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Tag: bangkok

  • Platinum Group sees gold in Chinese tourism

    Platinum Group sees gold in Chinese tourism

    Mall company The Platinum Group is banking on Chinese tourism to support a retail shopping centre it plans to open next year.

    With a wholesale fashion mall in Bangkok that attracts about 15 million people annually, the group is investing about THB6 billion (US$180 million) in the project, says president Chanchai Phansopha.

    “We want to transform the company from an operator of a wholesale fashion mall into a commercial property developer,” he says. The Bangkok project is part of a wider, THB11-billion investment plan that will also add hotel and office space over five years.

    Thailand last year had nearly 9 million Chinese visitors who spent an above-average $176 a head daily.

    Chanchai says he foresees double-digit growth in sales and profit, with the new mall, The Market, expected to boost revenue at least 30 per cent in 2019.

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  • Central Pattana forms JV with Tesco

    Central Pattana forms JV with Tesco

    Retail property developer Central Pattana (CPN) has set up a JV with British retail giant Tesco to co-develop property in the Thai market.

    The  Central Group subsidiary has told the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) that the new company, Synergistic Property Development, will support business expansion. It has registered capital of THB100,000 (US$3000) with ordinary share capital of 1000 shares at a par value of THB100 each.

    CPN holds a 50 per cent stake in the JV company while the other 50 per cent belongs to Ek-Chai Distribution System, which runs Tesco Lotus hypermarkets in Thailand.

    Details of the business model to be developed under the new company are under study, says CPN executive VP for marketing Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana.

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  • ShopBack Thailand launches Cashback Day

    ShopBack Thailand launches Cashback Day

    ShopBack Thailand, the cashback platform that rewards consumers for shopping online, has declared next Saturday as the nation’s first Cashback Day.

    Five days of savings kick off today with sneak-preview deals between 9pm and midnight. Until Friday, shoppers are offered up to 49 per cent cashback from such platforms as Aliexpress, Apple Store, Expedia, Lazada, Sephora and Uber. Then all day Saturday shoppers can receive up to 99 per cent cashback on purchases, plus discounts and promotional codes from travel, food, lifestyle and entertainment businesses.

    “To thank our customers for the overwhelming response we’ve received since ShopBack’s launch in Thailand in July, this inaugural Cashback Day will bring them more savings than usual” says ShopBack co-founder/country head Kawin Prachanukul.

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  • Aland introduces K-pop style to Bangkok

    Aland introduces K-pop style to Bangkok

    Korean fashion retailer Aland, known by millennials in its homeland for its styles influenced by K-pop, has opened a store in Bangkok.

    It has a network of shops across Seoul and also in Hong Kong. Like these, its new Siam Center outpost offers young and emerging Korean fashion and lifestyle brands.

    Run as a franchise by Thai retail and development company Siam Piwat, which owns Siam Center as well as other malls in the capital. The store’s interior design palette is dominated by stainless steel, creating a minimalist environment geared toward millennial shoppers.

    The store carries 80 Korean brands in different categories including fashion, beauty, accessories and lifestyle. It will also partner regularly with artists to launch collaborative collections, such as the 3.3 Field Trip x MMMG co-designed eco bags and pouches by Soo-yeol Bae.

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  • Thailand’s Jim Thompson plans global expansion

    Thailand’s Jim Thompson plans global expansion

    A Jim Thompson flagship store will open in Bangkok’s Siam Paragon tomorrow as a preliminary step in a five-year global expansion plan.

    Similar flagship stores have been announced for Hong Kong and Singapore, and other major international retail destinations.

    The luxury brand’s first flagship, it is next to Bombyx, one of Jim Thompson’s five restaurants, and integrates touchscreens to give customers access to the catalogue as well as animated representations of its designs.

    These adaptations reflect the brand’s commitment to going digital (just two years ago it did not have a website or sell products online). It plans to launch it first online store soon in Thailand, to be followed by online stores abroad following the establishment of physical retail locations.

    Jim Thompson’s expansion plans have been presented to the board of the owner, The Thai Silk Co, by its first chief executive Gerald Mazzalovo, who has been seeking new locations and partners taking charge two years ago. He was formerly chief executive of fashion labels Bally, Clergerie and Loewe, and group president of Salvatore Ferragamo.

    The Thai Silk Co already exhibits its Jim Thompson, No.9, Fox Linton and Studio B home-furnishing products in five countries but for now offers its clothing and personal goods only in Bangkok, Malaysia and Singapore.

    Mazzalovo says Bangkok is an obvious choice for the first flagship store, given that the brand’s history and identity are so closely connected to the Thai capital. Within the next five years the company will set up similar flagship locations in London, Paris, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai – in that order, says Mazzalovo.

    His idea is that expansion to Europe first will help it build its reputation as a global brand before
    moving into the Chinese market.

    He says China is one of the most profitable opportunities for the brand, but the market there is much more likely to welcome the brand when it has established a name in Europe, rather than only in Southeast Asia.

    Global ambition

    Mazzalovo believes the company has all the makings of an international fashion house.
    “We have the ambition of going global because we have a lot of the prerequisites needed, including more than 70 years of heritage, know-how and historical anecdotes,” he says.

    The company’s values of authenticity and mystery are still anchored in its founder Jim Thompson, a Princeton and University of Pennsylvania graduate who arrived in Thailand in 1946 after working in Southeast Asia for a US wartime intelligence agency. He disappeared mysteriously in Malaysia in 1967.

    Meanwhile, the company opened a fabric showroom this year in Bangkok and will open a high-end contemporary restaurant in the next few months.

    Mazzalovo says the firm is highly profitable despite competing against brands like Chanel, Ferragamo, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada. He considers the company to be closest to Hermes in terms of product and brand management.

    In this first year with the company he recruited 15 designers and assistants from Korea, Italy, France, Finland and Thailand. The company employs 3000 people and has nearly 40 boutiques around Thailand.

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  • TOT wants telcos to be made to rent its pipes

    TOT wants telcos to be made to rent its pipes

    Thai state-owned operator TOT is calling on the government to use its legislative powers to force telecoms and broadcasting companies to move their overhead cables in Bangkok into TOT’s underground pipes.

    The operator has argued that the move will accelerate the government’s target of removing all overhead power and telephone cables in three provinces to 2019, compared to the 2021 currently scheduled.

    The move to remove overhead cables in Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi is being managed by five state agencies – the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), TOT, National Broadcast and Telecommunication Commission, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Royal Thai Police.

    Under the plan, MEA will be responsible for replacing all overhead power lines with underground lines, while TOT will be responsible for providing an underground duct system and grouping all existing telecoms and broadcast cables into these ducts.

    But TOT has argued that it lacks the authority to compel operators to relocate their cables, and that only the government can make an order.

    TOT wants the operator to be legally forced to rent the company’s pipes in the Bangkok. The company currently charges telecoms companies a monthly fee of 18,000 baht ($543) per km to access this underground infrastructure.

    TOT currently owns around 2,000km of the 5,000km worth of underground pipes in the Bangkok metropolitan area, and is set to inherit a further 1,500km next month after True Corporation’s existing fixed line phone build-operate-transfer concession with the state-owned company expires.

    The report states that TOT is ready to expand its pipe capacity to cover all 5,000km if it is assigned the installation of underground cables as part of the project.

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  • Thai retailers arrested for counterfeit footwear

    Thai retailers arrested for counterfeit footwear

    Thai authorities have arrested two men and seized 160,000 pairs of counterfeit footwear from six retail outlets.

    The footwear has a market value of about THB20 million (US$601,000), says Department of Special Investigation (DSI) deputy-chief Suriya Singhakamol.

    The DSI obtained warrants from the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court to search four locations in Samphanthawong and one in Rat Burana in Bangkok, plus another in Nakhon Pathom province.

    Suriya says 160,000 pairs of sneakers and other footwear were found falsely labelled as Adidas, Converse and Nike, as well as other brands.

    Two Chinese shop owners, Hongbin Lin and Lin Sow, have been charged with possession of products falsely labelled with registered trademarks, and with smuggling those products into Thailand in breach of trademark and customs laws.

    The men had set up companies to import counterfeit products, and traded them around the clock, says Suriya.

    The DSI has been talking with retail space owners over the past month, asking for their co-operation in not renting space to traders selling counterfeit products.

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  • TrueMoney adds support for Apple digital purchases

    TrueMoney adds support for Apple digital purchases

    Thailand’s True Corp has introduced the ability to pay for purchases over Apple’s digital platforms using its TrueMoney digital payment service.

    All TrueMoney customers are now able to purchase items through the App Store, Apple Music or iTunes directly from their TrueMoney accounts, the company announced.

    Customers with new or existing Apple IDs will be able to select TrueMoney is a payment method in their account settings for the three digital stores from their Apple devices or PCs in the case of iTunes.

    The payment option will allow for one-tap purchasing from Apple devices including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Apple TVs.

    Last week, Vietnam’s Vinaphone became the last of the nation’s major mobile operators to introduce carrier billing for Google Play over the Fortumo payments platform.

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  • Thailand’s Central Group to invest $512 million in Vietnam

    Thailand’s Central Group to invest $512 million in Vietnam

    Thailand’s Central Group has revealed plans to invest US$512 million in Vietnam over the next five years, to expand its retail operations.

    The company, which has acquired local businesses and is introducing its own Thai retail banners into the fast-growing market, is aiming to achieve sales growth of between 20 and 30 per cent annually there. It already has 160 outlets, including Robins department stores and the Big C hypermarket chain, the latter of which recorded 11 per cent sales growth in July.

    Central Group believes its Vietnam sales can reach 35 billion baht (US$1.05 billion) in 2017.

    Central Group Vietnam CEO Philippe Broianigo says the investment will be especially focused on food and electronics. Shopping malls, stationery shops, hotel management and wholesaling will also be nurtured.

    In early 2013, Central acquired a 49 per cent share of local electronics retailer Nguyen Kim and Central Group CEO Tos Chirathivat says there are plans to open a further 30 branches of the chain this year alone.

    Next year, Central will open 20 branches of Big C and its wholesale sister company Lanchi Mart.

    Tos was speaking at the second Vietnamese Goods Week in Thailand, aimed at promoting international business and trade opportunities in Bangkok.

    “We will continue to expand our business in Vietnam because of the country’s strong potential as an emerging market with high GDP growth,” Tos said.

    “Vietnam and Europe are our investment priorities. We are interested in building our own hotel in Ho Chi Minh City in the future.” The hotel would have between 200 and 500 rooms.

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  • Marie France Van Damme returns to Bangkok

    Marie France Van Damme returns to Bangkok

    Hong Kong-based designer Marie France Van Damme will open her eighth boutique, in Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong district, this month.

    It will be in the new lifestyle shopping and entertainment complex Gaysorn Village, and is the designer’s second retail outlet in the city following her boutique within the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

    Known for her luxury resort, swim and ready-to-wear styles, Marie France Van Damme continues to expand globally, with stores already in London and Singapore’s Takashimaya Shopping Centre.

    Her Gaysorn Village ground-floor boutique will incorporate her signature aesthetic, which blends Asian influences with teak wood, bronze panels and embossed crocodile leathers, with textiles and finishes that also feature in her Hong Kong and London flagships as well as her own home.

    As well as her luxury resort and ready-to-wear lines, the boutique will offer her Beach Bridal collection and a range of accessories.

    To celebrate the store’s opening, it will host a series of events including the launch of the designer’s Resort 2017 campaign, photographed in Hong Kong by Herbert Ypma.

    Since its inception in 2011, the brand has expanded to include sunglasses, perfume and candles. It has 100 retail locations internationally such stores as Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, Le Bon Marche, Neiman Marcus, Saks and Selfridges, and at resorts including Aman and One&Only.

    As well as being a fashion designer, Canadian-born Marie France Van Damme is the author of the coffee-table book RSVP: Simple Sophistication, Effortless Entertaining. Her resort wear is inspired by her travels.

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  • Thailand’s No.1 Home Furnishings Stores Index Living Mall plans to open across Indonesian

    Thailand’s No.1 Home Furnishings Stores Index Living Mall plans to open across Indonesian

    ‘Index Living Mall’ (ILM), No.1 Home Furnishings Stores and ASEAN retailer with the highest number of branches across the country, self-owned factories, and a world class exporter, has declared the partnership with ‘CT Corp’: Indonesian’s No.1 business group in several business segment, including ‘Mega Group’ finance company, ‘CT Global Resources’, and ‘Trans Corp’ multi-entertainment complex/hotel and Transmart Retail. The first store opened at PT. Retail’s Transmart Carrefour, Cempaka Putih, Jakarta, on 2,500 sq.m. retail space.  The grand opening day was organized on  11th August 2017, under the concept of ‘The Best is Back’. Special sales promotion were offered to customers to celebrate the new branch launch. A further 4 stores shall open between September to December this year, followed by another 5-10 stores each year until 2020 with the goal to become the Top of Mind Home Furnishings Stores in Indonesia. The event has also been honored with H.E. Mr.Pitchayaphant Charnbhumidol, Ambassador of Thailand to Indonesia.

    Mr.Pisith Patamasatayasonthi, President and CEO of Index Living Mall Co.,Ltd revealed that “The trend of home furnishings products market in ASEAN region is expanding well. With key factors such as expansion of markets, income, and customer behavior. We are truly enthusiastic to study the possibility of investment opportunities as well as business strategies in each country, in order to lead us to becoming one of the largest home furnishings and accessories retail chains in ASEAN by 2020.  Recently, we have been able to partner up Index Living Mall with CT Corp which is the largest capital group in Indonesia. This move demonstrates that we are more than ready to expand our business internationally and set to become the leader in home furnishings business. So, right now we have been working hard to open the first Index Living Mall branch in Indonesia under the concept of ‘The Best is Back’ which represents our 6 key strategies and a special sales promotion offered to our new customers.  Moreover, the company plans to expand its additional 4 stores ranging in size from 1,000 sq.m. to 2,000 sq.m. by the end of 2017 and within Transmart Carrefour locations. We can expect to see as many as 5-10 stores next year and annually through 2020.  This clearly demonstrates our confidence in the strength of Index Living Mall in tens terms of brand and product under the 4 Joys concept.

    Mr.Ekaridhi Patamasatayasonthi, Director International Business Development of Index Living Mall Co.,Ltd said “We believe that the home furnishings business in Indonesia has a high potential to go far particularly through our partnership with Transmart Retail. Apart from the slowdown in fashion and IT gadgets, the home furnishings markets has growth potential. The expansion of our new regional market in Indonesia will help increase revenue share from International up to 14% this year from our current level of 8% and will shape Index Living Mall to become a successful regional player.”

    Besides, the potential of CT Corp under the supervision of Mr.Chairul Tanjung, Indonesian tycoon and Transmart Carrefour retail business owners, is one of the key factors that supports Index Living Mall in penetrating into the right market locations, approaching to the right target groups, as well as expanding customer bases. “We strongly hope that our franchise expansion in Indonesian market will build trust of Index Living Mall among our customers here in terms of its high quality, international standard, cutting-edge design and product which has been specially selected of the market in Indonesia” he said.

    Mr.Shafie Shamsuddin, President Director and CEO of PT. Trans Retail Indonesia highlighted that “This strategic partnership is expected to provide added value for Indonesian consumers with more and more sophisticated choices of furniture products at Index Living Mall that are integrated in one area with Transmart Carrefour. Surely this will provide a trend of positive and complementary consumer spending needs between Transmart Carrefour and Index Living Mall as well as we help to provide place and space for local products to partner with us”

    “We have successfully expanded our International Retail Business across Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia and now Indonesia as well as having strategic partners in place for the export of our products into Japan, Korea, The America, Europe. The International Retail Business represented 8% of total retail sales against Thailand in 2016.” according to Mr.Gerard McGurk, Head of International Business Development of Index Living Mall Co.,Ltd.

    The concept of ‘The Best is Back’ which would represent the 6 Best key strategies. First, The Best Furniture Lifestyle Store, Index Living Mall sells all home furnishings products in best style and best material. Second, The Best Value, the products are worth every sen of the price. There is no need to wait for the sales promotion because Index Living Mall has own factory. Third, The Best Design, the designs are being created by famous designers from all over the world such as Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Fourth, The Best Quality, every single piece of the products is being well made from the best selection of materials to ensure the best quality for the customers. Fifth, The Best Impression, Index Living Mall customer service is beyond expectation, not just the fast shipping service but also quick installing from our professionals. With 3D designer specialist service through 360 degree perspective within 30 minutes via 3D-Rooms-to-show program. Finally, Sixth, The Best Offers, Index Living Mall offers numerous special deals, promotions and privileges during the grand opening celebration.

     

  • Platinum Group profits reach THB371m

    Platinum Group profits reach THB371m

    Bangkok Platinum Fashion Mall owner the Platinum Group has reported first-half profits of THB371 million (US$11.1 million), forecasting revenue to reach THB2 billion.

    The commercial real-estate developer credits its revenue growth to “solid management of both current and new projects, in combination with an enhanced efficiency of incremental income from the shopping centre”.

    The group also expects a further revenue boost by 2019 following the opening of the Market Bangkok retail complex in the last quarter of next year.

    President Chanchai Phansopha says the first-half revenue of THB997 represents 9 per cent growth over the same period of last year, while net profit is up 8 per cent to THB371 million.

    Revenue from rental and services rose 15 per cent, with F&B rising 14 per cent.

    The gross profit margin for its core business averaged 62 per cent, with an increasing rental rate at Platinum Fashion Mall and the launch of Talad Neon Down Town Night Market in December boosting earnings. A 15 per cent rise in both Thai and foreign visitors to the mall contributed to the increased revenue in F&B. The food court was revamped to offer a wider choice.

    Platinum says the Talad Neon Down Town Night Market has become popular among the younger generation and a rendezvous for food lovers. A 300-strong tour group from Indonesia visited the market last month, arriving in five buses and 90 tuk-tuks.

    The Market Bangkok will have a gross floor area of 195,000 sqm. The project has an investment value of THB5.8 billion and is set to open at the end of next year.

    Platinum is also in a JV with Gaysorn Group, building the 500m Ratchaprasong Walk (R Walk, formerly known as Bangkok Skyline). This has an investment value of THB400 million. The first two phases were connected in late March with 58,000 people a day using it. The walkway links Platinum Fashion Mall, Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam Hotel, the Market Bangkok, Big C Ratchadamri, Gaysorn Village and Amarin Plaza as well as the Chidlom and Siam BTS stations.

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  • AIS launches 1Gbps Next G mobile service

    AIS launches 1Gbps Next G mobile service

    Thailand’s AIS has launched a new mobile service offering connection speeds of up to 1Gbps by combining 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity.

    AIS’ Next G branded service is now available on supported handsets via a firmware upgrade.

    The service has been developed in collaboration with Samsung and Korea Telecom. It uses Multipath CTP technology to integrate AIS LTE-Advanced and Super Wi-Fi frequencies, providing speeds of up to 1Gbps in areas where both networks are available.

    Next G is currently compatible with Samsung Galaxy S series handsets of S7 and newer, with more handsets supporting the technology expected to be rolled out in the future.

    The upgrade forms part of AIS’ evolution to 5G, and is now available in major provinces nationwide.

    AIS currently has around 49,000 4G base stations and 80,000 Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Thailand. The operator’s 4G customer base meanwhile reached 15.8 million by the end of the second quarter.

    Concurrently with the launch, AIS is aiming to improve the customer experience, and has recently upgraded one of its major customer service shops with a new Digital Gallery concept displaying innovations from major smartphone makers and other device brands.

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  • AEON gives prize Honda City from campaign “AEON Summer Cool & Safety Drive 2017”

    AEON gives prize Honda City from campaign “AEON Summer Cool & Safety Drive 2017”

    Ms. Saranya Pipoppinyo (right), Vice President, AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited,  has recently awarded Ms. Sukarn Parnmart (left), 1st prize winner, a Honda City S-CVT car worth 589,000 baht from the ” AEON Summer Cool & Safety Drive  2017″ campaign. AEON launched the campaign for AEON cardholders who purchased air conditioners and refrigerators from 1st March 2017 to 31st May 2017 or applied for an installment plan to buy tyres, rims and car accessories from 1st March 2017 to 30th April 2017.

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  • House of Fritz Hansen world first for Bangkok

    House of Fritz Hansen world first for Bangkok

    Danish furniture design company Republic of Fritz Hansen has launched in Thailand with its world-first House of Fritz Hansen concept store in Bangkok.

    Inside a Thai modernist home-turned-showroom, the brand offers its iconic Egg, Swan and Series 7 chairs, as well as other contemporary classics. Fritz Hansen’s furniture is widely used in such places as museums, hotel lobbies, universities and public libraries – even the presidential office of the United Nations.

    Founded 145 years ago, the company is the oldest furniture manufacturer in the world. It collaborates with visionary designers such as Arne Jacobsen and Poul Kjaerholm, who in the 1950s produced the company’s most recognisable silhouettes.

    Fritz Hansen products are distributed in Thailand by Norse Republics.

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