As a Japanese lifestyle department store featuring a wide variety of trendy and premium quality merchandise, Yata Department Store plans to deepen its footsteps in Hong Kong by launching a new branch in the near future. At the same time, Yata strives to keep up with customers' ever-changing demands by vigorously trying to source from different channels. Stylish apparels, trendy accessories and modern household products from Japan are their major sourcing targets.

In January 2010, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council joint hands with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, Japan to organize a Business Matching event for the fashion industry, aiming to strengthen the business ties between companies from Hong Kong and Japan.

Concession Management General Manager, Ms Catherine Au was one of the representatives from Yata Department Store to participate in this business matching event. Ms Au noted that they were very pleased to meet up with several Japanese fashion accessories and apparel suppliers in person and they saw a high chance to strike business collaboration with one of the Japanese suppliers, finding its female casual wear collections very suitable.

"We believe the design and price range of this Japanese brand would be much welcomed by the Hong Kong market. With its branch office in Hong Kong and conversance in working with local retailers, we envisage that a smooth cooperation could be realized," elaborated Ms Au.

Ms Au was very impressed by the professional service and in-depth analysis provided by the Business Matching Specialists which fostered fruitful discussions with targeted suppliers. She looked forward to riding on this valuable service to expand its sourcing connections with experienced companies in Japan for further business development.