by Aude Camus
Are you the kind of person to never go out without a notebook in your bag? You know, just in case you suddenly have a brilliant idea and wanna write it down to remember it later. I am this kind of person! I own more notebooks than I could possibly use in my lifetime (I don’t think you can even imagine how much stationery I stocked when studying abroad in Sweden for a semester. It was 6 years ago and I still use some of the stuffs I brought back then … might even have a few things that I haven’t open yet …) but can’t help it, every time I see a cute notebook somewhere, I have to buy it. And don’t even get my started-on bullet journals and personal planners … I’m obsessed with them! Well, I have to face it, I have that thing with cute stationery.
And just like with anything else in my life, I have my fav brands when it comes to cute stationery. One of them? kikki.K, Swedish design and stationery brand. I basically have to refrain myself from visiting their stores as I always end-up buying things I don’t really need but can’t possibly leave behind.
Few weeks ago, I’ve been lucky to treat 12 of you to cute accessories from the brand as part of the goodie bags from our Hong Kong Madame x Barre 2 Barre event and ahead of spreading the kikki.K love, I thought it would be a great idea to get an enjoy a glimpse at the daily life of the brand Director in Hong Kong: Jacqueline Chung.
Are you the kind of person to never go out without a notebook in your bag? You know, just in case you suddenly have a brilliant idea and wanna write it down to remember it later. I am this kind of person! I own more notebooks than I could possibly use in my lifetime (I don’t think you can even imagine how much stationery I stocked when studying abroad in Sweden for a semester. It was 6 years ago and I still use some of the stuffs I brought back then … might even have a few things that I haven’t open yet …) but can’t help it, every time I see a cute notebook somewhere, I have to buy it. And don’t even get my started-on bullet journals and personal planners … I’m obsessed with them! Well, I have to face it, I have that thing with cute stationery.
And just like with anything else in my life, I have my fav brands when it comes to cute stationery. One of them? kikki.K, Swedish design and stationery brand. I basically have to refrain myself from visiting their stores as I always end-up buying things I don’t really need but can’t possibly leave behind.
Few weeks ago, I’ve been lucky to treat 12 of you to cute accessories from the brand as part of the goodie bags from our Hong Kong Madame x Barre 2 Barre event and ahead of spreading the kikki.K love, I thought it would be a great idea to get an enjoy a glimpse at the daily life of the brand Director in Hong Kong: Jacqueline Chung.
Hi Jacqueline. Thanks for taking the time to share a bit more about yourself and your daily life in Hong Kong. First of all, can you share a bit of your personal background? How did you become Director for kikki.K in Hong Kong?
I was born and raised in Hong Kong and havespent time studying and living abroad in Sydney and London. I was practising law but I decided to leave the legal industry and focus on other pursuits after I became a mother. Ihavealways been a stationery lover. My passion for stationery and beautiful designs made me fall in love with kikki.K when I first came across the brand in 2013. Beautiful Swedish design that inspire and empower people the world over to live their best life, every day... what’s not to love? (editor’s note: we couldn’t agree more!)
In 2014, by chance and by fate, I met Kristina Karlsson, the Founder and Creative Director of kikki.K. I was deeply inspired by her story. It was incredible to hear how she was able to combine her appreciation of design with her love for stationery, then found and grew the kikki.K business from her small one bedroom apartment to the beautiful and successful brand it is today. Her story inspires me to think about what really matter to me and to reconnect with things that are truly important to me. I felt that there was a gap for such lifestyle products in Hong Kong. So I decided to partner with Kristina and brought the brand to Hong Kong.
We hope that together, we could inspire millions of Hong Kong people to chase their dreams, set goals and to always be grateful for the little things in life, while delighting in kikki.K’s range of Swedish design, delicious stationery and gorgeous gifts.
How is it like running a stationery brand at a digital age, especially in an ultra-connected city like Hong Kong?
I was born and raised in Hong Kong and havespent time studying and living abroad in Sydney and London. I was practising law but I decided to leave the legal industry and focus on other pursuits after I became a mother. Ihavealways been a stationery lover. My passion for stationery and beautiful designs made me fall in love with kikki.K when I first came across the brand in 2013. Beautiful Swedish design that inspire and empower people the world over to live their best life, every day... what’s not to love? (editor’s note: we couldn’t agree more!)
In 2014, by chance and by fate, I met Kristina Karlsson, the Founder and Creative Director of kikki.K. I was deeply inspired by her story. It was incredible to hear how she was able to combine her appreciation of design with her love for stationery, then found and grew the kikki.K business from her small one bedroom apartment to the beautiful and successful brand it is today. Her story inspires me to think about what really matter to me and to reconnect with things that are truly important to me. I felt that there was a gap for such lifestyle products in Hong Kong. So I decided to partner with Kristina and brought the brand to Hong Kong.
We hope that together, we could inspire millions of Hong Kong people to chase their dreams, set goals and to always be grateful for the little things in life, while delighting in kikki.K’s range of Swedish design, delicious stationery and gorgeous gifts.
How is it like running a stationery brand at a digital age, especially in an ultra-connected city like Hong Kong?
Living in a world dominated by technology definitely is a challenge for us. People stop putting pen to paper which is not only one of the core values of our brand but also something we will continue to encourage people to do. We aspire to creating products that inspire people to disengage from the digital world and to reminisce over the tangible benefits of ‘real things’. The simple act of writing – putting pen to paper – encourages thoughtfulness and reflection that doesn’t come as easily with the instant and fast-paced nature of digital communications.
kikki.K is very much inspired by the Swedish lifestyle which is very different from the lifestyle in Hong Kong. Born and raised in Hong Kong, how does the brand resonate with you? Have you been facing any challenges in having local people understand the core value of the brand?
kikki.K is very much inspired by the Swedish lifestyle which is very different from the lifestyle in Hong Kong. Born and raised in Hong Kong, how does the brand resonate with you? Have you been facing any challenges in having local people understand the core value of the brand?
We believe the positive and inspirational feel our brand communicates is the reason why customers enjoy shopping our products and spending time in our stores. In Hong Kong, we have some of the longest working hours in the world and it’s not often that we’re away from our digital devices. As a result, we have begun to notice a growing desire to switch off and enjoy peaceful moments whenever we can - and kikki.K products are inspired and designed especially for these moments, for example, the My Dream Roadmap Pad and 101 Dreams Jar from our latest Inspiration collection.
It can also be said that Hong Kong people have always been stationery-lovers and have a real affinity with the written word. I think this relates back to childhood and that first day of a new school term. It was always so exciting to start with a fresh notebook and pencil. It gives us a sense of order, control, and you feel like anything is possible! Coupled with the growing desire to cultivate healthier lifestyle habits, this makes the kikki.K brand and ethos more relevant than ever to Hongkongers.
Our brand customers are mainly women, although our male fans are growing! Both locals and expats have become huge fans of kikki.K. Our goal is to continue to increase brand awareness and spread the kikki.K love, so more people in Hong Kong will know about us and our fantastic products. Our customers appreciate style, value, authenticityand love our Swedish design aesthetic. Our customers want to own beautiful and meaningful products that enable them to live their best lives.
What would you say is the most challenging thing running a company in Hong Kong?
There are many brands fighting for a share of the market. Hong Kong is a place where there are always new things to do, see and try. It's important to constantly stay relevant and be able to attract and connect with our customers.
What do you find the most rewarding as the brand Director in Hong Kong?
kikki.K, is all about inspiring and empowering others to live their best lives. We launched Kristina’s book, Your Dream Life Starts Here– for the purpose ofhelping inspire and empower 101 million people around the world to dream and make their dreams happen.
Our brand customers are mainly women, although our male fans are growing! Both locals and expats have become huge fans of kikki.K. Our goal is to continue to increase brand awareness and spread the kikki.K love, so more people in Hong Kong will know about us and our fantastic products. Our customers appreciate style, value, authenticityand love our Swedish design aesthetic. Our customers want to own beautiful and meaningful products that enable them to live their best lives.
What would you say is the most challenging thing running a company in Hong Kong?
There are many brands fighting for a share of the market. Hong Kong is a place where there are always new things to do, see and try. It's important to constantly stay relevant and be able to attract and connect with our customers.
What do you find the most rewarding as the brand Director in Hong Kong?
kikki.K, is all about inspiring and empowering others to live their best lives. We launched Kristina’s book, Your Dream Life Starts Here– for the purpose ofhelping inspire and empower 101 million people around the world to dream and make their dreams happen.
Through the book and tools, we help customers put their dreams on paper, set goals and help them achieve these in style. It is extremely rewarding for me to realise that I am making an impact on the busy lifestyles of many Hong Kong people and also motivating them to dream and helping them achieve their dreams step by step. Not only are we providing functional and stylish products, we are inspiring people at the same time. Knowing that we have successfully introduced the brand to Hong Kong and are continuing to spread the kikki.K love – it brings me much joy and satisfaction.
What does a typical day in your life look like those days?
I am a morning person and get up very early so I can have breakfast with my children and also send them to school. Then, I try to get most of my work done before 5 pm – juggling between meetings, engagements and endless emails. From late afternoon onwards, I try to be as engaged with my children and husband as possible. It’s all about balance and fulfilling my different roles.
What are your favourite places:
A lunch with friends: Duddell’s for dim sums; Sevva, Café Gray
A fancy dinner: Da Domenico, Sushi Shikon, Tate Dining Room(here to discover our interview of another inspiring woman: Chef Vicky Lau at Tate Dining Room), Vea
A drink or two: Foxglove, Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour
A family brunch: local cha chaan tengs, The Commissary, Café Gray
A weekend escape: Tokyo. Or anywhere in Japan.
What does a typical day in your life look like those days?
I am a morning person and get up very early so I can have breakfast with my children and also send them to school. Then, I try to get most of my work done before 5 pm – juggling between meetings, engagements and endless emails. From late afternoon onwards, I try to be as engaged with my children and husband as possible. It’s all about balance and fulfilling my different roles.
What are your favourite places:
A lunch with friends: Duddell’s for dim sums; Sevva, Café Gray
A fancy dinner: Da Domenico, Sushi Shikon, Tate Dining Room(here to discover our interview of another inspiring woman: Chef Vicky Lau at Tate Dining Room), Vea
A drink or two: Foxglove, Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour
A family brunch: local cha chaan tengs, The Commissary, Café Gray
A weekend escape: Tokyo. Or anywhere in Japan.
