Hong Kong On-Line Stationery Supplier Is Successful

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

06 May 2002

Hutchison Whampoa has not had much luck with its e-commerce businesses, having closed or sold some of its leading units, but on Friday the company announced that its on-line stationery supplier bigboxx.com, launched in July 2000, had become Hong Kong's largest corporate office supplier.

Bigboxx Chief executive Solomon To said the company had a 10% share of Hong Kong's fragmented office stationery market, giving it turnover at an annual rate of HK$300m in the first quarter of 2002.

"Sales have been strong for us in the first quarter, as we are headed for a break-even by the year-end," said Mr To, who had run the parent company's e-commerce division for 2 years before taking over at bigboxx last month.

Mr To says bibboxx has established strong repeat business, with about 37.5%, or 12,000 clients, being regular users from a client base of 32,000. He estimated that about one-third of corporations with more than 500 staff purchased from the company. Customers include Federal Express, Royal Sun Alliance Insurance, Midland Realty, and the Government.

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