The Power of Balance: Kimbee Chan, CEO of Chinese Estates Holdings Limited
"A diligent attitude enables us to learn more, enriching our knowledge and making us more adept at handling any task."
Kimbee Chan, a woman of many talents, serves as the CEO of Chinese Estates Holdings Limited and is the creative mind behind the crochet shop Happy Yarn. Whether steering a listed company or nurturing a small craft store, she does so with remarkable adaptability. "In both work and life, diligence is the key to success. Equally important is the ability to adapt to circumstances," she asserts with a determined tone, inspiring admiration for her versatility.
Kimbee Chan's commitment extends beyond her professional endeavors. She is an active participant in charitable work and a devoted mother of three. Her youthful appearance belies her role as a mother, and her face lights up with a smile whenever she speaks of her children, radiating warmth and affection.
The Path to Success Lies in Diligence
Having worked in both the media and cosmetics industries, Kimbee has been serving as the CEO of Chinese Estates since 2021. She humbly claims that she has not yet achieved success but emphasizes that diligence is the fundamental requirement for success. "Since childhood, perhaps due to my personality, I have always done more than required. This has often brought me significant benefits. Many years ago, when I worked as an entertainment reporter, I would read all the news of the day every morning, not just entertainment news but also local and financial news, to enhance my knowledge. As a media professional, I believed it was essential to be aware of all the day's major events, enabling me to ask appropriate questions to anyone I encountered," she paused before continuing. "Additionally, after finishing my work each day, I usually don't leave the office immediately. Sometimes, seeing the editors working on layouts, I would take the initiative to learn from them, which allowed me to gain much knowledge beyond just reporting."
Indeed, whether in the media, cosmetics, or real estate industries, Kimbee has consistently maintained a diligent and progressive work attitude over the years. Even in her current managerial position, she has not forgotten her roots. During her leisure time, she visits various shopping malls to observe. She visits local malls to understand the latest market promotion strategies and stay up-to-date when traveling abroad.
"A diligent attitude enables us to learn more, enriching our knowledge and making us more adept at handling any task," the businesswoman said earnestly. It is well known that Kimbee's husband, Mr. Joseph Lau, is a successful self-made entrepreneur who has excelled in various businesses. So, what business principles has she learned from her husband? "Adaptability is incredibly useful, whether in business, daily life, or life itself."
Spreading Joy Through Crochet
In addition to assisting her husband in managing their business, Kimbee opened the crochet shop Happy Yarn in Causeway Bay last November, and it has been a hit since its opening. As the name suggests, she hopes to spread happiness through crochet. The decision to open Happy Yarn originated from a personal "pain point."
"My grandmother raised me, frequently knitting sweaters and scarves for me. Over time, I gradually fell in love with knitting under her influence. During the pandemic, while my children attended online classes and I worked from home, I knitted many jackets, hats, and scarves. One day, my son showed me a pattern and asked me to make it for him. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the pattern required crochet techniques, so I tried visiting crochet shops to gather the necessary tools and materials," she explained.
This experience made Kimbee realize that there were very few such shops in Hong Kong, and they primarily sold yarn with limited choices and lacked instructional courses. "I visited six or seven shops before finding everything I needed. This experience sparked the idea of opening a one-stop crochet shop. After the pandemic subsided, a suitable space became available at LAFORET in Causeway Bay, which our company manages, so I decided to turn this entrepreneurial idea into reality."
Hands-On Approach
Despite being at the helm of a well-known listed company in Hong Kong, Kimbee takes a hands-on approach to running Happy Yarn. She selects the yarn, compares prices, and manages the inventory. Nearly every day, she visits the shop to oversee operations and occasionally serves as an instructor. The workshops she conducts are particularly popular.
During the engaging interview, Kimbee led me on a tour of Happy Yarn on the second floor of LAFORET in Causeway Bay. The shop has colorful yarns and various crochet products, including handbags, clothing, cushions, tissue box covers, earrings, hair accessories, and flower arrangements. The wide range of products attracts many mothers who bring their children to shop or participate in workshops, creating a joyful atmosphere in the store. "Crocheting is a very therapeutic activity that helps to relax the mind, so I have set the shop's business hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., allowing housewives to join the crochet workshops during their children's school hours and enjoy some me time," Kimbee explained.
Kimbee often creates various types and styles of crochet products by hand for her three children and friends, which has rapidly improved her skills and deepened her love for this craft. "Crochet is a versatile and fascinating art. Besides using crochet hooks, beginners can also use their fingers to crochet, gradually developing an interest," she said. In our technologically advanced digital age, personal relationships seem to be increasingly distant, but the art of crochet can help bridge the gap between people. "Hand-crocheting an item of clothing or a bag for friends or family and giving them this heartfelt gift will surely make them feel very touched."
Recently, Kimbee established the Happy Yarn Club and plans to form a volunteer team under Happy Yarn to let more people experience the joy of crocheting. "I hope to promote the art of crochet, help the public gain a deeper understanding of it, and encourage everyone to unleash their creativity to create unique products."
Actively Doing Good and Giving Back to Society
In addition to her adept business acumen, Kimbee has shown deep concern for society over the years as the Director of Trustee of The Joseph Lau Luen Hung Charitable Trust. She has actively engaged in philanthropy, striving to help those in need. Since 1991, the Trust, along with related individuals and funds, has donated nearly HKD 5 billion to various organizations and groups, covering areas such as education, healthcare, environmental protection, and cultural services. There have also been numerous individual cases of assistance.
With solid support from The Joseph Lau Luen Hung Charitable Trust, Chinese Estates launched the youth hostel project "Joseph's House" in collaboration with NGOs last year. This project provides young people with dormitory accommodations at a monthly rent as low as HKD 3,000. It encourages them to learn and develop, in support of the government's 2022 Policy Address and the "Youth Development Blueprint" goals to address youth housing needs further. Additionally, the Trust and the nonprofit charity organization LoveXpress jointly organized the social enterprise restaurant "Josephine's Kitchen" on the ground floor of "Joseph's House." It alleviates food insecurity among the disadvantaged by providing meals and supplies and offering on-the-job training to people with special needs, helping them to achieve self-reliance.
The Charitable Trust has been established and operational for over 30 years, benefiting countless individuals. Beyond providing financial assistance, Kimbee also participates in philanthropic activities with her children. "It is more blessed to give than to receive. Therefore, I often take my kids along to do good deeds, such as distributing love-packed lunch boxes and other supplies to the underprivileged, visiting the elderly and grassroots families, encouraging them to participate in charity work actively, and contributing to society," she explained. She enjoys engaging in voluntary work and interacting with people from various sectors, and she hopes to inspire more people to do good and give back to society.
Kimbee Chan is currently the CEO of Chinese Estates Holdings Limited and the founder of the crochet shop Happy Yarn. She and renowned entrepreneur Joseph Lau have three children. Balancing her career and family life, Kimbee is also actively involved in charitable work and making significant societal contributions.