C&B attempts Chinese translation

Corney & Barrow is attempting to translate its name into Chinese following the success of its Hong Kong operation.

The London-headquartered fine wine merchant opened an office in the Asian city last July after the relocation of employee Cecily Burchett-Chambers to Hong Kong more than two years ago.

“We are trying to translate our name and it’s a nightmare,” she told the drinks business. “You have to have a name that translates well in Cantonese and Mandarin, and we want to get exactly the right feeling across.”

However, she believes that Corney & Barrow will have a suitable translation in time for Christmas.

Burchett-Chambers started the merchant’s Hong Kong operation on her own in June 2009 and is now managing a team of 10 people.

“We have already become too big for this office, so we are moving into the next door office,” she said. “It’s a sign of the market here, it’s phenomenal.”

The Hong Kong operation now accounts for around 40% of Corney & Barrow’s total business according to Burchett-Chambers, up from 20% in 2010.

“I believe we will be turning over more than London in the next three years,” she said.

“It’s not me, it’s the market,” she added.