Bringing Back “Happy Memories” with a Vintage Carnival Game
“The rule is simple: toss a coin onto a table covered with white square tiles. The prize is a pack of gum if the coin doesn’t land on the boundary of any tile.” This classic carnival game was a popular one at the old Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park well-known to any Hongkongers born before the 1970s. While the park was closed down in March 1997, you can now get a taste of the games and toys that shaped the childhoods of that generation by visiting Happy Memories at Lok Fu Place. Here the shop owner has restored the half-century-old coin toss game and presented it to the new generation as a timeless classic and cultural inheritance.
Reviving “Happy Memories” for Hongkongers
When Wilson Lau, founder of Happy Memories, decided to open the shop at the peak of the pandemic in March, many people saw it as a bold move. But to Wilson, with bearish mood spreading to every corner of the city, all he wanted to do was to do something to lift people’s spirit. “When I decided to start the business early this year, my intention was to bring back memories of the good times to Hongkongers, and to spread joy and happiness.”
While contemplating how to position the shop, Wilson thought back to the Hong Kong he experienced as a child. With no Disneyland nor even Ocean Park, it was the time when many parents would bring their children to Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park during weekends and holidays. As such, the Park has always held a special place in Hongkongers’ hearts. By bringing the old coin toss game back to life at Lok Fu Place, he hopes to share these wonderful memories with the new generation and to let more people know about this classic carnival game.
“Since Lok Fu Place is right next to the residential community, the impact of the pandemic on foot traffic hasn’t been as bad as other places. The customers are also coming from different age groups, and the current 700 square feet store allows us to build a diversified experience,” explained Wilson, whose decision has ultimately brought additional joy to the mall and the community.
Combining games and retail to create double happiness
Half the space in Happy Memories is taken up by the eye-catching coin toss game. At the other side is the Kiosk, which uses dark green as the main colour and is decorated with tessera tile wallpaper, beer cases, and Gashapon machines. There are four main types of goods being sold at the Kiosk: candies, snacks, ice-cream, and toys. The idea is to let different age group find things that they can relate to, from Plen T Pak Wrigley’s Chewing Gum to White Rabbit Creamy Candy to Kuai Kuai Puffcorn, and to iconic toys such as the Waterful ring toss and tin toy frog,etc.
“In addition to rediscovering old-fashioned fun through the coin toss game, I want my customers to find all those iconic candies and toys and bring them back to share with their loved ones,” says Wilson, adding how much he hopes the shop can be a bridge between different generations. In fact, its English name reflects his wish that while customers can relive the “Happy Memories” (instead of the literal translation “Old Times”) from their childhood, younger people can also learn something about the lives of the older generation.
Finding hidden treasure through perseverance
The positioning of Happy Memories is different from other retail shops. Most of the classic merchandise sold there are considered hard-to-find items. Even with over 10 years of branding and marketing experience in Mainland China and Hong Kong, Wilson has encountered many difficulties during the sourcing process. At the beginning, the biggest problem was finding suppliers and it would require direct contact with the manufacturers or distributors in order to get things done. “Kuai Kuai, the famous snack brand, was the first that I brought in. We had to go through multiple rounds of negotiation directly with the Taiwanese manufacturers before being given the right to distribute in Hong Kong.” He was glad that although a lot of work were required, he could bring Kuai Kuai onboard. The most challenging experience, he added, was when he tried to bring in items whose production has already ceased.
“Yo-yo used to be one of our favourite toys and it was once very popular. Even television stations hosted competitions in their programmes. It’s now being taken over by electronic toys, so I had to find an OEM in Mainland China to make them. I was so glad that they didn’t mind that our order was very small. At the end we are able to revitalise a vanished product.”
While choosing merchandise, aside from personal preference, Wilson would also consider factors such as the toys’ educational value or how intriguing they are. He also likes to bring in family games as they can help parents bond with their children.
A community hangout spot that brings people together
With business now stabilising after nearly six months of operation, things have begun to change. These days, some manufacturers would approach Wilson with plans for collaboration, which he considers as signs of recognition of the shop’s positioning. But what he values even more are the opportunities to interact with different customers and the joy and smile that the shop is able to bring them. By now, Happy Memories have grown into a regular hangout spot for them – some would come every day for the coin toss game. Some would even bring him food as a thank you for his effort to help them relive the good old times.
During our visit, a father came into the shop with his child for the coin toss game, showing us how much joy this simple game could bring to people of all ages. “I hope the merchandise and the game can help people recollect their happy memories, so that they can pass this DNA of happiness onto the next generation. I see this as the most meaningful part of my business.”
Receive updates in Messenger
Subscribe Now
Receive updates in Messenger
Feedback
Personal Information Collection Statement
This Statement is made by Link Asset Management Limited ("Link Asset Management") as manager of Link REIT and Link Properties Limited (collectively "Link", “we”, "our" or "us"), in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) of the Laws of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ('the PDPO'). This Statement intends to notify you why your personal data is collected, how it will be used, to whom the personal data will be transferred and to whom data access requests are to be addressed.
Types of Personal Data Held
We hold four broad categories of personal data, namely customers' and tenants' personal data, business associates' personal data, employment-related personal data, website and social media users' personal data.
Collection - Why We Collect Your Data
From time to time, we may collect your personal data to provide our services to you and in an effort to improve your customer experience. You are not obliged to provide your personal data to us but if you do not, we may not be able to provide you with some of the information, materials, services and/or products of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited.
Provision of personal data (i.e. email address or similar personal data) to us is obligatory should you subscribe to “Channel 823” or any contents thereto.
If you are under the age of 18, you must ask your parent or guardian before providing any personal data to us.
Use - How Your Data May Be Used
The personal data you registered for subscribing to "Channel 823" (whether through our websites or through social media platforms) will be used for:
- disseminate the latest news and activities related to Link’s portfolios, latest development of Link, including but not limited to “Channel 823” or contents thereto;
- to provide information of events in relation to corporate social responsibility programs of Link such as (without limitation) Link Together Initiatives and similar sustainability/community engagement/charity initiatives organised or co-organised by Link at Link’s premises or on Link’s website or social media platforms;
- for handling enquiries and feedbacks for better services to you, tenants and shoppers who patronize Link premises or uses Link’s website or social media platforms;
- to provide services, activities or experiences under at Link’s premises or Link’s website / social media platforms and gauge popularity of the same
- for internal statistical and analysis purposes;
- transfer to the necessary parties identified in this PICS;
- making disclosure so required by law, regulation or court order of any jurisdiction and / or so request by any government, regulatory or law enforcement authority or administrative organization within or outside Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;
- for establishing legal claims or defences; and
- obtain legal advices and /or exercising, defending and / or protecting the rights or properties of Link, Link’s affiliates and contractors, agents and third party service providers including identifying, contracting or bringing legal actions against any persons who may be interfering with such rights or properties (whether intentionally or otherwise) and where any other third party may be harmed or property of any third party may be damaged by such interference
Use of Personal Data in Direct Marketing
We would like to use your email address or social media messengers for sending you "Channel 823" information or part thereof from time to time by way of direct marketing.
If you object to our use of your personal data for the relevant purposes as listed above, you can, at any time without charge, inform us via the “unsubscribe” function available in the emails or social media messengers of “Channel 823” updates or send an email to channel823@e.linkreit.com.
Transfer of Your Personal Data
Personal data held by us will be kept confidential, but we may disclose/transfer such data to the following parties (whether within or outside the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) for the purposes set out in this Statement:
- the entities comprising all the special purpose vehicles of Link REIT and the subsidiaries of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited in connection with the operation of our business and activities at Link premises / "Channel 823" or contents thereto;
- professional advisors, service providers or contractors of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited providing property management services, letting, licensing, social media services at Link premises / "Channel 823" or contents thereto;
- any agent, contractor or third party service provider who provides administrative, telecommunications, computer, payment, content, information or other marketing and promotional services to us in connection with the operation of our business and activities at or in relation to Link premises / "Channel 823" or contents thereto;
- any person under a duty of confidentiality to us or who has undertaken to keep your personal data confidential and use them in strict compliance with the requirements of the PDPO;
- any government, law enforcement authorities and administrative organisations and any person to whom we are under an obligation under law to make disclosure.
Security
We strive at all times to ensure that your personal data will be protected against unauthorized or accidental access, processing, erasure or other use. We have implemented appropriate physical, electronic and managerial measures to safeguard and secure your personal data.
Your personal data will be kept in the office of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited or by the service providers engaged by Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited and is accessible only to our authorized employees and service providers.
Retention of Data
We will keep your personal data for a reasonable time to fulfill the purpose for which the data was collected or comply with the relevant rules, regulations and laws of Hong Kong. Personal data which is no longer required will be destroyed.
Data Access/Correction Requests
Under the PDPO. any individual has the right to request access to and correction of his or her personal data held by us. In accordance with the terms of the PDPO, Link Asset Management or Link Properties Limited has the right to charge a reasonable fee for the processing of request.
If you wish to access or correct your personal data in relations to "Channel 823" subscription held by us, please send your request to: channel823@e.linkreit.com.
Please read the below terms if you provide your personal data for the use of our services in Mainland China.
Cross-border data transfer
Since "Channel 823" is published by Link Asset Management in Hong Kong, transfer of your personal data to Hong Kong is necessary for us to send you "Channel 823" information or part thereof. During such cross-border data transfer and storage, we are committed to protecting the security of your personal data. If you object to our cross-border transfer of your personal data, we may not be able to provide you with the services for the relevant purposes listed above.
Other rights
Other than the rights to request access and correction, in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, you will also have the rights to copy, supplement and deletion of your personal data held by us.
To Change the scope of consent
We respect your right to know and right of decision on the processing of your personal data. You can change the scope of your consent to our processing of your personal data at any time, however this might affect your use of our services. If you wish to access, copy, correct, supplement or delete your personal data in relations to "Channel 823" subscription held by us or to change the scope of your consent, please send your request to: channel823@e.linkreit.com.
Language Versions
In case of discrepancies between the English and Chinese versions of this Statement, the English version shall apply and prevail.
NOTE: This Personal Information Collection Statement is subject to change and was last updated in July 2022.
© Copyright Link Asset Management Limited. All rights reserved
