Cover Brandon Chau (Photo: @brandon_kf_chau_/Instagram)

In this edition of Tatler’s Secrets of Success series—the all-access pass to the city’s most notable business magnates and entrepreneurs—we speak to Brandon Chau. By putting comfort and quality above all else, Chau has made his mark in the bedding and menswear world with his companies, Beyond Sleep and Attire House. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Being a trained barrister, a father-of-three, and the founder of the Noblesse Lifestyle Group has made Brandon Chau a very busy man. Since 2012, he has launched multiple brands under his group: sustainable bedding maker Beyond Sleep, which opened its flagship store on 31 Queen’s Road Central this summer; Bar De Luxe, a Japanese cocktail bar in the trendy H-Code building with a menu overseen by legendary mixologist Hidetsugu Ueno; pampering and grooming destination The Beau Barbershop; Attire House, a clothing retailer offering a modern take on men’s tailoring; and cigar lounge and terrace Bertie’s Cigar, which brings premium tobacco products from around the world. Sensing a common theme here? Chau is on a quest to provide the essentials to living your best life—a true gentlemen’s guide to living well.

In his downtime, with the support of the YMCA Hong Kong, he founded the charity A-Life Academy, which serves underprivileged young people with academic and career support, giving them a chance to build a brighter future. Chau tells us what he’s learnt during his career, and what it takes to be a success:

Describe what you do in one sentence.

I am an entrepreneur and I founded Noblesse Lifestyle Group in 2012 which has several lifestyle concepts: Beyond Sleep, Bar De Luxe, The Beau Barbershop, Attire House and Bertie Cigars.

How does your business make a difference?

Our latest concept, Beyond Sleep, promotes sleep, sustainability and wellness. Our motto “sleep responsibly” looks at the immense environmental and social impact of the bedding industry. We’ve chosen to work with artisans who search the planet for the finest and most sustainable natural materials, using traditional, non-polluting processes. Our products are fully biodegradable and our packaging materials are FSC-certified as plastic-free. We use IGI-certified [the Global Wallcoverings Association] wall coverings, which means there are no emissions of volatile pollutants. You’ll sleep much better on a bed that isn’t destined for landfill. And sleeping better is the key to a better way of living.

What do you put your success down to?

I am still far from it, but I believe to be successful, one must be persistent, hard-working and never give up.

What are the top three ingredients for a successful business?

I think success is not far off when my customers are happy, my employees are happy and I myself am happy with the work I have created.

Do you have any mentors? If so, who are they and what is the best piece of advice they have given you?

Not exactly. I mostly figure things out by myself, and I believe the best way to learn is by making mistakes and finding ways to improve and move forward.

What qualities do you look for in a potential employee?

I look for employees with passion, integrity and those who do not mind taking ownership of their work.

What has been your biggest career obstacle to date? How did you overcome it?

It is always very difficult when I start each concept. Each time, it’s like having a baby. I think building a concept that people like is one of the biggest challenges, but I believe the most important factor is quality and passion.

Do you have any business regrets? If so, what?

I don’t really believe in regrets because I believe every decision I have made has led me to where I am now. For sure, sometimes I could have made better decisions but you become a better person by making mistakes and learning from them.

How do you plan to develop your business over the next five years?

Honestly, I don’t know yet. The future is uncertain, but I try to concentrate on each step at a time and try to refine what I’m currently doing.

What is one surprising thing about you that most people don’t know?

I can be incredibly stubborn and persistent. If I have my mind fixed on something, I will do everything to make it work.

 

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