1 July 2009
Taking The Long View
Taking The Long View
Pearls
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Buyers seeking the finest cultured South Sea Tahition, freshwater and Mabe Pearls should check the vast selection at Rio Pearl |
Tough times call for tough decisions - just ask Rio Pearl Managing Director Johnny Cheng, who didn't hesitate when it came to dealing with the recent downturn in business.
He immediately starting looking for new markets for the wide range of pearl jewellery he manufactures and exports, and set out to find them in Russia, China and India - three countries he shrewdly believes are suffering least from the financial crisis.
"With our main markets in the US, the Middle East, Asia and Europe drying up drastic action was needed - and so far the signs in these new markets, particularly Russia, are looking positive," Mr Cheng claims.
He also decided to concentrate the company's promotional efforts on providing various items of beautiful cultured pearl jewellery worn in an upcoming 30-episode Hong Kong drama series.
All these moves are essential, Mr Cheng believes, as the first industries to suffer in a recession - and the last to recover - are luxury items.
"We must be patient and positive and eventually everything will return to normal," he believes.
Taking the long view is second nature to Mr Cheng, who has been a dedicated lover of lustrous pearls since he started his company with two assistants in a hotel shopping arcade 26 years ago. "I have a life-long love affair with pearls," he admits. "It is simply amazing how such beauty can be created in an unattractive shell."
A wholesaler of pearl and other fine jewellery, Rio Pearl offers a comprehensive range of cultured pearls, South Sea, Tahitian, freshwater and Mabe pearls, as well as loose pearls, pearl strands and also pearls set in unique and fashionable jewellery designs - rings, earrings, pendants, enhancers, shorteners, bracelets and necklaces.
These are manufactured at a factory in Shenzhen in China's Guangdong Province, which employs a staff of 130 craftsmen, a small R&D team and an experienced production and quality control department.
Rio Pearl hires the most qualified staff to create its fine jewellery collection, which satisfies the needs and desires of all its customers worldwide.
"We also keep abreast of the latest jewellery designs, while keeping pace with our customers' unique tastes," Mr Cheng adds.
The company bases its key designers in Hong Kong to keep a close watch on their imaginative ideas.
"They consistently come up with superb concepts that prove irresistible to ladies," Mr Cheng explains. "They specialise in very clever designs for the odd-shaped pearls that are often found."
Mr Cheng takes great pride in Rio Pearl's four major product lines - Kingdom of Nature, Antique's Charm, World of Animals and Water Creatures, and Secret of Magnificent Beauty. "Each is a masterpiece of design, beauty and style that is a joy to own," Mr Cheng concludes.
TEXT BY GEOFFREY SOMERS
Fast Facts
Rio Pearl 17/F Railway Plaza 39 Chatham Rd Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Hong Kong Tel: 852-3962-6060 Fax: 852-2367-5170 Email: info@riopearl.com.hk Web: www.riopearl.com.hk www.hktdc.com/em/riopearl |
Year Established: 1983 Major Product Categories: pearl jewellery, loose pearls and pearl strands Own Brands & Certificates: Rio Pearl Minimum Order: - Monthly Production: - Delivery Time: - Factory Size & Location: Shenzhen Workforce: - |
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