The Adventure of a Couple since 1996: We are NEVER like Anyone Else

"Come to think of it, it was a little bit too early to open our shop", Paul laughed.

Do you still remember what you were doing in 1996? 24 years ago, a lovely newlywed couple on their honeymoon in Denmark, amazed by the beauty of Scandinavian Design, they decided to open an antique store soon after they came back to Hong Kong.

"What are we gonna name it, Paul?" "How about Manks? From your last name, Man." And there it is, that is how the adventure and story began.

As a pioneer in Scandinavian Design, they were quite confident about their ideas at first. "Actually the business was unique, attracting a discerning group of customers who likes beautiful things.

We were, however, making small revenue in the beginning. Come to think of it, it was a little bit too early to open our shop", Mr Fung could not help laughing when reminiscing about the early years, "It was actually quite tough for us to survive in the first few years." "We wanted to offer something different to Hong Kong, something that Hong Kong does not already have." Even though they struggled to survive as Scandinavian Design were not widely accepted by the Hong Kong market at that time, they managed to develop a discerning customer following as a purveyor of style.  For instance, Mr Stanley Ho brought his then girl friend to Manks, selecting various items for her French restaurant in the SOHO neighbourhood.

After 9 Years, A New Turning Point

In 2005, Carl Hansen & Son saw the potential in the Hong Kong market. The CEO visited Paul looking for cooperation opportunities with Manks. And these two brands, one focusing on selling 50-60s antiques while one producing 50-60s classic furniture, became instant partners.

And ever since then, in addition to selling mid century antiques, Manks started to became the agent of many other popular Scandinavian furniture brands such as Fredericia, Fritz Hansen, Muuto, and Varier. And in 2019, Manks become the exclusive agent of Fredericia in Greater China.

We Evolved, but We Never Changed Our Focus

The first shop of Manks was opened on Elgin Street, Central in 1996, which is now in the PMQ neighbourhood. With the opening of the escalator, the 2600 sq/ft shop attracted many discerning visitors and was fondly remembered by many Scandinavian Vintage lovers as the most stylish Manks shop.

Asia financial crisis of 1997 hit hard on the local economy and, Manks had to move shop in 2000 to Quarry Bay, to continue its journey in a lower cost neighbourhood.

As the economy came out of its trough, in 2005, Manks moved to a beautiful, colonial house on Kennedy Terrace, from the 1930s. 


Here, is where Modern Design business started to develop side by side with the antique business.

As business grew, the lovely colonial house was no longer big enough to accommodate the multi brand Scandinavian Modern Design business of Manks.

In 2010.  Paul and Susan then made the move to a stylish loft space in Wong Chuk Hang, at a time that when few businesses dare to operate from such neighbourhood. With a showroom 3 time larger than before, Manks business doubled in revenue within 2 years.

In 2013,  Manks started their in town shop in Sau Wa Fong, a stylish Wanchai location where unique art pieces, furniture, and antiques in this shop would attract those with discerning taste.

In 2016, Manks relocated to her present location at 14/F, Cheung Tak Industrial Building, a 6,000 sq/ft showroom, which is the largest one that Manks has ever had.

And no matter how many times Manks has relocated, bringing the Scandinavian Design and the Scandinavian lifestyle to Hong Kong is something Manks will always do.

"Just like this Sheep, We Never Want to be the Same as Others", Susan Said

There is a painting hanging on the wall at Paul and Susan's house. "Nobody was willing to pay for it so we bought this with a small sum of money", Susan said, "Can you see this little black sheep? Just like this sheep, we never want to be the same as others. We are always different from others just like this little black sheep standing among other white ones". And that is what Manks has always been doing, that is, to be different and keep doing it.

Paul and Susan have always had their discerning insights towards things, no matter when it comes to the style or the location for Manks.




"The market leader is the one that captures the market before others", Paul said.


We all know that Scandinavian Design is popular nowadays. However, Scandinavian Design was not so common back in the 90s as the first choice for design furniture.  At the time, what Hong Kong had was design from either Italian or British brands. "We were the first Scandinavian antique store that had entered the SOHO area in 1996, and we were also the first loft-style furniture showroom in an industrial building in Wong Chuk Hang", Paul said it with pride.

While Manks is considered as an authority of Scandinavian Design as the first to introduce Scandinavian Design and lifestyle to Hong Kong since 1996, there is plenty of room for Manks to expand moving forward.  Throughout these years, Paul and Susan are also doing business in a Scandinavian style, that is, keeping things simple, honest and effective.

"Simplicity is beauty and less is more, these are our essence, and also the essence of Scandinavian style", that is something Paul and Susan have been always telling their staff.

Manks Warehouse Address:    14/F, Cheung Tak Industrial Building, 30 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong.

Website:    https://www.manks.com/en/

Facebook Page:    https://www.facebook.com/ManksLtd/

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/manks_hk/

MANKS - SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN FURNITURE

Manks, dedicated to bringing Scandinavian modern design & lifestyle to Hong Kong since 1996.