Tang Ho Ming, the founder of MT Sportswear, has dreamed of being a professional basketball player since he was little. However, his family was not financially strong enough to support him for professional training. Since then, he has been determined to realise his dream by improving his family finances. Studying in the Higher Diploma in China Marketing & Logistics at IVE, he was recruited as a player in the IVE Haking Wong Basketball Team. Just when he thought he was one step closer to achieve his goal, he had an injury that made training impossible. However, it was a blessing in disguise. After retiring from the court, Ming kept on serving the team by providing back-end support, in which he discovered business opportunities in customised orders of basketball jerseys. He then launched his online store and quickly expanded into a brick-and-mortar shop. His brand is now a key player in the market, supplying jerseys and sportswear to various local teams and schools. Ming even opened his own factory in the mainland to realise his dream and pursue his sports-related career via a different route.
Great teachers inspire
Ming enjoys both active and sedentary activities. He has a passion for basketball and has dreamed of being a professional player since he was young. However, to make it to a professional team, one needs to be invested a lot in regular formal training which was unaffordable for his family. So he played basketball as a pastime. On the other hand, he also deeply understands the Chinese saying – a book holds a house of gold – meaning education is a ticket to success. That’s why he enjoys reading a lot. Ever since his secondary school years, he has developed a strong interest in business subjects. While he enjoyed browsing a book or two about business management in his spare time, he was also keen on investing on his future by picking up new knowledge and practicing critical thinking.
After the HKCE exam, Ming applied for the Certificate in Business Studies at VTC’s School of Business and Information System (SBI) under the Yi Jin Programme. Looking back on his SBI days, Ming thanked his teachers who inspired him. Besides instilling in him knowledge on how the business world works, helping him build a solid language foundation, and boosting his communication skills, teachers at SBI also guided him to set his career goals realistically. He was then determined to be an entrepreneur, and to improve his family finances.
In awe of the world’s immensity
Later on, Ming was enrolled in the Higher Diploma in China Marketing & Logistics at IVE (Haking Wong), and had an invaluable internship opportunity in Guangzhou. He got to earn insights on the operation, policies and system of the mainland Chinese market, while honing his practical marketing skills. It was truly an eye-opener for him as he marched towards his goal. Right then, he was already in the IVE Haking Wong Basketball Team and as a matter of interest, he volunteered to source high-quality jerseys at frugal prices for his teammates in Guangzhou. Ming visited local business districts after work to get in touch with sportswear manufacturers and wholesalers. He even took the initiative to discuss pricing and designs with them. The experience exposed Ming to mainland China’s immense supply chain and business culture, broadening his horizon. It also became a crucial foundation for Ming as he embarked on the entrepreneurial journey later on.
Fortunate turns of events
Ming was determined to pursue his dream – to be a professional basketball player, always doing his best on the court with passion and dedication. Unfortunately, he injured his lumbar spine while practising and the doctor ordered him to avoid prolonged exercises that were strenuous. He had no choice but to assume a different role in the team and provide back-end support. Just when he thought he was drifting further away from his dream and had to give up his career as a sportsperson, Ming found an alternative way to pursue his basketball dream.
At that time, the basketball team needed to shop for practice jerseys for players. With his business background as well as his experience as an intern in Guangzhou, Ming was well-versed in the mainland Chinese market and supply chain environment. He even had a network of manufacturers and suppliers at his disposal. So he volunteered to order customised practice jerseys for his team. He was glad that he had the chance to put his knowledge to use while pursuing his “basketball dream” on an alternative route. It was truly a blessing in disguise.
Unique style of originality
That was a time when online shopping was almost unheard of. Ming was probably among the first to tap into that sector. He found that he could order high-quality customised sportswear at lower prices if he contacted his acquainted mainland manufacturers directly over the internet. He could even incorporate his own unique design touches in the products and he believed this mode of operation had the potential to be a rising business trend. In fact, he believed his products may even be marketable and profitable in Hong Kong if he could manage to scale up the production. That explains why he decided to launch his own business before he graduated from IVE. At first, he started small and sold his customised sportswear on auction websites or blogging platforms. He even asked his classmates to build a website so that customers can browse the catalogue and place order right away. This is probably one of the first online shops in Hong Kong. Ming admitted that at the time, he was just interested in building a reputation for his brand and figuring out the market responses while contemplating on future directions.
Riding on advantages such as approachable prices and the emergence of online shopping, Ming attracted a broad client base. Within six months, he decided to rent a “cube store” – a shop divided into cube-like shelves for rental – in Mongkok for consignment of his products. He named his brand after his own initials and called it MT Sportswear. With a two-year lease, Ming originally wanted to just test the water and see if his business could be expanded further. To his pleasant surprise, his products was hugely popular among many amateur sports teams and sport clubs. One “cube” soon wasn’t enough to cope with the demand and within six months, he decided to move to a bigger store on the upper floor of a commercial building in the same area. Meanwhile, the brand also successfully forged close ties with various primary and secondary schools, which placed orders of customised jerseys and sportswear for their teams. Since then, they have been a long-term steady clientele for the brand, building a solid foundation for further success. Ming wished that his business model allowed students to access high-quality sportswear at highly affordable prices, boosting their performance during formal training and competitions, realising their full potential on the basketball court, and making their dreams come true.
Endless road of lifelong learning
To ensure stable supply of products, Ming set up his own factory in mainland China four years ago, hiring a team of 30 employees. Even today, he still follows through with his aspiration. “MT capitalised on the budding opportunities before anyone else. With our advantage in terms of costs, we hope to provide local sportspersons with high-quality jerseys and sportswear at affordable prices. We want to support them on their journey towards their dreams and help the local sports scene and sports-related industries thrive.” MT deeply cares for its clients and listens to players’ feedback. It continuously improves the fabric, cut and design to boost functional performance and promote wearing comfort. In recent years, the brand has developed a wider scope of business to include school uniforms in their product line and retail shops for casual clothing. It also sponsors a number of sports teams and sports clubs, while hosting various sports events and launching different online promotions. His busy schedule notwithstanding, Ming plans to pursue further studies to enrich his knowledge in the context of corporate management. He never slows down his pace in pursuit of personal development.
Giving back to his alma mater
Ming is thankful to VTC for the inspiring and high-quality education he received. To give back to his alma mater, MT Sportswear has been sponsoring the basketball team with jerseys and other supplies under his stewardship. He is proud of the team’s performance and happy to support younger players. He hopes they would appreciate his support and return the favour to their successors too.
For young people, Ming believed time management is crucial. “There is always enough time for everything. What we lack is the proper way to use it.” He also believes accumulating experience is more important than anything else. He urges young people to “take on new challenges actively. Don’t be afraid of failure. Don’t hold back for fear that your efforts won’t pay off.” On the career path, adopting a precise method and embracing a positive attitude are the invincible formula to cope with any issues in the world.
