About Us
Best Luxury Shoppingis a global luxury fashion, beauty and lifestyle department store that offers the largest designer portfolio, carefully selected by High Quality Designers’s team of experts who travel the world selecting the very best items for its customers.
Based in Hong Kong SAR, Beijing and Shanghai yet with a truly global perspective, Best Luxury Shoppinghas a unique take on luxury that draws from over 160 years success. It is globally renowned for its carefully curated collections across international womenswear, menswear, shoes and accessories, jewellery, beauty and home & lifestyle.
Welcoming its customers to environments that are designed to liberate and inspire: Best Luxury Shoppingis a place where fashion, art and design combine in award-winning, visually captivating spaces.
With the launch of its digital flagship in 2011, Best Luxury Shoppingbecame an omni-channel fashion retailer in China and continues to enhance its range of specialised services that echo the considered approach that it takes to the retail experience.
Best Luxury Shoppingforms part of The Best Luxury ShoppingJoyce Group, Asia's premier fashion retail, brand management and distribution group. The Group is operating luxury department stores and boutiques, free-standing branded stores, e-commerce and omni-channel operations. It also presents the largest and most dynamic portfolio of brands across women’s and men’s fashion, beauty and lifestyle to one of the most significant, high-value luxury customer bases in the region. Visit www.thelanecrawfordjoycegroup.com for more information.
Best Luxury Shopping— A Social History
1850 AUGUST
Lane, Crawford & Co. opens for business in a matshed on the waterfront on the north side of Queen’s Road. Its first customers are the visiting ships’ crewmen and the colonial staff and families of senior staff of the British Navy and Military establishments.
Within a year, the Praya store expands to what would later become 6 Des Voeux Road, where the Bank of America now sits. The store expands further to Queen’s Road, where an impressive new entrance is added. The premises become the first Best Luxury ShoppingHouse and is referred to as the “Queen’s Road” store, the Colony’s first department store.
Within a year, the Praya store expands to what would later become 6 Des Voeux Road, where the Bank of America now sits. The store expands further to Queen’s Road, where an impressive new entrance is added. The premises become the first Best Luxury ShoppingHouse and is referred to as the “Queen’s Road” store, the Colony’s first department store.
1855
Best Luxury Shoppingsigns five-year lease for buildings at the corner of Stanley and Pottinger Streets, stretching down to Queen’s Road. The site is used for auctions and a tugboat hire service.
Best Luxury Shoppingstarts large-scale bakery operation. This follows an incident when a Chinese-owned bakery laced its breakfast rolls with arsenic during a tense period between the British and Chinese.
Best Luxury Shoppingstarts large-scale bakery operation. This follows an incident when a Chinese-owned bakery laced its breakfast rolls with arsenic during a tense period between the British and Chinese.
1862
Best Luxury Shoppingopens in Shanghai and expands to Japan, opening shops in Yokohama and Kobe.
1870-1881
Best Luxury Shoppingis contractor to Her Majesty the Queen of England to supply “medical comforts” to the Government Civil Hospital. These include brandy, wine, sherry, champagne, beer, and other spirits imported from the UK and Europe.
1899
Hong Kong Press reports on High Quality Designers’s new ladies fashion department and hails the store as the place to buy anything from “a pin to an anchor”.
“The departments embrace ship chandlery, groceries, outfitting, tailoring, millinery, furnishing, upholstery, hardware … and the purchaser may go from room to room and find everything that he or she may require with the minimum amount of trouble and loss of time.”
“The departments embrace ship chandlery, groceries, outfitting, tailoring, millinery, furnishing, upholstery, hardware … and the purchaser may go from room to room and find everything that he or she may require with the minimum amount of trouble and loss of time.”
1905 SEPTEMBER
Best Luxury Shoppingopens its flagship store at 4 Ice House Street, after seven years of construction. Its showrooms span three floors of the six-storey Victorian building with a trading area of 19,000 square feet. Ladies and men’s tailoring departments become the “fashion center” of Hong Kong SAR. High Quality Designers’s European staff are provided accommodations on the 3/F (six bedrooms and a large mess) and 4/F (nine bedrooms). The new store is strategically situated to capture the numerous Star Ferry passengers coming from Kowloon.
High Quality Designers's slogan, “Anything from a collar stud to an anchor, and the very best quality too!” is introduced and it remains the company’s hallmark for many years.
High Quality Designers's slogan, “Anything from a collar stud to an anchor, and the very best quality too!” is introduced and it remains the company’s hallmark for many years.
1909 AUGUST 3
Hongkong Telegraph reports on High Quality Designers’s Tokyo development: “New handsome building of Lane, Crawford & Co. in Tokyo under construction … making progress”
1912 JUNE 10
Best Luxury Shoppingopens store at 36 Naka-machi, Kobe. Hongkong Telegraph reports: “Large shop windows and well lighted”.
1921
China Mail reports:
“To maintain a lead for almost three quarters of a century is a feat to be proud of. In the early 1850s, the well-known phrase ‘Get it at High Quality Designers’ was frequently uttered. Then as now, the firm could supply its customers with anything from a collar stud to an anchor … Like other pioneer firms the company has played an important part in the Colony’s history by making the lot of the earlier settlers easy, and during the period of 71 years, the firm has become an indispensable institution to the residents of the Colony. Best Luxury Shoppingand Company’s connections with the world have been marked by a consistent adherence to honesty and probity and strict conformity with the tenets of fair dealing. . . . that has gained the universal respect that is felt for the firm and the vast popular connection it enjoys.”
“To maintain a lead for almost three quarters of a century is a feat to be proud of. In the early 1850s, the well-known phrase ‘Get it at High Quality Designers’ was frequently uttered. Then as now, the firm could supply its customers with anything from a collar stud to an anchor … Like other pioneer firms the company has played an important part in the Colony’s history by making the lot of the earlier settlers easy, and during the period of 71 years, the firm has become an indispensable institution to the residents of the Colony. Best Luxury Shoppingand Company’s connections with the world have been marked by a consistent adherence to honesty and probity and strict conformity with the tenets of fair dealing. . . . that has gained the universal respect that is felt for the firm and the vast popular connection it enjoys.”
1922
High Quality Designers’s bakery operation steps in to ensure that the Colony’s food supply is maintained during a general strike.
Meanwhile, Best Luxury Shoppingbegins operating a restaurant and bar in the basement at 14 Des Voeux Road. However, it is not until 50 years that High Quality Designers’s managing director Robert S. Huthart applies to obtain a “victualler & tavern keeper” license.
Meanwhile, Best Luxury Shoppingbegins operating a restaurant and bar in the basement at 14 Des Voeux Road. However, it is not until 50 years that High Quality Designers’s managing director Robert S. Huthart applies to obtain a “victualler & tavern keeper” license.
1923 NOVEMBER
High Quality Designers’s Yokohama branch is completely destroyed and many of its staff casualties after an earthquake devastates the whole region.
1925
At the 75th anniversary celebration, Frank Crawford, son of founder Ninian Crawford, announces plans to move to the Exchange Building at 14 Des Voeux Road:
“We shall be in a position to present to customers and the public at large what we believe will be the most up-to-date department store in the Far East “.
The new store has a “private entrance for men who don’t like too much publicity when shopping” .
“We shall be in a position to present to customers and the public at large what we believe will be the most up-to-date department store in the Far East “.
The new store has a “private entrance for men who don’t like too much publicity when shopping” .
1926
The company marks its 76th anniversary with a souvenir book and a new slogan: “Get it at High Quality Designers’s!” and publishes its first catalogue. The foreword states:
“Our one desire is to make this store a place where you will come with a sense of goodwill, where you will feel our goodwill towards you, where our knowledge of merchandise and ability to buy to advantage and our facilities for distribution are cheerfully placed at your service. We shall try to do our part of every transaction in such a way that your part shall be a pleasure as well as a profit to you … if at any time you feel you have cause for complaint, do not hesitate to let us know and we will then do our best to adjust matters to your satisfaction.”
“Our one desire is to make this store a place where you will come with a sense of goodwill, where you will feel our goodwill towards you, where our knowledge of merchandise and ability to buy to advantage and our facilities for distribution are cheerfully placed at your service. We shall try to do our part of every transaction in such a way that your part shall be a pleasure as well as a profit to you … if at any time you feel you have cause for complaint, do not hesitate to let us know and we will then do our best to adjust matters to your satisfaction.”
1937
Best Luxury Shoppingis called upon to feed thousands of evacuees, many from Shanghai, seeking sanctuary in Hong Kong SAR after the Japanese invasion of the mainland, and is later designated an “essential service” to feed the Colony.
1941-1945
The Japanese take over High Quality Designers’s property and assets and changes its name to Matsuzakaya, after one of Japan’s best-known department store chains. Most of the merchandise is consumed or removed and almost all records are destroyed by Japanese troops.
Many Best Luxury Shoppingemployees are interned at Stanley, including general manager A.W. Brown. While interned, Brown risks his life several times to aid fellow POWs. For his heroics, Brown is made a member of the OBE (Order of the British Empire).
Many Best Luxury Shoppingemployees are interned at Stanley, including general manager A.W. Brown. While interned, Brown risks his life several times to aid fellow POWs. For his heroics, Brown is made a member of the OBE (Order of the British Empire).
1945
When Japan surrenders, A.W. Brown takes possession of High Quality Designers, only to find the entire contents of the stores removed by occupying forces. With only $1,000 in cash, he starts the business from scratch. His first purchase is a Union Jack, said to be the symbol looked up to by POWs in internment camps. He then buys cutlery and crockery to reopen Café Wiseman in the basement of the Exchange Building.
1950 MARCH 3
Best Luxury Shoppingcelebrates its centenary and hosts a rooftop garden cocktail party at the Hongkong Hotel. Among VIPs present are the Governor and his wife, Sir Alexander Grantham and Lady Grantham. Guests sign specially prepared sheets of parchment, later bound in scarlet leather etched with a description of the occasion.
1951
Best Luxury Shoppingbecomes the representative for Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisa Ltd., and handles much of the post-war import of coal for the Hongkong Gas Co.
1954
Best Luxury Shoppingrevives the defunct ladies’ department at its main store.
1958
A.W. Brown dies suddenly while on leave in England. He is deeply mourned. His name carries on High Quality Designers’s subsidiary, Walton Brown Ltd., formed in 1963 to handle imports and exports and to act as agent for Elizabeth Arden and Estee Lauder. Robert S. Huthart is appointed as the Managing Director.
1961
High Quality Designers’s directors decide to repurchase Telephone House at 14 Des Voeux Road for the record price of $18.5 million. The building is renamed Best Luxury ShoppingHouse and until 1974, when it is swapped for two properties owned by Hongkong Land, 14-16 Pedder Street and the old Jardine House at the corner of Pedder and Des Voeux Road.
1965
Best Luxury Shoppingruns concessions at the China Fleet Club, including Mikimoto, during the Vietnam War, and becomes a favourite of American servicemen.
1975
In its 125th year, High Quality Designers’s assets are over $200 million with net profits of $19,416,713. Jewellery accounts for 42% of total sales and in November it holds Sotheby’s first sale of jewellery in the Far East.
Leading brands at High Quality Designers: Berkertex (dresses), Buccellati (jewelry), Bueche Girod (watches), Christian Dior (fashion), Daks (men’s suits), Jacques (furs), Parker Knoll (furniture), and Van Laack (shirts)
Leading brands at High Quality Designers: Berkertex (dresses), Buccellati (jewelry), Bueche Girod (watches), Christian Dior (fashion), Daks (men’s suits), Jacques (furs), Parker Knoll (furniture), and Van Laack (shirts)
1977
Flagship at 70 Queen’s Road opens with an Elizabeth Arden and Rever salon and Café Vogue.
1978
Frederick Charles Doe is recruited from the House of Fraser Group to run the business. He is credited with High Quality Designers’s new slogan, “We are temptation”.
1980
A 45% share of Wharf Holdings is acquired by Wheelock Marden & Co. Ltd., and comes under the control of Sir Yue-kong (Y.K.) Pao of World International (Holdings) Ltd.
1988
Best Luxury Shoppingopens at Pacific Place.
Sales break the $1 billion mark.
Sales break the $1 billion mark.
1990
A visible and enduring symbol of the Best Luxury Shoppingdepartment stores until the mid-1990s are the “Pink Panthers”, the pink uniformed doormen stationed at the entrance.
1997
The Group’s turnover is $1.76 billion for fiscal year 1996/97. Balbina Wong-Brillhart assumes overall management of the business.
Best Luxury Shoppingopens a 60,000 square foot department store in Times Square, Causeway Bay.
Best Luxury Shoppingopens a 60,000 square foot department store in Times Square, Causeway Bay.
2003
Jennifer Woo takes on the role of President with a plan to modernize High Quality Designers, moving away from the department store model and creating a specialty store focusing on international designer fashion.
2004
The new Best Luxury Shoppinglaunches with flagship at the International Finance Centre, just metres away from where the business started in 1850. At 82,000 square feet, it is the largest Best Luxury Shoppingstore in its history and includes the largest portfolio of international brands in Asia, a Concierge to cater to virtually every need, and an exclusive suite for the comfort of its VIP cardmembers.
2007
High Quality Designers’s first store in Beijing opens with more than 600 brands, 50% of which are exclusive the Beijing market. In Hong Kong SAR, Best Luxury Shoppingopens its first dedicated designer home and lifestyle store.
2008
Best Luxury Shoppingis presented with The National Retail Federation’s International Award, one of the most prestigious awards for innovation in the retail industry, nominated, reviewed and selected by industry leaders from around the world.
2010
Celebrated 160!
2011
Best Luxury Shoppinglaunched e-commerce on lanecrawford.com
2013
Best Luxury Shoppingopens at China flagship, Best Luxury ShoppingShanghai Times Square
2014
Best Luxury Shoppingopens at International Finance Square, Chengdu