Friday, January 28, 2011

Quirky hongbao in vogue

MY PAPER FRIDAY JANUARY 28, 2011, SHOP & BUY, PAGE A16
From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya280111cnd_opf_files/mya280111cnd.js&ver=Gen
Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110128-260771.html
By JOY FANG, joyfang@sph.com.sg, Fri, Jan 28, 2011, my paper



PHOTO: Different this year is OCBC Bank. Its hongbao collection consists of eight individual designs which, when put together like a jigsaw, form a portrait of a family of rabbits.
MY PAPER FRIDAY JANUARY 28, 2011, SHOP & BUY, PAGE A16


THIS year, when it comes to red packets, young executives and corporate companies say that tradition is out, while edgy and fun designs are in.

Sales executive Sharon Lim, 27, for example, said she likes giving funky hongbao because they are special and show that she is a "cool relative".

One shop which stocks unusual hongbao is lifestyle store Totally Hot Stuff at The Cathay. It carries fabric red packets, and over 50 per cent of that stock was sold in the past two months, with the majority of customers being young executives in their 30s.

Its business manager, Mr Luke Chong, said: "Young couples wish to differentiate themselves and create an impression on friends and relatives."

Printing companies said that they have seen an increase in corporate clients asking for unusual hongbao. Design and printing firm Corporate Greetings, for instance, saw a 30 per cent increase in clients making such requests. And MDK Design & Print said eight out of every 10 customers opted to use colours such as pink, maroon, gold, copper and cream, up from just 20 per cent last year.

Mr Desmond Kang, MDK's director, said: "Our customers are mostly in their 20s to 30s, and are more adventurous."

Ms Chai Hui Min, marketing manager of Antalis Singapore, a paper distributor, noted that red packets are a marketing tool for companies. Premium materials - such as textured paper - are in vogue, she said.

One company which has opted to be different this year is OCBC Bank. Its hongbao collection consists of eight individual designs which, when put together like a jigsaw, form a portrait of a family of rabbits.

Ms Alice Goh, the bank's head of credit cards, said customers prefer red packets which are "of a collectible nature".

OCBC hopes these designs will give customers the warm feeling of a family reunion, she added.



PHOTO: Tradition is out, while edgy and fun designs are in
http://news.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/news/01Jan11/images/20110128.125709_bla.jpg
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110128-260771.html


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