The Lunar New Year is a perfect time to hit the shops. The financial fillip of bonuses and lai see usually spurs shoppers to give their homes a thorough makeover.
Over in Ap Lei Chau is a building complex, Horizon Plaza, that is well known for its collection of shops dedicated to home and garden furnishings, antiques and artefacts.
Many believe that in prosperous times the home should be installed with new furniture and decorations. New acquisitions are said to remove all traces of last year's bad luck and clear the way for the next year's round of good luck. Horizon Plaza's many retailers would heartily endorse those sentiments.
'We Chinese really believe it's good luck to redecorate the home,' said one shopkeeper who anticipated a busy lead-up to the festive period.
Some stores are initiating seasonal sales and placing certain stock on special offer. Euro Sofa Mondo, on the 19th floor, has put an irresistible price on an Italian-made two-seater leather sofa. This piece of quality Contempo furniture is available in black, cream, yellow and khaki. It has deep seats and, at $4,998, the comfort level is high. Only 12 pieces are available so, as the retail mantra goes, 'get there quick while stocks last'.
One of Euro Sofa Mondo's pluses is that it custom-makes furniture. One large L-shaped sofa (315cm wide, 200cm deep, $9,988) can be covered in leather or a special dirt- and water-resistant micro-fibre fabric. The sofas are available in 15 colours, and the size can be tailored to customer requirements.
