1. From Sydney to Hong Kong (1907)
The story of Wing On Department Store began with two brothers, Kwok Lok and Kwok Chuen, born in Zhongshan, Guangdong. In the late 19th century, like many ambitious young men, they emigrated to Australia.
In Sydney, they managed successful fruit merchant businesses where they gained valuable firsthand experience in Western retail methods, customer service, and business organization.
Returning to East Asia with fresh ideas, the brothers opened their first retail store on Queen's Road Central () in Hong Kong in 1907.
2. Key Retail Innovations
Before Wing On, traditional Chinese shops relied heavily on verbal bargaining and unwritten price agreements. Wing On introduced several modern Western retail concepts that revolutionized shopping in Hong Kong:
Fixed Pricing
Standard price tags replaced old bartering habits.
Written Receipts
Formal sales records provided consumer trust.
Female Sales Staff
Pioneered hiring women for customer service.
3. Shanghai Expansion (1918–1940s)
Following their success in Hong Kong, the group expanded to Shanghai—the major financial capital of East Asia at the time. In 1918, Wing On opened a grand, multi-storey store on the famous Nanjing Road.
Together with three other Cantonese-founded department stores (Sincere, Sun Sun, and The Sun), Wing On formed part of Shanghai's famous 'Four Great Department Stores'.
During this golden era, the Kwok family expanded into insurance, banking, cotton textiles, and real estate, turning Wing On into a major corporate conglomerate.
4. Post-War Reshaping & Modern Legacy
Following political changes after 1949, mainland assets were nationalised, leading Wing On to consolidate its operations firmly back in Hong Kong.
In 1970, Wing On Co. Ltd. was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. During the post-war economic boom, Wing On opened prominent suburban branches in Tsim Sha Tsui (), Yaumatei (), Wan Chai (), and Taikoo Shing ().
When major Japanese department stores (such as Sogo and Mitsukoshi) entered Hong Kong in the late 1980s, Wing On restructured its footprint, focusing on key properties and modern retail practices.
Today, Wing On continues to serve Hong Kong citizens with flagships at Wing On Centre () in Sheung Wan () and Tsim Sha Tsui East ()—a proud century-old institution in Hong Kong history.
