South Korean cosmetics group AmorePacific to open 10 new stores in Hong Kong

South Korea’s largest cosmetics manufacturer AmorePacific says it expects to open around 10 new stores in Hong Kong this year, and recruit more staff in the city.

Jeff Cheng, its local marketing director, said the company is also hoping to focus on offering more beauty services to its Hong Kong consumers, and at gaining more customer loyalty.

“To differentiate ourselves, we are going to give customer-experience a higher priority, offering more services such as beauty consulting,” said Cheng.

The moves come as Hong Kong’s retail sector continues to grapple with tumbling mainland tourist numbers, and with more mainlanders choosing to travel to South Korea instead.

The growing popularity of Korean pop culture in Asia is also helping to fuel the rise in visitor interest in the country, say analysts.

Hong Kong’s retail sector has just rung up its worst first-quarter performance since 1999, following 12 straight months of decline in 2015.

Sa Sa International, the city’s biggest cosmetics retail chain, posted a 14.2 per cent fall in sales last year from a year earlier.