Terry Sio is founder and president of the Rainbow Group, a prominent international luxury brand retailer located in both mainland China and Macao. She is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
A native of Macao, Sio started working upon graduating secondary school as a factory clerk. Once, while passing by a clothing store, she looked in and was inspired to strike out on her own. Using her life savings, 5,000 patacas, she started her own boutique. Named Rainbow, it was no bigger than 100 square feet. Since then, business has grown exponentially.
Rainbow Group now comprises over 150 boutiques in more than 20 mainland Chinese cities with 36 locations in Macao. Their brand portfolio includes retail rights to more than 20 internationally renowned luxury brands, ranging from Giorgio Armani to Jimmy Choo.
In addition to running a fashion empire, Sio established Rainbow Academy, an organisation that trains professional retail salespersons and guides Macao’s retail industry towards international standards. She also founded the Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association (MIBA) in 2009. MIBA provides a communication platform between international brands and Macau and mainland Chinese enterprises. It also facilitates development opportunities for local Macanese brands. In 2006, Sio received a Honorary Doctor Degree of Philosophy from The Queen’s University of Brighton.
Sio is the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of her significant contributions to the retail industry, including the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Leader of the Year, 2013 winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year – China, Hong Kong & Macao Region, and the 2013 Excellence Woman Entrepreneur Award at the Business Awards of Macao, just to name a few. She was also one of Forbes’ 25 Influential Chinese in Global Fashion in 2011.
Sio was appointed Vice Chairman of the German Macau Business Association in 2003 and became a member of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference as well as an executive member of the Shanghai Women’s Federation in 2008.
Sio intends to keep the Rainbow Group within 200 boutiques for the purpose of quality management. In addition to being a successful businesswoman, Sio is also a mother and wife, and maintaining a balance between her many roles helps relieve the pressure at work. “To me, work and play are inseparable. Going to a business-related party is like entertainment for me. At this stage of my life, I want to give back more to society and to spend more time with family and friends.”
