Inside Retail Asia is proud to release the first annual Top 50 Innovative Retail Leaders in Hong Kong report, recognising the best and brightest innovators across the retail sector in 2017.
Sponsored by Greater Group, the report names 50 people chosen by a panel of judges as driving innovation in retail, online and offline, along with in depth interviews with some standout performers.
The report is available for digital download, or you can purchase a print edition here.
“Innovation takes many forms – in retail or in any other industry,” said Robert Stockdill, director of content, Inside Retail Asia. “Innovation is critical in such a fast-changing business environment retailers now work in. This publication is our way of recognising them.”
Whether in product design, store impact, supply chain, technology, social media, e-commerce, customer engagement or HR, innovation is often what separates the winning retailers from the more mundane, said Stockdill.
The 50 people come from 45 companies who our judges believe have stepped outside the proverbial square to innovate.
“Some are from giant multinationals who are household names. Others run relatively small, local businesses readers may never have heard of.”
Members of the judging panel brought a broad range of disciplines and perspectives on business and retail to the table. They represent multiple demographics and come from different backgrounds. Chaired by Anson Bailey, partner, business development, KPMG China, the members were Ryan Arrowsmith, CEO Asia and partner of Greater Group; Professor Jorn Bühring, assistant research professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design; Carson McKelvey, managing partner and director of Tofugear Limited; Alexis Wong, CEO of Vesta Holding; and Inside Retail Asia’s Stockdill.
In choosing the list, the judges adopted the following definition of innovation:
“True retail innovators are thinking outside the box: they’re eschewing the old way of doing things in favour of new approaches which enhance customer experience, engage the community or staff, add value to the retail experience or increase speed to market. They may be employing technology, social media, supply chain initiatives, HR reform, marketing, delivery, data or other initiatives. They are not imitators.”
Here are the Top 50 Innovative Retail Leaders in Hong Kong for 2017:
- Kirsty Hulme, Sure Step Asia Pacific (2XU)
- Noel Lui, 6ixty8ight
- Adrian Siu, Adidas Group, Hong Kong
- Kelly Cheung, Aesop
- Roger Chan & Brandon Chau, Attire House
- Damien Ng, Backers
- Philippe Baumlin, Chanel
- Elsa Lepeu and Johanna El Iman, Chateau Zoobeetle
- Kent Wong, Chow Tai Fook
- Richard Yeung, Circle K Convenience Stores (HK)
- Jennifer Liu, The Coffee Academics
- Desmond Marshall, Fang Fang Monte Carlo
- Norbert Tan, Coffee Concepts
- Annemiek Ballesty, Fossil Group
- Douglas Young, Goods of Desire
- Luke Grana, Grana
- Gianfilippo Testa, Gucci
- Yen Kuok, Guiltless
- William Yeung, HK Broadband
- Ricky Wong, HKTV Mall
- Robert Esser, Formerly of HMV Asia
- Heyman Poon and John Wong, Homeless
- Dane Fisher, Infiniti Global
- Sham Kar Wai, I.T Group
- Ravel Lai, Jardine Restaurant Group (KFC)
- Jason Kei, Jollymap
- Adrian Cheng, K11 Art Mall
- Jerome Mallet, Kenzo
- Jennifer Woo, Lane Crawford Joyce Group
- Leisia Tsang & Ellen Ogren, Little Starters
- Jonathan Zeman, Lan Kwai Fong Properties
- Thibault Villet, Mei.com
- Louisa Zhang, Formerly with Memebox Hong Kong
- Andreas Binder, Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong
- Bob Neville, New Balance
- Jacky Lam, Okian Optical
- Delphine Lefay & Diego Dultzin Lacoste, On The List
- Yumi Li, Pret A Manger
- Morgan Tan, Shiseido Group Hong Kong
- Lui Tong, Strawberrynet
- Fokke De Jong, Suitsupply
- Antoine Blanchet, TimeVallee
- Rainer Duespohl, VF Corporation
- Giovanni Musillo, Zalora
- Danny Shum, Ztore
