Retail News CRM

Tag: Thai Retailers Association

  • Central Department Store app launched

    Central Department Store app launched

    A Central Department Store app has been launched to keep customers informed about in-store promotions, aiming to drive traffic in the lacklustre market in Thailand.

    In the Thai language, Central Smart Shopper lets users key in such factors as date, store branch and budget. It then shows a list of available promotions from about 20 credit-card companies.

    Executive VP for marketing Piyawan Leelasompop says the aim is to capture younger-generation shoppers. “They are eager to change, and one day we could foster the relationship and build brand loyalty.”

    Part of retail giant Central Group, the department store has invested more than 10 million baht (US$280,000) to develop the app, and targets 100,000 downloads by year-end. It plans to further develop the app to link to online shopping.

    This follows Central Group acquiring the Thai market for online fashion marketplace Zalora, as well as a slump in Thai spending. Thailand’s retail sector slowed to 2.8 per cent growth last year, according to the Thai Retailers Association.

    Central Group will kick off a one-and-a-half-month sale on Friday at its 64 branches nationwide, including Central Department Stores. It will invest 100 million baht in the campaign to offer discounts of up to 80 per cent.

    Lees ook:

  • Thai retailers cut growth forecast

    Thai retailers cut growth forecast

    Thai retailers have cut their growth forecast for 2015 by nearly half, citing economic conditions and the drought.

    Last year’s Thailand’s retail growth was 6.3 per cent despite widespread protests, a military coup and curfews. But this year, with the nation running more normally at business level, the Thai Retailers Association is now expecting a growth rate of just 3.2 per cent.

    TRA president Jariya Chirathivat says the drought, growing household debt and slow government investment in infrastructure ‘mega projects’ is subduing consumer confidence and retail spending.

    In the first half of 2015, Thailand’s GDP rose by three per cent… but retail sales grew by a lacklustre 2.8 per cent, despite inbound tourism numbers beginning to grow again after 2014’s disruptions. Foreign tourist arrivals rose 27.4 per cent in the first six months of this year.

    By category, supermarket sales rose a strong 8.5 per cent – faster than hypermarkets and convenience stores which grew by 1.5 per cent and 2.8 per cent. Specialty store sales rose 2.7 per cent.

    Observes Jariya: “In my opinion, the retail business in the second half will not be bright, as many economic measures such as infrastructure investment may not achieve what the government

    Lees ook: