What is this thing called love?

You don't have to be a missionary or seafarer to discover love in the Orient or the beauty of Amazing Grace. You can be a reporter working in Hong Kong for NBC News who meets an amazing girl called Grace. Then, if you're crazy, you get married and start a business importing ceramic elephants from Vietnam. Hence the name of our company which a lot of people ask about.

Before you know, you've got eight or nine stores, bank debt, and lots of headaches. But stupidly or otherwise, you believe in the virtues of hard work and perseverance and besides, going around Asia and the sub-continent finding stuff is lots of fun.

Can I be honest? Should I complain about problems with the heat, crowds, traffic, hotels, suppliers, etc.? What about shipping delays due to week-long cremation ceremonies in Bali or because the peasants are out harvesting ground nuts in Thailand? All these things certainly make the job challenging.

But somehow, after nearly 35 years of sourcing product in Asia, we've learned to adjust our needs and expectations to the demands and pace of native cultures and traditions. And thanks to Grace, our staff, my sons, and great friend and partner Charles Monat, we've made sure that the good people of Hong Kong never have to
go without ceramic elephants and that our landlords stay solvent.

We like to think, and I believe its true, that buying stuff from us is a good idea. You get the merchandise without paying airfare to come here or the mark-up that would go to importers and other middlemen. Check around, compare prices and I think you'll find that our's are fair and the service is good. And if you're coming this way, stop by and say hello. All our staff at the airport and Star House stores welcome your visit.