KPS Video Express

KPS Video Express originally started in 1981 as a kiosk at the back of a Nathan Road electrical shop. Husband and wife Garrie and Kitty Roman built up a selection of Western and Chinese films on VHS tape which would be rented out for HK$15.

The business was successful, and by 1982 Kam Production Studios, named after Kam Kui International Holdings chairman K. K. Leung, backed the company and it became KPS Video Network, originally opening seven kiosks. It was renamed KPS Retail Stores Ltd in 1987.

By 1992, KPS also offered LaserDiscs for sale and rent in addition to VHS tapes, as well as computer software, audio CDs and CD-ROM drives. A 8,000 square feet (740 m2) test store was opened in Causeway Bay in the same year in order to experiment with the merging of these products under one roof. It was successful, and was subsequently followed in 1994 by a superstore at Chong Hing Square at 601 Nathan Road, Mongkok, which occupied 155,000 square feet (14,400 m2). It offered 73,000 CDs in stock and 17,000 titles for rent. Among these titles, there were over 12,500 laser discs for sale and rent while 6,000 VHS tapes were for sale and 37,000 were available for rent.

In 1994, KPS first introduced camera and magnetic theft-detection systems in its megastores. It also used a computer-based procurement system to accurately forecast demand, as well as keep track of current stock and trends.

By 1995, local newspapers reported plans for expansion beyond Hong Kong to locations in other Asian countries. By this time, KPS owned 35% of the Hong Kong video-rental market, had a customer base of 250,000 and was earning HK$36 million. KPS announced that it had teamed up with ChinaVest, an American direct-investment company to expand into Taiwan. ChinaVest pumped US$26 million into the venture. Initial plans were to launch 100 stores in Taiwan within three years, with megastores between 360 and 1,350 square meters offering videos on tape and laserdiscs for sale and rent, as well as music products and computer software. It also planned to expand to South Korea and open 500 stores, 12 stores in Singapore and 55 stores in Malaysia, and plans for stores in Thailand.

In 1996 turnover hit US$100 million ($184 million in 2024) (HK$774 million) and KPS won the DHL/South China Morning Post Enterprise Award that year. In the same year, Garrie Roman sold his stake, but remained on the board and involved in operations.

By 1997, KPS had 39 stores in Hong Kong and 5 megastores in Taiwan, with plans to continue expanding giving 100 stores in Hong Kong within two years, and 30 in Taiwan by the end of 1997. By that time, it had a customer base of 450,000 members in Hong Kong and employed around 1,000 people. Long-term plans included expanding to 1,050 stores in the region by 2005.

American video-chain Blockbuster saw an opportunity to enter into the Hong Kong market, and entered into negotiations with KPS's receivers Ernst and Young to buy their operations. Blockbuster re-opened 15 out of 38 former KPS stores by 16 February 1998,

and re-employed 145 former KPS staff. KPS members were given special offers to join Blockbuster, but the video pre-paid coupon system was not retained.

Blockbuster pulled out of the market in 2004 after high operating costs and losses to copyright infringement.