Expat Women's Interview with Mina – Jacqueline

Mina–Jacqueline:  Our motto is that "luxury is a Philosophy, a discipline and an overall culture". So our ultimate goal is to revolutionize luxury shopping on the web and become the go–to destination for luxury lifestyle shopping for everyone. We want not only our clients, but everyone to think alike in terms of luxury. And ultimately, they would all want a piece of the lifestyle we have to offer. More realistically, we hope to become an international presence within the next five years. We have plans to strategically place warehouses in Europe and Asia. With this, we can cater to clients all over the world, bringing them luxury without them having to pay a premium for shipping.

Expat Women: Starting an online store is becoming a great option for expatriate women who move abroad but cannot find traditional jobs abroad, or perhaps are no longer interested in traditional jobs. What 5 Top Tips can you share with us from your own experience, about setting up an online trading store?

Mina–Jacqueline:  Starting an online store is definitely a great option for those who are no longer interested in traditional jobs. But one very important thing to keep in mind is not to have the mindset that starting an online store will cost less money or take up less of your time. The web is a very different world then having a physical store. Having a physical store requires a lot of funding for the space itself as well as maintenance of the store. But online, though you will be free of that expense, you will have an extra load that you'd have to account for such as public relations, marketing, ads, word searches on major search engines, a full time web person and definitely it's not a job that frees up your time either. A lot of my friends can't understand why I don't pick up on their phone calls or go out to dinner anymore. At the end of the day, this is your own business. I'm in front of my computer from 9am to 1am everyday, weekends including and even when I'm traveling. Other tips I would give is to know your market very well before you begin anything.

You have to know who you are targeting and then know everything there is to know about that market – consumer behavior, where they live, how much they make, what they buy. There is such an abundance out there, as consumers, they have more than they want to choose from ... by knowing your market – you can set yourself apart from competitors. Also be involved with charities and the community. I always say that, because I believe in "what goes around comes around". Even if your business isn't making money yet – the smallest gesture may make a big difference for someone else. Lastly, as in any business you do – online or not, stay ahead of the game. You have to be able to think faster than others and move a lot quicker to win competitions. A lot of what successful entrepreneurs can think of, honestly, we can too. But what made them successful is the fact that they thought of the ideas much earlier than any of us did. And you have to constantly remind yourself and condition yourself to become like that.

Expat Women: Being Chinese, born in Hong Kong with a British passport (during the time of British rule), when and why did your family migrate to the United States – was it to follow the 'American Dream' of anything is possible?

Mina–Jacqueline: My family immigrated to the US because they were afraid of the extreme uncertainties of what will happen to Hong Kong and its people after the handover to China in 1997. Even though we held British passports – no one knew what would and could happen. It is communism after all. It's quite scary if you think about it. Also at the time, my uncle and grandparents were already in the US (they've always lived here) and I have other close families in Canada as well. So it wasn't completely foreign territory for us.

Expat Women: How did you feel when your family moved to a completely different culture and country? What were some of your first memories – the good times and the bad?

Mina–Jacqueline:  When we first moved here, we moved to central New Jersey, the suburbs. And adjustment was extremely hard as I grew up in a city environment. I remember all of the sudden, everything being too quiet and the streets being too dark. I hated it. But I was only 7 and my cousins kept me company.

Some of the good times were going to school. I never had a language barrier because I've always attended English speaking schools in Hong Kong. But in Hong Kong, we were learning the multiplication table in first grade ... so when I was in school and learning how to add – I had a blast. I thought school was the easiest thing ever!

The hardest part for me about being in the US was not having my dad with me all the time. He flew back and forth between US and HK. He had a huge business running in Asia and it was just not possible for him to remotely run it, especially when it was at its peak. So missing him was very hard.

Expat Women: Do you feel that life for you and your family has been better in the United States?

Mina–Jacqueline:  I can't really say yes or no since I never had a true adult life in Hong Kong, so I can't compare. What I can say is that things would be very different in Hong Kong. For one, my father passed on when I was 13 from just working too much and not taking care of himself. He worked so hard to build an incredibly successful and reputable fitness empire in all of Asia but didn't have a family to really go home to – to cook him healthy foods and remind him to go for his yearly check–up. And so he just died. And it was the biggest trauma I've ever experienced. Of all my sisters, I was closest to him. And I often think if our family had never made the move, perhaps my father's death could have been prevented ... but I'd like to believe that everything happens for a reason and that the Heavens needed him ...

Expat Women: Finally, do you have any parting words of wisdom for our Expat Women?

Mina–Jacqueline:  Luxury isn't all about the price and how much one pays to acquire the item(s). It is beyond the merchandise itself. Luxury is stories and tales that your belongings bring about. Luxury is something that makes your life fulfilling and beautiful. Luxury has always been and always will be a philosophy, a discipline and an overall culture.

Expat Women: Thank you very much Mina–Jacqueline. We wish you incredible success with your very clever business idea!

October 2007