Chinese women enjoy strong purchasing power when it comes to luxury hair accessories, according to an agent for a top French brand.

They are often the quickest to respond to hair accessory designs by Alexandre Zouari Paris, Alice Wong, general manager of the accessories division of Hong Kong-based Shiamas, told China Business Weekly.

Shiamas serves as the international agent for hair accessory products of Alexandre Zouari Paris, which was created by the fashion designer of the same name. The brand comprises salons, spas, beauty products, jewelry, fashions, perfume and a fashion magazine.

Since last June, Shiamas has launched 20 Alexandre Zouari Paris hair accessory stores in 12 Chinese mainland cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, via cooperation with regional agents.

Shiamas operates eight stores in Hong Kong, six in Taiwan and one each in Australia, Doha and Paris.

Shiamas also is planning to open stores in Beijing, with long-term plans to operate 30 to 40 stores in China within the next two to three years, Wong said.

Wong added that Shiamas plans to open six stores in Japan this year.

Alexandre Zouari Paris hair accessory products sold on the mainland cost 100 yuan to 30,000 yuan, although the average price range is 1,200 yuan to 1,600 yuan.

Mainland clients of Alexandre Zouari Paris range in age from their teens to 60s, but most clients are in their 30s and 40s, she said.

Those women have relatively high economic independence, educational levels and knowledge of international brands, Wong said. They include professionals and entrepreneurs.

"I am fully confident about the mainland market, given its great potential," Wong said.

She described the mainland market as a dragonhead in Asia, where income per capita keeps growing every year.

Source: China Daily

Editor: Charlie