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Tag: grana

  • Grana Group bulks up with venture debt

    Grana Group bulks up with venture debt

    After raising US$16 million in venture funding from backers including Alibaba, online apparel brand Grana Group has boosted its coffers with an undisclosed amount in venture debt.

    The three-year-old online fashion startup will use the funds, from Hong Kong asset manager STI Financial Group, to improve its cash-flow management and advance its use of artificial intelligence for customer engagement. Using venture debt means the company can grow its business without having to dilute its share capital while working toward series-B funding at the end of next year, reports Deal Street Asia.

    Based in Hong Kong, the startup was founded by Australian entrepreneur Luke Grana. Its earlier funding included $6 million in seed money and $10 million as a series-A round.

    The company has an 18,000sqft (1700sqm) global distribution centre that ships to 67 markets. It has also opened 15 pop-up showroom-experience centres across Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and Australia.

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  • Grana expands into Mainland China, opens store on Alibaba’s Tmall

    Grana expands into Mainland China, opens store on Alibaba’s Tmall

    Today Grana, one of Asia’s fastest growing eCommerce disruptors in the apparel industry, with US $16 million in funding, announced its official launch into mainland China opening an online store on Alibaba’s Tmall – the largest business-to-consumer (B2C) retail platform in Asia.

    The Hong Kong-based startup has also announced global shipping, adding more than 50 new countries across Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia and Europe to introduce its obsession with high-quality fabrics and bring affordable luxury basics to millennial consumers. This expansion comes from direct consumer demand to ship Grana’s modern essentials cross-border into their countries.

    With today’s official entry into the Chinese market, the young startup aims to meet demand from the emerging middle-class seeking trusted quality goods at a lower price-point from online luxury and fast-fashion retail brands currently in the market.

    To drive its market penetration, Grana’s increasing brand awareness in the US – it’s biggest growth market and traction with celebrities including Gigi Hadid, Jessica Alba and Lily Collins, wearing its products for everyday looks to red carpet appearances, will be important factors to attract the Chinese consumer.

    “We appreciate the strong and strategic partnership with Alibaba supporting our expansion plans onto Tmall. It’s a pinnacle time for the company right now and it’s promising to see Chinese millennial consumers and online shoppers around the world becoming more sophisticated in how they shop, encouraging brands to disrupt the cost of quality goods across all sectors.

    It’s great, since this is our sweet spot. We now ship cross-border to over 60 countries and are well positioned to further drive the projected total revenue of eCommerce in Asia to double, over the next five years to US $1.4 trillion”, said Luke Grana, CEO & Founder at Grana.

    Grana’s flagship store on Tmall has been localised to provide the Chinese consumer with detailed information on product description pages that focus on its trusted and best-selling fabrics, garment production and key styles.

    Given the consumer preference for more guidance on size and fit, online shoppers will soon have access to customised size guides with measurement details sharing recommended sizing to purchase its modern essentials. This customised size guide is different to the size guide available on grana.com and more tailored for Chinese consumers.

    “We’ll be introducing our unique value proposition to Chinese consumers focused on sourcing the finest luxury fabrics from around the world, affordable pricing and direct shipping from Hong Kong.

    This will be crucial to break out amongst fast-fashion and luxury brands. On the Hong Kong front, our team can now introduce Grana to Chinese tourists who already visit our showroom and communicate that we ship to their city. It means they can try items offline, place an order and have it delivered by the time they get home – the aim is to bring these offline customers, online for their second purchase”, says Grana.

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  • Grana pop-up for Fashion Walk

    Grana pop-up for Fashion Walk

    Online fashion disruptor Grana will open a new pop-up store at Fashion Walk on December 9.

    The new Grana pop-up will be different to its Fitting Room by Grana store in Sheung Wan. The Causeway Bay store will target millennials with what founder Luke Grana describes as a “more personal brand experience” enticing customers to ‘see, feel and try’ before making their purchases in-store for later delivery.

    Described as “The Soft Spot – #granaworld experience”, the three key elements to the store are:

    • The See Wall, a gallery displaying how Grana’s luxury garments are made straight from the original source to the final construction of its Winter Collection & #ShowMeWhere images.
    • A Feel Bar, a sensory experience with different types of soft fabrics and textures;
    • A Try Space where shoppers can find the right fit and fabric offline before buying online.

    The eCommerce retailer has partnered with design and architecture brand Alt-254, to renovate its new 1668 sqft showroom to build the Grana experience and bring the online-to-offline concept to Fashion Walk. Grana will use the showroom space to introduce new fabric origin stories as a creative way to engage fashion conscious consumers on the story behind its new collections over the next four months.

    The new Grana pop-up on Paterson Street, is the brand’s sixth in Hong Kong.

    “With the increasing demand from consumers for quality basics in Hong Kong, the new showroom space is an opportunity for us to create a different retail experience for shoppers to have the Grana experience, learn about our minimalist collection, unique fabric stories and honest pricing model,” said Luke Grana

    “I’m very grateful for the support from Hang Lung Properties to pop-up in such an iconic location”, he said.

    Grana is a direct-to-consumer eCommerce fashion brand designing wardrobe essentials in-house, using the finest fabrics from around the world. Grana offers global shipping directly to 12 countries within two days.

    Headquartered in Hong Kong, Grana was founded by Luke Grana and Pieter Paul Wittgen in October 2014. To date, the startup has raised US$16 million in funding from 500 Startups, Alibaba’s Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Golden Gate Ventures and MindWorks Ventures.

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  • Alibaba leads $10m investment in fashion brand Grana

    Alibaba leads $10m investment in fashion brand Grana

    International direct-to-consumer fashion brand Grana is raising US$10 million in a Series A funding round led by Alibaba Group under the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund.

    It is one of three startups to attract support from the fund in its second round of investments.

    There is also participation from existing investors Golden Gate Ventures and Hong Kong-based MindWorks Ventures to support expansion plans in Grana’s highest growth market, the US, and to build out its product offering into new categories with sportswear, bags and accessories.

    Since launching in October 2014, the startup has had more than 15 per cent month-on-month growth in sales. Following the first-quarter announcement of its $6 million in seed funding this year, led by Golden Gate Ventures, MindWorks and Bluebell Group, the Grana team is moving into a new 18,000 sqft (1672 sqm) centralised warehouse in Hong Kong this month to manage business growth, and plans to double its headcount to 100 employees by the end of next year.

    Grana started out in a 500 sqft warehouse.

    “We’re honoured to have Alibaba as a lead investor, and the continued support of existing strategic investors”, says CEO/founder Luke Grana.

    With the new round of funding, Grana plans to expand its presence in the US through setting up its first pop-up showroom experience in New York for customers to try offline and buy online, as well as build a New York team to cater for its increasing customer base in the market.

    China venture

    To help strengthen Grana’s market reach in Asia, Alibaba is also partnering with the brand for its market entry plan into Mainland China.

    “Grana has proved itself as an international eCommerce brand that uses a data-driven approach to optimise its business offering and create an excellent customer experience,” says Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund executive director Cindy Chow. “They have a creative and energetic business culture which really resonates across their omni-channel and is indicated through their rapid growth.”

    Grana ships directly to customers across 12 countries within two days from its centralised warehouse in Hong Kong. Its range includes Peruvian Pima t-shirts, Chinese silk tops and Mongolian cashmere sweaters.

    Worldwide retail eCommerce sales are forecasted to reach $3.6 trillion in 2019, according to research company eMarketer, with the Asia Pacific projected to account for 41 per cent of this, followed by the US on 21 per cent.

    New markets

    To further drive Asia Pacific as a global eCommerce hub, Grana’s business strategy will focus on looking into new markets for shipping with DHL and opening pop-up locations in key markets over the next 12 months.

    The Series A round closes at the end of this month, and Grana plans to debut its new Italian shirting, silk bomber jackets and transitional knitwear collection this season.

    Founded by Luke Grana and Pieter Paul Wittgen in October 2014, Grana ships directly within two days to 12 countries – Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK and the US.

    Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund is a not-for-profit initiative launched by Alibaba Group last year with the mission of helping Hong Kong-based entrepreneurs and young people realise their dreams and visions for their businesses and communities.

    Grana is one of three startups to benefit in the second round of investments made by the $129 million fund since its launch last November.

    The other beneficiaries are food delivery firm Nosh and recipe video site DayDayCook.

    Nosh is a certified partner of online catering service Maidan, Rocket Internet’s food delivery service Foodpanda, and London-based food delivery app Deliveroo.

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  • Another $3.5m funding for Grana

    Another $3.5m funding for Grana

    Hong Kong-based online clothing retailer Grana has secured an extra US$3.5 million in seed funding.

    This brings total funding to date to $6 million, with an additional Series A funding pending. The lead investor  is Golden Gate Ventures, with MindWorks Ventures and Bluebell Group also involved.

    Grana has just launched in the US market, and the extra funding will help the brand continue its international growth. The company offers clothing made from international fabrics including Chinese cotton twill and silk, French poplin, Irish linen, Italian merino wool, Japanese chambray and denim, Mongolian cashmere and Peruvian cotton. Designing in-house, Grana works directly with fabric mills to ensure the best possible prices.

    In its beta launch in March last year it sold 2000 Peruvian Pima cotton T-shirts in three weeks, shipping to eight countries. Month-over-month sales have been increasing by 40 per cent since the company launched in October 2014.

    As well as helping Grana ship to new markets, the new funding will support its entry to the China and US markets. The funds will also be critical to new product category launches such as leather goods, undergarments and activewear.

    “The support is critical to our US expansion, a priority market that already represents 20 per cent of our global sales,” says CEO and co-founder Luke Grana, an Australian based in Hong Kong.

    Grana opened a “fitting room” in San Francisco in December, and has also introduced the concept in Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney. These outlets are designed as showrooms rather than retail shops, offering interaction with Grana Cheetahs (customer service representatives) and the chance to explore the website.

    “In a world where startups are disrupting established industries, Grana is disrupting how to build a global brand with bottom-up marketing from their biggest fans, city by city,” says Golden Gate Ventures managing partner Vinnie Lauria.

    Grana will also use the new funding to build its global team. It now has more than 40 employees in Hong Kong, and has just added team members in San Francisco.

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  • Grana, Online Retailer Offering Luxury Apparel at Disruptive Prices

    Grana, Online Retailer Offering Luxury Apparel at Disruptive Prices

    Grana (grana.com), an online clothing retailer creating luxury fabrics and wardrobe essentials at guilt-free prices, announced today it has secured an additional $3.5 million U.S. dollars in seed funding. The lead investor is Golden Gate Ventures, along with investments from MindWorks Ventures and Bluebell Group, bringing their total funding to date to $6 million U.S. dollars, with additional Series A funding pending. Grana recently launched in the U.S. market, and the additional funding will help the brand continue its international growth and expansion.

    Grana offers timeless wardrobe essentials created from fabrics found around the world, including Chinese Silk, Mongolian Cashmere, Irish Linen, Japanese Denim, Peruvian Pima Cotton, French Poplin, Chinese Cotton Twill, Italian Merino Wool and Japanese Chambray. Grana designs its merchandise in-house and works directly with fabric mills in order to bring the highest quality clothing to customers at the best possible prices.

    Grana has grown extensively since its March 2014 beta launch, during which the brand sold 2,000 Peruvian Pima Cotton t-shirts in three weeks, shipping to eight countries directly from Hong Kong. Month-over-month sales are currently increasing by 40 percent since Grana launched in October of 2014.

    The new round of funding will expand Grana’s shipping to new markets as well as aid the entry into the U.S. and China markets. The funds will play a critical role in new product category launches such as leather goods, undergarments and activewear.

    “We’re pleased to receive financial backing from Golden Gate Ventures and MindWorks Ventures,” said Luke Grana, CEO and co-founder of Grana. “The support is critical to our U.S. expansion, a priority market that already represents 20 percent of our global sales. This new investment allows us to further disrupt the online clothing market and provide consumers with luxury-quality wardrobe essentials without the luxury price point.”

    Since launching, Grana has brought a number of “Fitting Rooms” to consumers across Sydney, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and mostly recently opened a U.S. location in San Francisco in December 2015. Designed as a showroom instead of a retail shop, customers can experience the brand personality in the space, interact with Grana Cheetahs (customer service representatives), and discover the website. Retail showroom spaces are increasing in popularity, and Grana’s Fitting Room model is helping to lead this global trend. The new funding will also allow Grana to open additional Fitting Room locations in the U.S. and provide support for a technological upgrade to the shops, reinventing the way people buy clothes in-store.

    “In a world were startups are disrupting established industries, Grana is disrupting how to build a global brand with bottom-up marketing from their biggest fans, city by city,” said Vinnie Lauria, Managing Partner at Golden Gate Ventures.

    “We envision Grana’s model of providing the highest-quality modern essentials at revolutionary price points as the future of retail,” said David Chang, Partner at MindWorks Ventures. “This investment round provides Grana with greater capacity to expand its growing Fitting Room network, and product range and develop its omnichannel strategy.”

    As part of its international expansion and growth in existing markets, Grana will also use the newly acquired funds to build out a global world-class team. Currently, Grana has more than 40 employees in Hong Kong, and most recently has added team members in San Francisco.

    ABOUT GRANA

    Grana is a global ecommerce brand delivering luxury-quality wardrobe essentials made from the world’s best fabrics at guilt-free prices. Grana operates online and deals directly with their fabric mills, cutting traditional middlemen costs. Once the fabrics have been selected, Grana’s in-house product team designs the collections. With a focus on the perfect fit, Grana’s wardrobe essentials are designed to last far beyond the season.

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  • Grana nabs $3.5 mln in seed funding

    Grana nabs $3.5 mln in seed funding

    Grana (grana.com), an online clothing retailer creating luxury fabrics and wardrobe essentials at guilt-free prices, announced today it has secured an additional $3.5 million U.S. dollars in seed funding. The lead investor is Golden Gate Ventures, along with investments from MindWorks Ventures and Bluebell Group, bringing their total funding to date to $6 million U.S. dollars, with additional Series A funding pending. Grana recently launched in the U.S. market, and the additional funding will help the brand continue its international growth and expansion.

    Grana offers timeless wardrobe essentials created from fabrics found around the world, including Chinese Silk, Mongolian Cashmere, Irish Linen, Japanese Denim, Peruvian Pima Cotton, French Poplin, Chinese Cotton Twill, Italian Merino Wool and Japanese Chambray. Grana designs its merchandise in-house and works directly with fabric mills in order to bring the highest quality clothing to customers at the best possible prices.

    Grana has grown extensively since its March 2014 beta launch, during which the brand sold 2,000 Peruvian Pima Cotton t-shirts in three weeks, shipping to eight countries directly from Hong Kong. Month-over-month sales are currently increasing by 40 percent since Grana launched in October of 2014.

    The new round of funding will expand Grana’s shipping to new markets as well as aid the entry into the U.S. and China markets. The funds will play a critical role in new product category launches such as leather goods, undergarments and activewear.

    “We’re pleased to receive financial backing from Golden Gate Ventures and MindWorks Ventures,” said Luke Grana, CEO and co-founder of Grana. “The support is critical to our U.S. expansion, a priority market that already represents 20 percent of our global sales. This new investment allows us to further disrupt the online clothing market and provide consumers with luxury-quality wardrobe essentials without the luxury price point.”

    Since launching, Grana has brought a number of “Fitting Rooms” to consumers across Sydney, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and mostly recently opened a U.S. location in San Francisco in December 2015. Designed as a showroom instead of a retail shop, customers can experience the brand personality in the space, interact with Grana Cheetahs (customer service representatives), and discover the website. Retail showroom spaces are increasing in popularity, and Grana’s Fitting Room model is helping to lead this global trend. The new funding will also allow Grana to open additional Fitting Room locations in the U.S. and provide support for a technological upgrade to the shops, reinventing the way people buy clothes in-store.

    “In a world were startups are disrupting established industries, Grana is disrupting how to build a global brand with bottom-up marketing from their biggest fans, city by city,” said Vinnie Lauria, Managing Partner at Golden Gate Ventures.

    “We envision Grana’s model of providing the highest-quality modern essentials at revolutionary price points as the future of retail,” said David Chang, Partner at MindWorks Ventures. “This investment round provides Grana with greater capacity to expand its growing Fitting Room network, and product range and develop its omnichannel strategy.”

    As part of its international expansion and growth in existing markets, Grana will also use the newly acquired funds to build out a global world-class team. Currently, Grana has more than 40 employees in Hong Kong, and most recently has added team members in San Francisco.

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  • Grana Hong Kong, a store with no stock

    Grana Hong Kong, a store with no stock

    In this world of the digitally empowered consumer, is inventory a threatened species?

    Are classic retailer metrics such as stock hold, stock turn, stock intensity per square metre and working capital ratios yesterday’s news?

    After all what is a classic retailer’s largest cost of business? Well one could argue it’s inventory, certainly such that range, width of range, and its management is a strong determinant of both cash flow and profitability.

    Now a growing number of retailers are enhancing their offer by investing far less in inventory and far more in their digital interface, customer databases and social communities.

    Their advocates and fans are being increasingly conditioned and motivated to the customised offer that brings all channels to the fore. Not seeking to purchase on the spot, far more motivated by the various caches that a true digital-inspired omnichannel retail business offers. Aware that a physical store is crucial to the overall offer yet doing so in a way that maximises both the customer experience and resultant experience.

    Is this the store template of the future?

    Disrupting the standard retail format certainly seems to be on the agenda for many of today’s innovative fashion start-ups. Online retailer Kent & Lime have created a successful retail model out of providing online style advisors to hand select items in the right size and sent directly to your door. Your home becomes your personal fitting room where you have three days to try on your items, show your friends and then return those you don’t wish to keep, only paying for what you keep.

    Another success story in this area and a personal favourite of ours is Australian innovator Sneakerboy, as mentioned in previous posts. This week we visited another disrupter in this field, Grana.

    Aiming to combine the world’s best fabrics at disruptive prices, Grana is all about high quality garments at a lower price point. Founded in 2013, Australian-born Luke Grana, realised that achieving this goal meant re-thinking the traditional fashion business model, and focusing on ‘outstanding logistics’ rather than design, to give the fashion retailer an edge on the competition.

    Being based out of Hong Kong, the world’s largest logistics hub, allows the brand to ship internationally at almost the same cost of shipping locally in Australia with Australia Post. Working directly with fabric mills, all products are shipped direct to the warehouse and then straight onto the customer, cutting out the middle man, once again saving costs to provide ultimate savings to customers.

    Last year the core team members of the company, including founders Luke Grana and Pieter Paul Wittgen set up a shipping container pop up shop in and around Sydney, which reportedly was well received due to the quality of the products. They have now returned to Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building with a ‘zero-stock’ concept pop up store set to last until January 2016. When speaking of their first concept store in their channel in Hong Kong which followed a similar concept allowing customers to try on apparel and have their orders shipped to their door, founder Luke Grana said, “our customers can receive the tailored customer service and interaction that only a brick and mortar location can provide, but with the ease of online purchasing.”

    The Sydney store this weekend was buzzing, with consumers naturally adopting the new way of shopping. While some were a little confused at first, while we were in the store, once the concept was explained by an approachable and enthusiastic team member, all customers were taking items to the fitting rooms, and exploring the full range on the instore computers. The garments were attractively displayed within their styles, with place cards detailing where the fabrics had been sourced. From Peruvian Pima t-shirts priced at $22, to Chinese Silk Dresses from $99, it is refreshing to have such a transparent view of the supply chain communicated through the store experience.

    We are interested to see what the future holds for Grana, and whether we may begin to see more Australian retailers start to adopt this model of retailing in the future.

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  • Grana opens first permanent store

    Grana opens first permanent store

    Online fashion startup Grana has opened its first permanent physical store as it tries a new way of ensuring clothes fit the customers who order them.

    The new 1300 sqft store in Sheung Wan is branded The Fitting Room. It’s a unique hybrid retail concept, allowing customers to try a garment on, then buy clothes online instore for delivery to home or collection later in-store.

    While customers can try clothes on and see the styles first hand, they cannot purchase clothes from the store and take them home immediately.

    It aims to address the problem of online shoppers returning goods because they don’t fit, or because they don’t consider their purchase matches the colour or style of what they saw online.

    Grana is the creation of Australian Luke Grana, who was inspired by the high quality of t-shirts he came across during a trip to Peru. The site was developed with a unique business model in mind – in Grana’s own words “high-quality fashion at disruptive prices”.

    “Our business model is a little bit different; we deal directly with fabric mills instead of going through distributors or agents. Also, by operating online, we don’t have to pay rent. So when fashion retailers put in mark-ups along the way, our pricing is really simple: each of our shirts cost US$6, we retail that for US$12; jeans are US$20, we sell that for US$40. It’s a really honest and transparent pricing model and I think that’s what our, Generation Y customers prefer.”

    Of the new Sheung Wan store, Grana observes: “We bring together the best of two shopping worlds for a unique hybrid experience. Our customers can receive the tailored customer service and interaction that only a bricks-and-mortar location can provide, but with the ease of online purchasing.”

    Grana says similar hybrid stores are now being considered for Australia and the US.

    The new store is located at 108 Hollywood Rd, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.

    Grana Hong Kong store inside

  • Grana Singapore pop up opens

    Grana Singapore pop up opens

    Fast-growing Hong Kong-based online fashion business Grana has opened a pop up store in Singapore.

    The Grana Singapore pop up is its second – and this one is located in the heart of the city’s retail zone, on Orchard Rd.

    Grana is the creation of Australian Luke Grana, who was inspired by the high quality of t-shirts he came across during a trip to Peru. The site was developed with a unique business model in mind – in Grana’s own words “high-quality fashion at disruptive prices”.

    Last week, Grana announced it had received US$1.5 million in fresh funding led by Golden Gate Ventures which would be invested in expanding the business and running more short term pop up stores in Asian markets to boost brand awareness.

    The Singapore Grana pop up is located on Level 1 of Orchard Central, and will trade until August 5 from 11am – 10pm daily.

    Grana’s business model is a little different to more high profile brand fashion chains.

    “We deal directly with fabric mills instead of going through distributors or agents. Also, by operating online, we don’t have to pay rent,” says founder Luke Grana.

    “So when fashion retailers put in mark-ups along the way, our pricing is really simple: each of our shirts cost US$6, we retail that for US$12; jeans are US$20, we sell that for US$40. It’s a really honest and transparent pricing model and I think that’s what our, Generation Y customers prefer.”

    Grana plans to triple its range of styles, expand its online marketing into more countries and open more pop-up stores, which have proven hugely successful in building brand awareness in Hong Kong.

    This year, Grana is expanding into China, Europe, Japan, South Korea and Dubai. It will also expand its range into new apparel categories: Mongolian cashmere sweaters, Irish linen shirts, French poplin shirts and US twill chinos.

  • Grana fashion expands across Asia

    Grana fashion expands across Asia

    An online store specialising in “high-quality fashion at disruptive prices” is expanding into three new Asian markets this year from its Hong Kong base.

    Grana is the creation of Australian Luke Grana, who was inspired by the high quality of tshirts he came across during a trip to Peru.

    “I came across the Peruvian Pima cotton, which is extra long staple cotton that is very soft and durable,” he told the Hong Kong Trade Development Council magazine in an interview.

    “It’s a higher grade cotton than others in the market. I gave these t-shirts to my friends when I returned home and they were amazed by the quality of the t-shirts. I thought that was a really great business proposition to specialise in top-notch fabrics.”

    From there he started searching for best quality sources for other fabrics.

    “There are many fashion brands that source products from mass distributors in China, but I wanted to do something different.

    “We choose our fabrics based on their stories. Our silk comes from Huzhou, China. Huzhou is the start of the Silk Road and has been producing the world’s finest silk for a long time. For our denim, we went to Japan, where they have a very strong denim culture. We are also doing linen from Ireland, a place where they originally started making it.”

    The site was developed with a unique business model in mind – in Grana’s own words “high-quality fashion at disruptive prices”.

    “Our business model is a little bit different; we deal directly with fabric mills instead of going through distributors or agents. Also, by operating online, we don’t have to pay rent. So when fashion retailers put in mark-ups along the way, our pricing is really simple: each of our shirts cost US$6, we retail that for US$12; jeans are US$20, we sell that for US$40. It’s a really honest and transparent pricing model and I think that’s what our, Generation Y customers prefer.”

    From its Hong Kong base, Grana is expanding into new markets. This year the brand will launch online in China, Europe, Japan, South Korea and Dubai. It will also expand its range into new apparel categories: Mongolian cashmere sweaters, Irish linen shirts, French poplin shirts and US twill chinos.

    Grana started small but the business has grown rapidly.

    “I started out by setting up a small warehouse in Kennedy Town and ordered our first batch of 2000 pieces of Peruvian Pima t-shirts. Within the first three weeks of sales, we sold out all our stock. We shipped t-shirts to more than eight countries and the shipping rates were good.

    “The quality of products we received was really high, proving the business model to our investors, including Hong Kong-based fashion retailer Bluebell Group. With the capital raised, we built a strong team and re-launched the business with a new website last October. We have really strong sales, recording up to 700 per cent increase each month, which is really exciting.

    “I arrived in Hong Kong in October 2013 and by June 2014 I had raised US$1million in capital. I think that’s just testament to the strength of Hong Kong in terms of building and funding a new business.”

    Pop-up stores have helped build brand awareness in Australia and Hong Kong.

    “They really attract attention and bring in new customers. All of our new orders come from customers from our pop-up stores. The repeat-order rate is high as well. Last year, we did one in Australia, and we made more than A$60,000 in sales.

    “This year, we are hosting a one-month store in Hong Kong, and we will also be doing one later in Singapore. In the second half of the year, we plan to start one in San Francisco. I think it’s a really great way to introduce the brand.”

    Grana says he chose Hong Kong for a business base over Singapore because of the tax free port status.

    “That’s brilliant for us because we ship a lot of products in and out of the warehouse. When compared to Australia and any other parts of the world, Hong Kong is very exciting. It’s a dynamic city and things can happen very quickly. There’s a lot of energy in Hong Kong, people get excited by new ideas, there’s a lot of capital to back ideas up.

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