the company sources small quantities of exclusive products for hotels, serviced apartments and retail outlets around the world, including Parkview apartments and Enseng Design in Hong Kong, exhibition spaces at the Hong Kong Leather Fair (in conjunction with Alcan Resources), and Kezie Stores in the UK.

"The Flame Tree has grown to the stage where we co-ordinate sourcing, design and production, from start to finish, through Hong Kong to countries including Australia, New Zealand, UK and the Philippines," Ms Davies said 

Complete service strategy

"For instance, if a retailer in the UK wants to assemble a collection of products for a specific project, we are able to provide a complete service covering all their requirements. Another example is work I did recently on some serviced apartments, sourcing products from three different countries into Hong Kong itself."

Ms Davies also develops from her own ideas, working with Hong Kong people at the design stage and contracting production in southern China in Dongguan, Qingdao and Shenzhen.

"Throughout the whole development of this rapidly established wholesale arm of The Flame Tree, we have also continued to build the retail arm of the business," said Ms Davies, who has three shops in Hong Kong.

"In addition, we co-ordinate production of custom-made furniture directly out of China to various overseas markets including the UK, US and Australia, and also wholesale to the Philippines.

"The business continues to grow because the Chinese are learning to deal with smaller quantities and because they already have high quality standards as opposed to a country like India, therefore they will have the edge for the foreseeable future."

As a businesswoman and mother Ms Davies, originally from New Zealand, said living in Hong Kong has provided her and her family with "endless opportunities and experiences".

"There really is no other city in the world where a businesswoman like me and all members of my family have so many positive things going for them." 

Related link:
Flame Tree www.flametree.com.hk