CUHK MBA Marselle Ma spotted an opportunity to tap into the rising consumer class in Asia so she left her job at HSBC to start selling designer goods across the region
Marselle, 27, grew up in Canada and gained her Bachelors degree in Health Management from the University of Western Ontario in 2007. She worked as a senior credit manager for Wells Fargo for two and a half years before joining HSBC in Hong Kong as the Vice President of Risk Analysis in 2009.
Marselle joined CUHK to sharpen her entrepreneurial skills. We find out from her why she made the move into the luxury goods world and how going to business school has helped.
In a nutshell, what is Fashion Fiesta?
Fashion Fiesta operates through two arms. One is a retail shop located in Hong Kong, for luxury goods, while the other is a wholesale trading business to sell luxury items to mainland China and the rest of Asia. The company specializes in 100 per centauthentic and new designer products offered at discounted prices.
Some of the brand names we stock are: Balenciaga, Celine, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, Proenza Schouler, Fendi, Gucci, Tods, Prada, Chloe, YSL, Celine, Burberry, Givenchy, Hermes, Rolex, and Cartier.
When you say luxury items, what types of products are you speaking of?
Things like handbags and purses, sunglasses, and wristwatches.
How much would it cost to buy the cheapest item in your shop and what would it be?
The cheapest thing would be a wallet that costs from HK$ 2,000 to 3,000 (US$260 to 390)
That's expensive
Well, these are high quality designer goods. Our target market in Hong Kong are the mid to upper level range of consumers and our prices are lower than what customers would pay if they travelled to Europe and got a tax refund. The business model is based on giving our clients discounts because we buy directly from the producers in Italy, UK and Germany, and we buy in bulk!
So why did you decide to leave banking for the luxury goods world?
I started as an online shop in 2007 before I got into banking. My passion has always been for running businesses. I also loved purses and other fashion items and naturally, I wanted to buy at discounted prices. Eventually this led to me setting up a business.
I moved to Hong Kong in 2009 but I quickly realized that Hong Kong and the rest of Asia is full of opportunities for luxury goods. Asians love brands and want to buy these products so I kept my job in the bank and hired people to work in the retail shop.
Did you take any lessons from banking into entrepreneurship?
In banking my focus was credit and risk and this is totally different from being an entrepreneur. However, the MBA has helped me tremendously. You meet people in different sectors. I’ve met a few entrepreneurs who have inspired and encouraged me. In banking it was numbers, numbers, numbers. In business school I’ve learned about how an idea can be brought to life.
I always hung out with bankers when I was at HSBC but the MBA has allowed me to meet people in the creative industry. I had to do the design and logos for my business and creativity is not my strong point but I met colleagues who helped me.
Has it been hard being a woman and an entrepreneur in Hong Kong?
Nowadays, I don’t think being a woman makes it any harder. There are many successful women who are entrepreneurs. The challenges that you face are being able to see the risks involved and to be able to prepare for the worst case scenario. As an entrepreneur I think the stress is more internal because its about being self-motivated and being strong, hardworking and disciplined.
How would you like to grow the business in future?
I would like to expand the retail sector but I want us to maintain our online wholesale presence. We also want to introduce new lines such as skincare and jewelry so we're working on building the right partnerships.
Student Reviews
One of a kind
I studied Bioinformatics at CUHK last year. It was the only Master's degree in Hong Kong in this field. This program developed my analytical skills and equipped me to be a Bioinformatician in a very practical way.
I enjoyed my year here and met classmates from different parts of the world. If you are thinking to enhance your profile, this degree program would be a good option.
general education courses, unique college system, large campus
The university facilitates multi-dimension and interdisciplinary learning. In social science faculty, we need to choose courses as our faculty package from other departments (architecture, psychology, sociology, etc.) to learn more than our major required courses. We are also required to finish general education courses, which aid our critical thinking and humanistic sensibilities. I do recommend the social science broad-based program, and the professors I met so far are all responsible and erudite.
LLM
The faculty of law is relatively new. You do not need to have a LLB to pursue a LLM, which is special. The taught programme is great for mature students who want to obtain legal knowledge.
CUHK has good teaching staff too.
Amazing Campus and Great Educational Environment
Not only is CUHK's main campus breathtaking, it provides for a good educational environment for students. The university is well-equipped with modern and up-to-date facilities to help students with their study. We have 8 libraries in total around the campus; one for media, one for architectural studies, the medical library and the law library. The Professors are always helpful and are happy to talk to students when needed.
Moreover, the college system within the university brings forth the uniqueness of CUHK. Each student belongs to a different college, and in that students are able to meet different peoples from different countries and students from different faculties.
I think CUHK provides for a well-rounded university life for all students.
exthrillating
One of the most down to earth places in HK. A great opportunity to learn and embody the local culture. Also had one the most beautiful campus in Hong Kong up on the hillside. Glad to have graduated here.
Innovative and Supportive
My university provided me with all the support I needed, and encouraged me to be up to date with all the new developments in the world. They also provided me with the incentive to excel at what I do, and they take much pride in my achievements. I have had a very rewarding university experience.
Small, New But Friendly Law School
To being with, I think the campus of CUHK is the best and the biggest in Hong Kong, with fresh air and trees everywhere.
I am an undergraduate Law student at CUHK and I think the teaching here is great, with very friendly and nice professors and the new Lee Shau Kee Building.
In terms of the courses offered by CUHK, as one of the largest universities in Hong Kong, CUHK is an all-rounded university, offering a wide range of courses to students. Students may take the introductory courses of discipline other than their own major, or even declare a minor.
For law electives, due to the small amount of intake, the variety of law electives are not that huge. However, the Faculty is offering some international programmes, which can be treated as law electives, but at the same time, provide us with an opportunity to travel and know more about the legal system of another country.
The career support from the Faculty of Law is also amazing. The Faculty will organise CV Sessions and talks on how to get an internship from law firms or mini-pupillage from barrister's chambers. Each student will also have a Distinguished Professional Mentor, which is a current legal profession, providing us with practical advices and updates of the legal field.
Finally, from my personal experience, I think the students in CUHK are friendly and genuine. As Law students, competition is inevitable for grades, GPAs, vacation schemes and training contract. However, I think the competition in CUHK Law School is a positive one, in a sense that help us grow together, instead of fighting with each other no matter what. That is the biggest reason why I am having a very good time here in CUHK Law School.
A place to explore your interests
As a law graduate from CUHK (both undergrad and post-grad), I realise that I had many opportunities to explore my areas of interests (legal and non-legal both). The faculty/university requires us to take a certain number of non-law electives, and offers a plethora of courses to choose from. Personally, I took 3 modules in Korean --I can't say it's made me highly proficient, but it's definitely given me a good foundation (I can walk into a Korean restaurant and confidently order food, at the very least). The fact that language courses are offered also provides students who are more financially constrained an opportunity to learn a language without having to shell out a premium for a decent language course. On top of that, we have a range of law electives as well. I know of classmates who have developed lasting interest in different areas of law because of the electives they took in school. The two electives that I would say have changed me is (i) mooting and (ii) family law. I think my experience in an international commercial arbitration moot competition has helped tremendously in formulating legal arguments and legal writing. On the other hand, taking a family law elective has made me very interested in the family law practice, especially in terms of child rights. For these experiences which I have gained, I'm grateful for the opportunities provided by the school.
One main issue most students I know have is with the way our GPA is calculated and the lack of transparency in terms of how the honours system works. As our GPA is marked on a curve. it's highly unrepresentative of what we have achieved as individuals. Given that our GPA is the only criteria that is looked at when we apply for the compulsory post-graduate law course (mandatory should we want to practise law and/or be trainees in Hong Kong), it will put our own students at a distinct disadvantage when we compete for limited spaces with students from schools where GPA is not on a bell curve.
Valuable time in CUHK
I like the learning environment and people at CUHK. Surrounded by hills and Tolo Harbour, CUHK provides a balance between nature and hustle. You can always escape from the busy study life and meet your friend around the big campus for different activities.
