Photo: Courtesy of Andres Sosa

As Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Creative at TheOutnet.com, Andres Sosa is constantly on the road. Having just returned to London from New York Fashion Week, the jet-setter had a chat with us about his next trip to Hong Kong and his adorable French bulldog, Boris.

See also: 10 Artsy Outfits For Hong Kong Art Week

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Can you tell us what you’re excited to do on your next trip out to Hong Kong this March?

The Outnet and I are back visiting Art Basel for the second time and it’s such an exciting time of the year for the city. We’re making the most of each trip by hosting events and engaging with our local customers. If I have any downtime, I would love to visit the Tian Tan Buddha as it’s something that I have never managed to do.

What are some of your must do’s when you’re in Hong Kong?  

I am a real foodie, so as soon as we touch down I know exactly where I want to go for dinner. I love Yardbird—it’s a definite must for an informal dinner with friends. Mrs Pound is also really fun as you walk through the stamp shop door, and the view from Sevva is incredible for a night cap.

I always like to visit PMQ—it’s a cool concept and plays host to some really great homegrown talent.

Read more: Victor Sanz Of Tumi On Travel And Design

You are constantly travelling and on the road. What keeps you grounded?

I have a very strict routine when traveling. As soon as I get on the plane, I set my watch to the time zone of my destination as this helps with my mindset on arrival. I also make sure I hydrate a lot whilst flying. I do yoga to keep me super grounded—it gives me the headspace I need to reset and regenerate.

We can see from your Instagram that you get to travel a lot. How do you balance work and exploring a new place?

It’s not as glamorous as it looks, and we all know that Instagram is the best-curated version of yourself. I really do enjoy travel and have done from a very young age so I am very lucky to be able to travel as part of my role as EVP.

It’s a key element as we have seven international markets aside from the UK and US. I also like to do research locally when I travel—I love getting personal recommendations from local friends. It really helps me to understand the market and you get a sense of the local landscape.

You have an adorable French bulldog, Boris. What’s he like and how does he fit with travelling?

He’s so much fun: you probably would expect me to say this but he has the most amazing temperament. I’m very lucky to have a good support network when I travel, so I know he is very well looked after and there is nothing better than coming back from a trip and knowing that Boris is there waiting for me.

He also gives me the perfect excuse to get out of the house, not only in London but also the surrounding countryside—he loves to explore.

In your opinion, what’s one thing that sets The Outnet apart from other online discount retailers?

We may offer a wide selection of brands, but it’s a highly curated, luxury edit, ensuring that what we stock is always relevant regardless of the season. We have a 24/7 customer care team fluent in 16 languages, and we ship to over 170 countries.

People often have the preconceived notion that The Outnet is just the outlet for Net-A-Porter, but in reality, the website actually takes less than 7% of merchandise from Net-A-Porter. Instead, we have over 350 brands onsite and buy over 90% of our stock, from emerging talent to big runway labels.

See also: Sylvie Ganter of Atelier Cologne Talks Love and Fragrance

Tell us more about The Outnet's own private label, Iris & Ink. 

We are so proud of the journey that Iris & Ink has been on and how it has evolved since its conception in 2012. The brand now sits as one of our top five performers onsite, which is a huge accomplishment for us. What began as a small edit of just 35 key basics is now a fully seasonal collection of over 170 items. 

Iris & Ink's latest collection (Photos: Courtesy of The Outnet)

Do you have any favourite industry reads?  

I also have a passion for interiors and like to pick up titles such as Wallpaper and Architectural Digest for inspiration. I love to read when I travel, especially on a plane—it’s the ideal time to step away from emails and get stuck into a good book.

You manage a big team and travel regularly for work—how do you stay organised?

It’s all about preparation for me. I am naturally organised and have a photographic memory—I'm a Virgo, if that explains anything. But I have to give credit to my team: having a strong team around me is a key asset and helps me stay super organised.

Photos: Courtesy of The Outnet

Lastly, what’s one thing that every customer should know about The Outnet?

I would say that the key thing to note is that even though we are a previous-season retailer, we operate with regular deliveries just like a current-season retailer. Tuesday is our big upload day, so if you want to see new items, 7pm Hong Kong time is when to watch.  

Shop the latest arrivals from The Outnet.

See also: 13 Fun Ways To Accessorise For Art Week

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