16 new colors of eyeshadow available for Hong Kong eyes today.

Estēe Lauder Hong Kong is bringing you 16 new colors Pure Color EyeShadow (Suggested Retail Price: $140) at their counters and boutiques across Hong Kong today! A dramatically different eyeshadow that raises women’s expectations of what eye color can do, with a total of 32 shades of high impact color. Fresher, more modern hues boast 3 new formulations: matte, demi-pearl and pearl.

We have 2 videos of a mascara application technique from EL, in Cantonese:

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Rich people need their LV, no matter what kind of market we’re in.

It’s interesting to see that the luxury brand market isn’t all that touched by the global economy slowdown, oil prices, mortgage problems, the pollution from China. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA group announced an actual increase in sales in their interim reports, and its rising in part thanks to us in Hong Kong and in China:

Net income climbed 7 percent to 891 million euros ($1.4 billion) from 834 million euros a year earlier, the Paris-based company said today. That surpassed the 857 million-euro median estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Chairman Bernard Arnault confirmed the company’s forecast for a “tangible increase in results this year” and said he would increase prices further in the U.S. and Japan.

Revenue is rising between 20 percent and 30 percent in Asia outside Japan, according to Armando Branchini of Milan-based consultancy Interbrand, making LVMH less vulnerable to slowing U.S. and European economies and gains by the euro. Bags co- designed for Louis Vuitton, LVMH’s top-earning brand, by designer Marc Jacobs and U.S. artist Richard Price fueled demand.

So, we guess even with our markets down this week, it still hasn’t and probably won’t affect our shopping habits. Read more of the story from Bloomberg here.

What just hit the Salvatore Frragamo boutiques in Hong Kong.

Salvatore Ferragamo has always been known for the comfort and creativity in shapes, materials and colours of its shoes. For Pre-Fall 2008, classic forms are re-interpreted to give a fresh and modern twist. Monochromatic shades, slender styles and contrasting materials provide movement, while the colour palette exudes warmth and harmony. The following shoe collections are now available at Ferragamo boutiques across Hong Kong.

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Coach buys up retail business from ImagineX.

On the day of the new Coach flagship store opening in Hong Kong, news has come in that Coach is buying out the retail business from current Hong Kong licensee/distributor ImagineX for Hong Kong, Macau and China.

“Over the next 5 years, we expect to open over 50 new locations, aggressively growing our sales and market share in this rapidly expanding region. Our market research indicates that by 2013 the China, Hong Kong and Macau premium handbag and accessories market will likely exceed $2.5 billion, more than double its current size of $1.2 billion. Our goal is to be one of the top three imported handbag and accessory brands, with sales of over $250 million and a market share of at least 10% by fiscal 2013, up from only about $30 million and 3% today.

Coach will acquire the assets, including fixtures and inventory, of its current stores in the region in stages over the next year. This acquisition is in line with the company’s objective to take control of brand building and distribution at this critical juncture and will lay the foundation for a substantial contribution of these businesses in the future.

There are currently 24 Coach domestic retail locations in these three geographies, including our new Queen’s Road Central flagship and seven other stores in Hong Kong, one in Macau and 15 in mainland China. In addition, there are five travel retail locations in the region, which will continue to be managed by third-party operators and are not part of this agreement.

Read the rest of the details here. ImagineX also manages retail outlets for BCBG, Hugo Boss, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, DKNY, Marc Jacobs, Tumi, Ferragamo.

Help out those whose lives are in turmoil from Monday’s earthquake.

We want to draw attention to some of the charities that are doing work to help the victim’s of Monday’s devastating earthquake in Yingxiu in Wenchuan County, Sichuan province, China.

Hong Kong donations from the government, businesses and various groups and individuals have already totaled HK$600 million with the government already putting in $350 million. Red Cross has received HK$55 million including HK$11 million from HSBC and HK$2 million from Hang Seng Bank.

So what can you do? If you have the time the following charities in Hong Kong are taking donations:

OXFAM

Follow more of the story here at Xinhua’s English news site and Reuters latest video update below:

1.3 million taxpayers gave the Hong Kong Gov its best year ever.

Hong Kong taxpayers paid up a whopping HK$200 billion in taxes for 2007 and that’s up 29% from 2006.

You can read the whole amazing statement of the who’s/what’s/when’s here, but the really crazy data we picked out of it for you is:

- Tax cuts are coming this year - yay!

- Tax money came from salaries tax, stock market and property markets which have since all gone soft.

- Property stamp duty went up 106% to $51.5 billion over the previous year.

- There are only 1,325,000 taxpayers in Hong Kong. The latest population report says there are 6.98 million people living in Hong Kong - we have alot of old, young people and many living under taxable salaries.

- The big number is that the top 100,000 taxpayers out of that 1.3 million number contributed 71.2% of the TOTAL salaries tax. Which is turn was HK$91.4 billion. That is a lot of bankers keeping Hong Kong streets clean.

- And with all that money there were still 8 prosecuted tax-evaders.

I think what we take away from all this, is to tell your kids to grow up to be investment bankers and put law and medicine as #2 and #3 career choices.

And the government should pay to have Starbucks free in all of its Central locations.

February is more of a gift month than December in Hong Kong.

Doesn’t February seem like the most gift-giving month? We jsut had Chinese New Year, friends had birthdays this month, babies were born and now we have Valentine’s Day. It really does seem like a retailer conspiracy to play on our sense of tradition.

But anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day from Butterboom - we’ll see you at the overpriced restaurants tonight, with the overpriced flowers and a gleam of hope in our eyes that the stock market rebounds tomorrow!

Good-bye Pig, hello Year of the Rat.

Hey all, the Butterboom team is clocking out earlier this year for the holiday’s - so see you next week for all new posts as we enter The Year of The Rat!