What you need to know about Zchron

Zchron’s Nison Chan, chairman of the group and chief designer, said, “Our clients, who include the top companies and high-net-worth individuals in Hong Kong, know that we keep our promises to complete projects and bring them in on time”.

Many large companies, such as SaSa, publically listed Poly (Hong Kong) Investments Ltd. and Carlsberg have come back and hired the company again to refresh shops and head offices in 2011. Chan said “Poly Investments have a large office in Admiralty with over 100 staff. It needed to overhaul the office to accommodate more I.T., big screens, computers, servers and other technology to improve efficiency and workflow.”

Even sections of the Hong Kong government are listed as clients of this architecture and interior design company started in 1994 by Nison Chan, chairman of the group and chief designer.

Chan said he has developed an innovative project management system to make sure all the company’s projects are delivered on time and on budget. “We treat our customers’ money as if it were our own, and we treat our customers as our friends whom we don’t want to let down. We take care of everything, from brainstorming to planning to designing and building each project. We also manage the subcontractors, who have to go through the same process as our own designers and workers.

“The construction process guide allows us to monitor every project down to the last detail on a daily basis. Our process book explains how to do everything, from large residential flat and home flooring and bathrooms to large-scale commercial and office designing or remodeling, and how to order and use the correct materials. Ourcustomers trust us to make the designs harmonious and functional, whether residential or commercial.

“We have learned from our mistakes and realize that discipline is very important for every project. We take photographs of our progress and send one every week to our customers so they can see what is happening.
We must finish on time because we know the inconvenience that is caused by delays and overruns,” he said.

He proudly displayed the thank-you and referral letters that the company has accrued over the years. “All our business now comes from referrals, from show flats to private homes, from commercial businesses to large property developments. More than half our clients are from the Mainland now, and business is booming,” Chan said.

One of the jobs of which he is particularly proud is the Consulate General of Kuwait’s residence in Hong Kong, which was put to world-wide tender. Zchron won the bid against all the other designers from the USA, Japan and Europe. Zchron specialises in large luxury properties, starting around 3,000 sq. ft. “The bigger, the better,” according to Chan. 

In the beginning, Krishom’s clients were mostly from the commercial and retail market sectors. Its impressive
portfolio of commercial clients reads like the listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ranging  from supermarkets chains to fashion to beauty outlets as well as banks and department stores, and show flats for developers to demonstrate clever use of space along with good design. Repeat customers for show flats include Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd., Henderson Land Development Company Ltd., Hysan and K.Wah International Holdings Ltd. Retail and office clients include, but are not limited to, Hang Seng Bank, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, JCDecaux, Escada, Polo Ralph Lauren Sourcing Pte Ltd., Max Mara, Emporio Armani, SaSa, Toys’R’Us, The Body Shop, Starbucks, Fortress, 3M, adidas, AIG, DKNY, Carlsberg, Wellcome and ParknShop. This list shows the range and scope of the projects that Krishom undertakes and completes satisfactorily. Chan decided to expand the company by adding another subsidiary, Zchron Design, which is dedicated to the luxury residential arena. The residential projects range from luxury developments such as High Cliff, May Road, Manhattan Hill, Villa Bel Air on the Peak to Regalia Bay. This year, the company finished three huge projects, one big house in Repulse Bay, one over 10,000 sq. ft. in Clearwater Bay and a duplex in Century Tower in Midlevels. Chan was happy that many of his new clients come by referral from earlier clients. “Our clients are so happy with our work that they do not hesitate to recommend us to their friends, especially for the high-end jobs”.

Chan said, “Quality in every field and aspect of the whole process, from implementation to completion, is the key to our success. Our clients feel that with our high integrity and years of professionalism, they can depend on us, even when it comes to choosing the style, colour and texture in materials that will perfectly match the design, from bed sheets to wallpaper. “Since we have a factory in China, we have also been asked to make the furniture and fixtures as well as bathroom and kitchen fittings,” he added. “We pay the same amount of attention to the factory production in China as we do to our Hong Kong clients’ jobs.” Chan feels comfortable about the future. As people wish to move up in their societies, they want a more gracious lifestyle and are willing to hire firms with good reputations. He sees more luxury residential properties coming on line, and more prestigious commercial clients wishing to upgrade industrial or business properties. 

In conclusion, he adds, “In order to maintain our current position in both the commercial and residential fields in the interior design industry, we need to continue performing to the highest level of quality in design and building. This is the secret of our success. Our ‘design and build’ concept has proven highly successful so far.”

By being innovative and not restricting itself to design only, Zchron’s concept of ‘design and build’ has transformed perception into reality. Its emphasis on a whole range of capabilities and a reliable system that demands attention to detail, dedication and careful project control has placed Zchron in an enviable position
in a very competitive field.

FAST FACTS
• 1994 -- Nison Chan starts Krishom Design Group to cater to clients in both the commercial and residential markets, providing design and project  management to completion

• 1994-2011 – Conceived and improved the ‘design and build’ concept for commercial clients, such as Hang Seng Bank, Sincere Deparment Store, Wellcome Supermarket and SaSa Cosmetics Company and others

• 2006 – Started Zchron Design to cater strictly to the residential market.