Alumni Create Difference - Deng Haoming: Diligence leads to success and courage leads to innovation
MT Sportswear founder Tang Ho Ming has dreamed of becoming a basketball player since he was a child. However, his family was not financially able to support him in formal training. He was determined to change the status quo and realize his dream. While studying for the IVE Higher Diploma in Chinese Marketing and Logistics, Ah Ming was selected into the IVE Haking Wong basketball team. He thought he was moving towards his dream, but unfortunately he was unable to continue training due to an injury. A blessing in disguise. After retiring to the logistics support role for the team, Ming discovered business opportunities from customizing jerseys. He then opened an online store and quickly expanded his business to physical stores, supplying jerseys and sportswear to many local teams and schools. He even set up his own factory in the Mainland and founded a business, realizing his sports career and ideals in another way.
Meeting a good teacher opens up a bright future <br>Deng Haoming is good at both active and quiet activities. He loves basketball and has dreamed of becoming a basketball player since he was a child. However, the cost of training to become a professional player is considerable, so he can only treat it as a hobby. He also understands that "books are the best place to find gold" and loves reading. He has had a strong interest in business since middle school and likes to read books on business information to absorb new knowledge, train his thinking, and make good investments for his future.
After the HKCEE, Ming enrolled in the School of Business Informatics (SBI)’s Project Yi Jin business course. Looking back on his years of study at SBI, Ming admitted that he was fortunate to have had the guidance of a good teacher. In addition to learning about the operation of the business society, laying a solid foundation in language and improving his communication skills, he also had clearer goals for his career planning and was determined to start a career in the future to improve his family's financial situation.
Afterwards, Tang Ho Ming studied for the Higher Diploma in Marketing and Logistics in China at IVE and had the precious opportunity to do an internship in Guangzhou, which allowed him to further understand the operation, policies and systems of the Mainland market and master practical marketing skills, which provided nourishment for Tang’s entrepreneurial ideal. At that time, he had been selected for the IVE Wong Ha King basketball team. In order to customize high-quality and low-cost jerseys for his interest and to help his teammates, Ming made use of his spare time to walk around the local commercial streets, trying to contact different sportswear manufacturers and wholesalers, and even took the initiative to negotiate with them on clothing design and prices. This experience enabled Deng Haoming to gain a deeper understanding of the mainland’s supply chain and business culture, see how big the world is, and lay an important foundation for his future entrepreneurship.
Losing one thing but gaining another <br>Determined to pursue his dream, Deng Haoming never forgot his original intention - to become a full-time basketball player and play basketball on the court. However, during training, he unfortunately injured his lumbar spine and was advised by the doctor to avoid long-term strenuous exercise. He had to change his position and provide logistical support to the team. He thought that he was getting further and further away from his dream and had to give up developing a sports career. Unexpectedly, Deng Haoming discovered another angle of his "basketball dream".
At that time, the basketball team needed to buy practice uniforms for the players. Ming had business knowledge and had interned in Guangzhou. He had a deep understanding of the domestic environment and supply chain and had established a network of contacts. He volunteered to customize practice uniforms for the team. This not only allowed him to put his knowledge into practice, but also allowed him to continue his basketball dream in another way. It can be said that "a blessing in disguise".
Creative and original <br>When online shopping was not yet popular, Tang Ho Ming discovered that by contacting familiar mainland manufacturers directly through the Internet, he could customize high-quality sportswear at a lower price and even add his own design elements, which had the potential to become a new business trend. Considering that if he produced and sold in large quantities, he might be able to capture a share of the local market, Tang Ho-ming decided to start his own business before he graduated. In the early days, he tried his hand at selling his customized sportswear by uploading it to auction sites, blogs and other online platforms. He also invited classmates to help build a website so that customers could browse the catalog and place orders, thus creating an "original" online store. He admitted that at that time he was aiming to build word of mouth, explore market reactions and think about future directions.
With the advantages of affordable prices and the growing popularity of online shopping, Tang Ho Ming gradually accumulated customers. Within half a year, he decided to rent a "grid shop" in Mong Kok to sell consignment goods, and named the business MT Sportswear ("MT") after himself. The lease was for two years, and he originally wanted to use this time to observe whether he should expand. Later, the business was better than expected, and many amateur teams and sports clubs became supporters. One "grid" was no longer enough to cope with the huge demand, so within less than half a year, MT decided to "move to a bigger shop" and open a retail store upstairs in the same district. At the same time, the company has also successfully secured cooperation with a number of primary and secondary schools to customize jerseys, sportswear, etc. for school team members, establishing long-term customer base and laying a solid foundation for the business. Amin also hopes that this move will help more students buy cost-effective jerseys, allowing them to participate in formal training and competitions, unleash their potential in the basketball arena and realize their dreams.
There is no end to success <br>In order to ensure a more stable supply, MT set up its own factory in the Mainland four years ago and established a team of 30 people. Deng Haoming adhered to his ambition. He said: "MT has seized the opportunity. Now with its cost advantage, we hope to provide local athletes with high-quality, affordable jerseys and sportswear to support them in realizing their dreams and make the sports world and the entire sports industry more prosperous." MT is user-oriented and often refers to the feedback of players to continuously improve the materials, cuts and designs of jerseys to enhance functionality and make customers more comfortable to wear. In recent years, the business has become more diversified, successfully expanding into areas such as school uniform hosting and casual wear retail. The company also sponsors many teams and sports clubs, including hosting different types of sports events and online promotions. Despite his busy business life, Deng Haoming still plans to continue his studies to enhance his knowledge of corporate management and has never slowed down his pace of progress.
Giving back to his alma mater <br>To give back to his alma mater for its cultivation, Deng Haoming sponsored the team's jerseys and supplies through MT Sportswear. He is proud of the team's development and hopes that this spirit of inheritance can be passed on to young players.
Tang Ho Ming advises young people that "there is never a shortage of time, what is lacking is the method to use it", and that accumulating experience is more important than anything else. He emphasizes: "Take the initiative to try more, and don't be afraid of failure and loss." On the career path, applying precise methods and maintaining a positive attitude are the irrefutable ways of dealing with the world.
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