Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
In a quiet corner of Hong Kong’s Tsuen Wan district is a stationery shop that offers far more than paper and ink.
At Nocturnal Stationery, people find many fun things. Some crayons look like volcanic rocks and handmade wooden stools shaped like the Chinese character for “moon” (月).
When the stools are next to each other, they spell the word for “friends” (朋).
Beyond the quirky wares he sells, shop owner To Chun-pong has crafted this space to be a hub for connection.
“I try to remember what each customer likes, or at the very least, I make sure to remember who they are. I want every visit to feel like they are coming to see a friend,” the 42-year-old shopkeeper explained.
According to To, this hidden shop’s main appeal for customers is the intimacy and conversation it provides, even outside its normal business hours.
“Back then, even if it was 11pm or the middle of the night, if I wasn’t asleep yet, I would chat with them or help them place orders,” he said.
“Over time, this built a real bond ... between the customers and me.”
‘Scenery on a desk’
Nocturnal’s rows of pens and notebooks are sourced from around the globe.
For To, stationery items are an art form that can compose what he calls “a scenery on the desk”.
“It’s not just something to be used; it can also be a piece of decor,” To said.
“When people say they can get by without stationery, that’s not necessarily true – it might just be that you haven’t realised the impact stationery has on you yet.”
The shop’s story began in 2020
When the Covid-19 pandemic affected To’s job as a graphic designer, he used his free time to learn about e-commerce.
This paved the way for starting an online stationery business, which later became a real store in 2024.
“I wanted to make it more convenient for students to buy stationery. That was the starting point, though of course, I had my own ideas about sourcing more unique items,” To said.
He has a good sense of design, shown in the shop’s bestselling items.
These include memo pads that look and smell like wood. They also include crayons that have the colours of real mountains, lakes and oceans.
To also designs stationery.
He has partnered with Musgrave, a century-old American pencil giant, to launch a set of navy blue pencils.
Embossed in gold is his life motto: “Let the good things connect us.”
This concept has since expanded to include postcards, bookmarks and tote bags.
A bid for good connections
Nocturnal’s charm has turned many browsers into regulars; some have even become collaborators. Its signature wooden stools, for instance, were a gift from a neighbourhood craftsman who visited the shop for a chat.
“It turns out he has a studio nearby. I asked if he’d be interested in collaborating on a chair themed around our weekend activities,” To recalled.
“I shared my ideas, and he translated them into physical form – proportioned perfectly to resemble a Chinese character.”
While similar nooks exist in other housing estates, To wants this shop to become a fixture of the Tsuen King Circuit neighbourhood.
