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Tag: Thailand

  • Siam Synergy allies join hands to host vibrant daily activities and festivities to celebrate New Year

    Siam Synergy allies join hands to host vibrant daily activities and festivities to celebrate New Year

    Siam Synergy, led by MBK Public Company Limited, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., and the Siam Square Business Group, announced in a press conference that a series of New Year’s activities will be held under the concept “THE PRIDE OF BANGKOK, THE TREASURE OF THE WORLD”, inviting the public to join in the daily activities hosted in the Siam District to usher in the new year. The festivities will bring vibrancy and excitement to one of Bangkok’s most important districts and strengthen the Siam District’s position as one of the most diverse, colorful and multi-dimensional neighborhoods in the world. The Siam District — the urban center where the latest trends, world-class shopping, art and entertainment converge — opens a door to the soul of the city of Bangkok. The press conference was jointly held by Mr. Sompol Tripopnart, Senior Executive Vice President, Marketing Division, MBK Public Company Limited; Mr. Thanapat Chayutirat, Executive Director of Siam Square Business Group; and  Mr. Dan Zonmani, First Executive Vice President of Business Innovation, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., at K Bank Siam Pic Ganesha Theatre on 8th floor at 10.30 – 12.00 hrs.

    After the historic alliance was formed in September of this year to establish “Synergy Siam”, the partners are ready to host a series of activities in and around the Siam District, which is one of the country’s most important tourist destinations visited by travelers from around the world and the door to a soul of Bangkok. The group is partnering with more than 4,200 shops in the area and is injecting an investment of 1 billion baht to host vibrant and colorful New Year’s festivities. The activities are categorized into three main groups: those to honor His Majesty the King and preserve and promote Thainess, a celebration of art and providing an opportunity for youngsters to express themselves and their creativity, and world-class activities from around the globe that will delight shoppers and visitors. In addition, shopping malls in the Siam District will offer promotions and discounts to celebrate the holidays in the heart of Bangkok.

    The wide range of activities means that visitors of all ages and lifestyles will be able to take part in the fun and excitement. More than 30 activities in total will begin in December and last throughout the month. Some of the highlights will include; decoration of the Rama 1 road to welcome the Bike for Dad caravan in honour of His Majesty the King, Clean for the King, Echoing Sound of Reverence (Gaeg Gong Duay Pakdee), MBK Fight Night,  MBK Happy Street Festival, Siam Street World, Star Wars Run, Hay Christmas Market and Eco X’mas Festival. The activities are expected to draw many Thai and international revelers to the area. The aim is to increase the number of visitors by 650,000. The festivities are estimated to generate increase of about 15-20 percent cash flow.

    Mr. Sompol Tripopnart,Senior Executive Vice President, Marketing Division, MBK Public Company Limited said: “Entrepreneurs of large, medium, as well as small enterprises make up the force that drives the Siam area as Bangkok’s commercial district. We are all getting together to make the New Year’s celebrations and activities happen, starting with our collaboration to host activities to honor His Majesty the King and preserve Thainess. Some of the activities include; the decoration of the Rama 1 road to welcome the Bike for Dad caravan in honour of His Majesty the King, Clean for the King event on December 4 at the Pathumwan Institute of Technology, in which, operators situated along Rama 1 road and members of the public are invited to join together to help clean up the area, the celebration ofHM the King’s 88th birthday On December 5, MBK and the Kru Muay Thai Association will host MBK Fight Night, in which seven Muay Thai kick boxing fights and two Western-style boxing bouts will be held. ”

    Mr. Thanapat Chayutirat; Mr. Sompol Tripopnart; and Mr. Dan Zonmani in a press conference

    Mr. Thanapat Chayutirat, Executive Director of Siam Square Business Group, added: “We also plan to host the Siam Street World activity. This has been held for three consecutive years, each time drawing in more than half a million spectators. The activity provides an opportunity for youngsters to express their creativity through art. The activity will showcase the ultimate in world-class fun and will feature the Festival Zone, street performances, an art market, and the Street Fest Grand Sale. Leading artists from around the world will rotate around stages located throughout the Siam area to showcase their creativity. There will also be competitions to recruit new performers, with prizes up for grabs and an opportunity to become a world-class performer.”

    On the topic of bringing world-class activities to Siam, Mr. Dan Zonmani, First Executive Vice President of Business Innovation, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., concluded by saying: “The grand activity entitled “The Echoing Sound of Reverence” will be held on December 5 at Siam Paragon. Drummers of all ages from around the country will perform HM the King’s compositions as well as other songs to pay respect to our king to show the world how much Thai people revere our “Supreme Artist King”, whose musical ingenuity is known the world over. In addition, a number of other activities that are truly unique have been lined up, such as the STAR WARS XPERIENCE 2015 event, where fans of the epic movie franchise will have a chance to experience a 360-degree surround sound and lighting system and be transported into the fictional world. Replicas of a gigantic TIE Fighter and X-wing Star fighter are some of the biggest highlights awaiting Thai Star Wars fans. This will coincide with a Star Wars Run, which will see the Siam-Pathumwan area transformed into a challenging running course for more than 10,000 participants. This event will be held on December 26.”

    The collaboration among business operators in Siam District to host New Year’s activities reinforces Siam as the lifestyle center of Bangkok and showcases its eagerness to welcome visitors from Thailand and internationally who will be ushering in the holiday season in the capital. The activities and promotions offered by businesses in the area are well wishes and gifts for visitors and shoppers, and will help to create a celebratory atmosphere and stimulate the economy.

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  • Future Park Rangsit Mall openened extension

    Future Park Rangsit Mall openened extension

    Future Park Rangsit Mall opens its much-anticipated extension this Friday (November 27) making it Bangkok’s largest shopping destination.

    At 600,000 sqm it is a full 20 per cent larger than the Siam Paragon in downtown Bangkok, which checks in at 500,000 sqm, and 50,000 sqm larger than CentralWorld.

    The expanded Future Park Rangsit mall is expected to host 200,000 shoppers daily – almost entirely locals as Rangsit is a long way from any area of Bangkok frequented by tourists and has only a limited number of expatriates in its catchment area. It currently attracts about 157,000 a day.

    Future Park Rangsit Mall was built 20 years ago. Besides offering shopping, eating and entertaining, the expanded destination will now feature futsal courts, an ice-skating rink, indoor ski park and art installations.

    The new wing is branded Zpell and was constructed in front of the original building. Its addition is expected to bring the owners a 35 per cent increase in annual revenue.

    Some 150 million THB (US$4.2 million) will be spent promoting the expanded destination.

    Future Park CEO Pimpaka Wanglee told Thai language media she expects the complex will have a broader market appeal from Friday.

    Future Park CEO Pimpaka Wanglee

    “We hope to draw ‘A’ customers who have a monthly household income of 85,000 baht,” she said late last year. In its old guise, the mall targeted B and C groups.

    Expanding the mall was in large part a defensive strategy in the wake of plans by Swedish furniture giant Ikea to open a new site in the neighbourhood and another mall slated for construction by market leader Central Group.

    The new building will feature 200 tenants including lifestyle fashion brands such as Cath Kidston, H&M, MNG and Top Shop along with food offers from Coffee Bean by Dao, Akiyoshi, After you and Muteki By Mugendai.

    Zpell-Future-park-01

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  • Thailand’s airlines downgraded over safety concerns

    Thailand’s airlines downgraded over safety concerns

    Thailand’s aviation industry has been downgraded for safety reasons in the US, leading to the possibility of bans on Thai-registered aircraft in Europe and Asia.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reassessed the junta-ruled nation’s air services in July and found that it did not meet international standards.

    “Today’s announcement follows ongoing discussions with the government of Thailand which concluded on October 28,” it said on its website.

    The country has been consequently downgraded to a Category 2 rating in the US, which means that it “either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards,” the FAA website states, “or its civil aviation authority – a body equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, or inspection procedures.”

    The Category 2 rating allows Thai carriers to continue their existing services to the US but prevents them from establishing new services to the US. The country achieved its Category 1 rating in 1997, and held it following its last assessment in 2008.

    In March, Thai airlines were placed under “special measures” by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) prompting Japan and South Korea to block new flights from Thai-registered airlines.

    This forced airlines, including budget carriers Thai AirAsia X, NokScoot and Asia Atlantic Airline, to cancel extra flights that they had been planning. Thai Airways, the national carrier, was also affected, which had to cancel “about five” new charter flights that were due to run in April, which is when Thailand’s new year – known as Songkran – is celebrated.

    A representative told Telegraph Travel that the audit revealed some safety concerns, primarily relating to air operator certification procedures. Thailand provided the ICAO with the details of its corrective actions and mitigation measures in early March.

    A spokesman for the ICAO said today that it is presently working with Thailand “to help rectify some aspects of how it’s civil aviation authority oversees the implementation of international aviation safety standards.”

    Thailand's airlines downgraded over safety concerns

    Thai airlines were placed under special measures in March

    The EU does not ban any Thai airlines at the moment but the next update will be published around mid-December. A spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency said: “We inspected in October the Thai airlines which applied for a Third Country Operators (TCO) authorisation – authorisation that any non-European Union airline willing to fly to and out of the EU must get. They were OK.”

    Thailand's airlines downgraded over safety concerns

    New flights from Thai AirAsia X were blocked by Japan and South Korea

    The FAA has previously downgraded the Philippines to a Category 2 rating while also imposing a complete flight ban on its airlines, with the EU later following its example in 2010. This was relaxed in 2013, with the country finally removed from the EU’s airline blacklist in June this year.

    Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Confusion in Bangkok after bird strike

    The FAA also banned Indonesia’s airlines for several years. It scored poorly on an ICAO safety audit in 2014. There are currently 59 of 63 Indonesian airlines banned from EU airspace, though this does not include the popular Garuda Indonesia and Indonesia Air Asia.

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  • C2C marketplace Shopee officially launches in

    C2C marketplace Shopee officially launches in

    Southeast Asia’s latest mobile consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace, Shopee, has officially launched in Indonesia, offering users an easy-to-use mobile application to browse, shop and sell.

    The platform was soft-launched in June 2015 in countries including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Taiwan.

    According to Shopee CEO Chris Feng, the platform is equipped with a secure payment method, an integrated logistics fee calculation and social-led features to create a more secure, fun and fuss-free online shopping and selling experience.

    According to a 2015 fourth-quarter report from Southeast Asia Digital Landscape, Indonesia has already reached 79 million active social media users. Furthermore, almost 65 percent of Indonesians use social media to buy and sell things.

    “Shopee is eager to take part in supporting Indonesia’s growth in global retail e-commerce by bringing a shopping experience that is able to integrate social media and online shopping functions to maximize social interaction between sellers and buyers,” Chris explained.

    Various application features have been introduced including the “Shopee Guarantee”, which ensures users that there will be a full refund if purchased products are not received in the agreed condition.

    “The feature that I like the most from Shopee is the live chat, because it allows me to chat directly with buyers,” said Inez, the owner of Theodora Mardjuki online shop. “I like the Instagram importer feature that makes it easier for me to upload pictures of products that I want to sell on Shopee,” said another online seller, Stephanie Winarto.

    Since it was first launched, the application has been downloaded more than one million times and ranks first in Google Play’s Shopping category in Indonesia. Shopee is now available for download for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan.

  • Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya Opens on December

    Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya Opens on December

    The Swiss hotel management company Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will bring its unique international standards to Na Jomtien in Pattaya with the opening of Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya on 15 December 2015.

    Owned by Siam Motors Group, Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya is poised to usher in a new era of upscale hospitality experiences on the pristine Na Jomtien Beach with an elite beachfront accommodation, gourmet cuisine and superb destination experiences such as yachting and island exploration.

    Located next to Ocean Marina Yacht Club, a 75-minutes drive from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the 262-room resort is the first five-star beachfront property in Na Jomtien as it leads a trend that is fast turning Pattaya into a supreme family-focused destination.           

    “We are delighted to announce our opening in December, our fifth hotel in Thailand,” said Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Senior Vice President Asia, Andrew Langdon. “We have a long and successful track record in Thailand and are firmly committed to the destination in the long term.”

    Siam Motors Group President and Siam at Chonburi Co., Ltd Chairman, Dr. Phornthep Phornprapha said he is confident that the destination would be an attractive draw, especially with Mövenpick managing the hotel, as it is a brand that truly represents quality – a hallmark of Swiss hospitality – and one which would resonate well with guests.

    “Mövenpick is a high-quality international brand and in everything they do there is a natural sense of hospitality,” said Dr. Phornthep. “This is efficient, consistent and creative, and a perfect match with genuine Thai service. Add to this the culinary flair of Mövenpick and we are very well suited.”

    Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya offers spacious room accommodations, all with panoramic sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand.

    There are a total of three gourmet dining outlets and signature culinary services, such as the daily Chocolate Hour when complimentary Swiss chocolate is featured for guests to enjoy.

    To quickly establish the property as a must-use facility for local and international meetings and wedding planners, the function space at the resort will feature soaring seven-metre high ceilings and glorius sea views. Its banquet facilities could cater to 350 guests for a gala dinner or 450 guests in a theatre-style configuration.

    An attractive outdoor lagoon pool lies in the midst of tropical gardens, with total rejuvenation to be found at Wave Spa. Also, the Kids’ Club provides a full range of fun and educational activities indoors and outdoors. Meanwhile, the hotel also offers a water sports centre, fully equipped fitness centre, golf concierge, island cruises, deep sea fishing tours and regional excursions.

    Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya is 15 kilometres south of Pattaya city and 20 minutes from U-Tapao International Airport.

    Please visit the following link for a video preview of Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drmN22YlNIE&feature=youtu.be

  • iTrueMart Grows 1000% with the Help of AWS e-commerce Platform

    iTrueMart Grows 1000% with the Help of AWS e-commerce Platform

    iTrueMart, a leading e-commerce destination for quality brands for home appliances, electronic products, and best value merchandises, announced its expansion throughout all 10 ASEAN countries. The online retailer is one of the fastest growing e-commerce websites with 1000% growth in 2014. iTrueMart has been able to double its online users every 3 months this year and has grown from 100,000 users per month during its inception to its current 1.6 million users per month.

    iTrueMart runs its e-commerce platform using Amazon Web Services (AWS), which provides a low cost set-up with flexibility and full capacity to serve customers. With AWS as its partner, iTrueMart is able to focus on delivering better services to happier customers. AWS allows the online retailer to grow exponentially by cutting the development process by 2-3 months and running daytime campaigns at 400% of its normal capacity in just a few hours. iTrueMart can additionally handle a 10-fold increase or more in customer visits during promotional periods while easily adding new features and functions to the website whenever they are needed. The AWS framework allows iTrueMart to maximize its use of cloud technology while maintaining the use of older technologies and platforms. Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chaiwat Ratanaprateepporn, said, “Our developers have been able to evolve more in the deployment process and DevUp culture, and they can now deploy features faster and take better care of their services.”

    With the ease of AWS and its e-commerce platform, iTrueMart is committed to growing and expanding in Southeast Asia. iTrueMart is currently planning other services, such as offering an e-payment business as well.

    For more information about iTrueMart’s use of Amazon Web Services (AWS) e-commerce platforms, please visit

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  • Singaporeans love to shop overseas

    Singaporeans love to shop overseas

    Never mind that Singapore is renowned globally as a shopping destination.

    Singaporeans want to shop elsewhere.

    A survey by insurance company AIG conducted back in April found 36 per cent of the 1205 polled go on holiday solely to shop.

    When they take a holiday for retail therapy, Singaporeans spend an average of S$336 a day.

    The three most popular overseas shopping destinations are Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

    AIG says it had received 7500 insurance claims between November 2014 and October 2015 for baggage lost on trips home from – in order – Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

    The insurer says people should keep receipts or photographs of their overseas purchases to ensure a smooth claims process.

    Other reasons for non-business travel by Singaporeans rated far lower than retail therapy, including a weekend getaway (21 per cent), to see somewhere exotic (12 per cent) or to indulge in a luxury break (four per cent).

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  • 500 TukTuks Is Even More Keen In Thai Startups Than Ever!

    500 TukTuks Is Even More Keen In Thai Startups Than Ever!

    A micro-fund focused on Thai startups reveals what has happened in the past three months of operation.

    500 Startups, one of the most active seed investors/accelerators in the world, made an announcement early this year about a $10 Million micro-fund focused on Thai promising startups — called 500 TukTuks. That announcement was such a thrill, as this definitely would make an impact to the Thailand’s startup ecosystem!

    Led by Krating Poonpol (Founder of Disrupt University) and Moo Natavudh (CEO of Ookbee), 500 TukTuks has been operating for about three months now. Today, they made an exciting announcement once again at Echelon Thailand 2015 about their fundraising and investment up to date.

    Krating stated “After the first batch of investments, 500TukTuks is more keen in Thailand’s startup ecosystem and gaining confidence from investors who believe in the potential of Thai tech startups, leading to more investment into 500 TukTuks. So we decided to increase the fund size to $12 M and will invest in 60-70 Thai startups over the next 3 years. This is a good sign for startup ecosystem and for the country as a whole because it shows that more people are willing to support Thai startup community.”

    Moo Natavudh also added “500 TukTuks is here not only to invest, but to provide Silicon Valley’s education, the access to talented mentors and other 2000+ founders in the 500 Startups network, and to grow #500Family together at the same time.”

    The highlight of the announcement was the 10 startup companies in Thailand that made it through the TukTuks’ first batch of investment.

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  • Thai e-commerce firm expands to Metro Manila

    Thai e-commerce firm expands to Metro Manila

    Ascend Group, Thailand’s leading e-commerce retailer, has launched iTrueMart.ph e-commerce website to serve the Philippine market as it sees a huge potential in the country, with the onset of the Asean Economic Community.

    iTrueMart.ph aims to become the dominant e-commerce player in the Philippines by 2017, says Punnamas Vichitkulwongsa, chief executive of Ascend Group, the company behind iTrueMart.

    Following its success in Thailand, iTrueMart is now looking to expand into the Asean Economic Community with the Philippines as its next destination, he says. iTrueMart.ph hopes to bring an unrivaled shopping experience with access to a variety of products, various payment channels, and competitive pricing that are currently only available for metropolitan shoppers to customers in all provinces in the Philippines.

    “E-commerce will have huge potential when the AEC fully materializes,” says Vichitkulwongsa.

    According to a study by Ystats SE Asia eCommerce, the volume of Asean’s mobile Internet users rose 56 percent in 2015. Up to 56 percent of the Thai and Vietnamese populations are now accessing the Internet via their smartphones, a figure close to the Philippines’ 50 percent rate. “Recognizing the growing number of mobile-Internet users, we are confident that online shopping in the region will also grow. The AEC is an emerging and interesting market for e-commerce through which entrepreneurs can expand their businesses,” says Vichitkulwongsa.

    “At present, iTrueMart has already been tapping into the AEC market with over $150 million Uinvestment planned for 2016. The investment will be used for e-commerce optimized fulfillment centers, logistic hubs, expansion of our own fleet, marketing, and ramping up assortment and inventory. We are debuting our operations in the Philippines and that will be followed by Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore later in 2016. We are committed for long-term success in the Philippines and everywhere else that we go to,” he says.

    Seubsakol Sakolsatayadorn, general manager of the iTrueMart division at Ascend Commerce, says iTrueMart.ph is not a newcomer to the market as the team is backed by the strong success of iTrueMart in Thailand. “During the past year, the number of visits to iTrueMart.com has increased by as much as 424 percent. Since October 2014, the average number of visits recorded was 4.6 million per month. iTrueMart.com receives 7,000 orders per day on average, with the highest volume of daily orders at 10,000. This marks the highest record in Thailand’s online retail industry,which puts iTrueMart.com at the forefront of Thailand’s e-commerce sector. Moreover, iTrueMart.com’s delivery averages at two days throughout Thailand and it enjoys the lowest e-commerce return rate in the country which confirms the trust and shows the high quality of the products offered on the website,” says Sakolsatayadorn.

    Dean Krstevski, chief operating Officer E-Commerce of Ascend Group, says the decision to launch in the Philippines stemmed from the fact that competition in the e-commerce sector in the Philippines is still considered low. “With the market still in its infancy, there are still plenty of opportunities for new players. Now that the e-commerce market is being developed, brands are increasingly looking for partners to sell their products online, which we see as a great advantage that will help us speed up our market entry. We are confident of our success in the Philippines because we have a strong team with extensive experience in both online and offline retail,” says Krstevski.

    Under the slogan “Great Value, Everyday,” iTrueMart.ph works only with authorized distributors of international brands and act as authorized dealer of local brands so customers can be guaranteed that all products on the website are genuine. The current focus of the site is on smartphones and gadgets and it will expand into consumer electronics, computers and laptops, health and beauty and moms and kids in the future.

    iTrueMart.ph offers free delivery and free returns with cash on delivery payment as an option for customers. To deliver the best possible end-to-end customer experience, iTrueMart.ph is starting off delivery in the Luzon area and will further expand from the beginning of next year. iTrueMart.ph is targeting to have 100 vehicles in its delivery fleet by the year-end, operating out of its own fulfillment center in Pasig.

    With 45 percent of the traffic coming from mobile devices, iTrueMart.ph has a mobile version while a mobile application will be rolled out by the first quarter of 2016.

    “iTrueMart.ph is determined to become the dominant e-commerce player by 2017 and the second largest e-commerce player by the end of this year through partnerships with key local brands and authorized distributors, as well as attractive Christmas campaigns, where customers are offered great value and guaranteed delivery before Christmas Eve. Our goals are to be the top-of-mind e-commerce brand, to have great assortment at best prices, to provide the best end-to-end customer experience and to become the most trusted online shopping platform,” says Krstevski.

  • Poll finds Asian prefer Christmas shopping online

    Poll finds Asian prefer Christmas shopping online

    Nearly half of Asia’s shoppers said they prefer to do their Christmas shopping online this year, according to a new survey conducted by internet services company Rakuten.

    Of 2500 shoppers polled in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan, 47 per cent said they preferred to complete their Christmas shopping online – due to convenience (83 per cent), the ease of browsing and comparing of products (55 per cent) and cost effectiveness from attractive rebates and loyalty programs (41 per cent).

    The same shoppers reported an average increase of 20 per cent, in terms of the amount spent online on Christmas shopping in 2014, versus the year before.

    The Rakuten Shopping Secrets Survey 2015 found that 75 per cent of shoppers expect to buy more, or at least, the same number of Christmas gifts online this year compared to the previous year.

    “Our survey found that in general, when shopping for a gift, shoppers look at price (33 per cent) as the single biggest factor influencing their decision of what to buy, followed by the likeability of a gift by the recipient (26 per cent) and practicality of the gift (25 per cent),” said Masaya Ueno, director of Rakuten Asia

    Rakuten has launched a five per cent rebate on everything listed on its shopping sites, every day, with no limit on the amount of rebates, through the Rakuten Super Point program, across all its online shopping sites in Asia.

    This means that if shoppers buy anything on Rakuten sites in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailandor Taiwan, they are given Rakuten Super Points that are the equivalent of five per cent of their purchase value. These points can be used like cash, to offset their next purchase.

    Asians spend on average US$30 on a Christmas gift, and Rakuten says its new cashback scheme would reward shoppers with a $15 voucher if they bought gifts for 10 people.

    Meanwhile, the survey found that while three in five people remembered what they received for Christmas last year, a quarter of them received gifts they disliked. Those gifts ended up being re-gifted (38 per cent), kept somewhere and forgotten about (33 per cent), donated to charity (24 per cent), or being sold off (13 per cent).

    That could be one reason why 27 per cent of Asians find Christmas a stressful occasion, with Singapore shoppers the most stressed (40 per cent), well ahead of shoppers from Taiwan (32 per cent), Malaysia (30 per cent), Indonesia (18 per cent) and Thailand (17 per cent).

    “The year-end season is usually the busiest time of the year for online retailers like us, with shoppers wanting to splurge due to great discounts (62 per cent), liking to start a new year with new things (40 per cent), or rewarding themselves after a year of hard work (33 per cent),” said Ueno.

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  • iTrueMart enters Philippines, plans to invest $55 million

    iTrueMart enters Philippines, plans to invest $55 million

    iTrueMart, Thailand’s leading e-commerce retailer, has launched its first e-commerce site in the country, iTrueMart.ph, and targets to be the dominant local e-commerce player in two years.

    In 2016, the online retailer, one of the companies under Bangkok-based Ascend Group, plans to invest over USD$150 million (more than P7 billion) in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) as part of its regional expansion.

    “The investment will be used for e-commerce optimized fulfillment centers, logistic hubs, expansion of our own fleet, marketing, and ramping up assortment and inventory,” announced Ascend Group CEO Punnamas Vichitkulwongsa.

    “We are debuting our operations in the Philippines. Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore will follow later in 2016. We are committed for long-term success in the Philippines and everywhere else that we go to,” he underscored.

    “Competition in the e-commerce sector in the Philippines is still considered low. With the market still in its infancy, there are still plenty of opportunities for new players,” Dean Krstevski, Chief Operating Officer E-Commerce of Ascend Group, reasoned.

    “Now that the e-commerce market is being developed, brands are increasingly looking for partners to sell their products online, which we see as a great advantage that will help us speed up our market entry. We are confident of our success in the Philippines because we have a strong team with extensive experience in both online and offline retail.”

    They are investing about US$4-5 million in the Philippines this year and easily $50 million in 2016.

    The Philippines is iTrueMart’s second destination in AEC, bringing access to a variety of products, various payment channels and competitive pricing currently limited to metropolitan shoppers.

    “E-commerce will have huge potential when the AEC fully materializes,” confirmed Ascend Group CEO Punnamas Vichitkulwongsa.

    According to a study by Ystats SE Asia eCommerce, the volume of ASEAN’s mobile Internet users rose 56% in 2015. Up to 56% of the Thai and Vietnamese populations are now accessing the Internet via their smartphones, a figure close to the Philippines’ 50% rate.

    Recognizing the growing number of mobile-Internet users, the Ascend Group is confident that online shopping in the region will also grow.

    Furthermore, “iTrueMart.ph is not a newcomer to the market as the team is backed by the strong success of iTrueMart in Thailand,” according to iTrueMart General Manager Seubsakul Sakolsattiyathorn.

    During the past year, the number of visits to iTrueMart.com increased 424%.

    Since October, 2014, the retailer averaged 4.6 million  visits per month. iTrueMart.com receives 7,000 orders per day on average, with the highest volume of daily orders at 10,000, the highest record in Thailand’s online retail industry.

    Add to that, iTrueMart.com’s delivery averages at two days throughout Thailand and it enjoys the lowest e-commerce return rate in the country.

    Under the slogan “Great Value, Everyday,” iTrueMart.ph works only with authorized distributors of international brands and act as authorized dealer of local brands so customers can be guaranteed that all products on the website are genuine.

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  • CP All supermarket has the lone laugh in drought hit Thailand

    Sales have tumbled at everything except one of Thailand’s prominent supermarkets as the most terrible drought season in 10 years strikes at the heart of the cultivating sector – the foundation of the rustic economy – and disappoints arrangements to open more stores in the regions.

    CP All is the only supermarket in Thailand to register a rise in same-store-sales growth, when the company reported a growth of 1.6 percent in Q3. Big C Supercenter, Thailand’s second-largest hypermarket chain after Tesco PLC, endured a 5.2 percent slide in Q3 same-store sales growth (SSSG) from a year prior, the most among its associates. About portion of Big C’s business originate from the inside Thailand where shoppers are worried about dry spell, low product costs and a feeble financial standpoint, investigators say. Tesco’s Thai unit does not report quarterly SSSG numbers.

    Big C, lion’s share claimed by Casino Group in France, has lessened its pace of extension like numerous different wary retailers. That is in sharp differentiation to the part’s forceful development arranges only a couple of years back.

    CP All, owned by billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, is taking an alternate tack. The administrator of Thailand’s 7-Eleven stores is progressing with its extension, mostly to counterbalance slower deals at existing stores. That methodology is by all accounts working – same-store sales rose 1.6 percent in Q3. CP All was additionally the main retailer with any development in deals. The organization arrangements to open no less than 600 store a year to expand the aggregate number of stores to 10,000 by 2018.

    Analysis says retailers’ profit has bottomed in the second from last quarter, with government measures set up to invigorate utilization in the final quarter. That feeling is reflected in a pickup in purchaser trust in October, the first ascent in 10 months. In any case, the street to recuperation may be long, as general utilization could be dragged around falling homestead livelihoods one year from now. Climate forecasters say dried conditions could hold on through 2017. The agrarian area is the nation’s biggest business, representing 32 percent of Thailand’s work power.

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  • Drought holds back Thailand’s retail store expansion

    Drought holds back Thailand’s retail store expansion

    Sales have fallen at all but one of Thailand’s major supermarket retailers as the worst drought in a decade strikes at the heart of the farming sector – the backbone of the rural economy – and frustrates plans to open more stores in the provinces.

    Big C Supercenter, Thailand’s second-biggest hyper mart chain after Tesco PLC, suffered a 5.2 percent slide in third-quarter same-store sales growth (SSSG) from a year earlier, the most among its peers. About half of Big C’s sales come from the country’s interior where consumers are concerned about drought, low crop prices and a weak economic outlook, analysts say. Tesco’s Thai unit does not report quarterly SSSG numbers.

    Big C, majority-owned by Casino Group in France, has reduced its pace of expansion like many other cautious retailers. That’s in sharp contrast to the sector’s aggressive expansion plans just a few years ago.

    CP All, controlled by billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, is taking a different tack. The operator of Thailand’s 7-Eleven stores is forging ahead with its expansion, partly to help offset slower sales at existing stores. That strategy seems to be working – same-store sales rose 1.6 percent in the third quarter. CP All was also the only retailer with any growth in sales. The company plans to open at least 600 stores a year to increase the total number of stores to 10,000 by 2018.

    Analysts say retailers’ earnings have bottomed in the third quarter, with government measures in place to stimulate consumption in the fourth quarter. That sentiment is reflected in a pickup in consumer confidence in October, the first rise in 10 months. But the road to recovery may be long, as overall consumption could be dragged down by falling farm incomes next year. Weather forecasters say parched conditions could persist through 2017. The agricultural sector is the country’s largest employer, accounting for 32 percent of Thailand’s labor force.

    “The impact of the drought will last for a long time, and that will drag down upcountry incomes and the sector’s SSSG,” said Worrapong Tuntiwutthipong, analyst at Krungsri Securities in Bangkok. “CP All will outperform others in terms of SSSG and earnings growth. Overall, consumption should remain weak, and SSSG will be at low single digits of 1-3 percent in 2016 from 0-1 percent this year.”

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  • E-commerce market on path of growth

    E-commerce market on path of growth

    Computer and electronics, beauty and cosmetics as well as fashion are potential categories for e-commerce in Thailand. The Thai e-commerce market in 2014 was valued at Bt2.03 trillion, with business-to-business (B2B) deals worth Bt1.23 trillion, business-to-consumer (B2C) valued at Bt0.41 trillion and business-to-government (B2G) valued 0.31 trillion.

    Surangkana Wayuparb, the chief executive officer of Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), said that the agency has spent seven months conducting the e-commerce survey, covering all industries in Thailand, representing 502,676 people from eight sectors: manufacturing, retail and wholesale, transport, accommodation, information and communication, insurance, art, entertainment and recreation as well as other services.

    B2B e-commerce was valued at Bt1.230 trillion, a contraction of 0.33 per cent over 2014, while B2C was valued at Bt474,648.91 million, a growth of 15.29 per cent over 2014 and B2G was valued at Bt402,883.74 million, growing 3.96 per cent year on year.

    “It is a huge opportunity for e-commerce business in Thailand since the new Thai generation believes in shopping via online channels. The 4G will also be a factor in driving the growth of the e-commerce market in Thailand,” said the CEO.

    The e-commerce market in Thailand was worth Bt2.03 trillion in 2014 of which B2B was worth Bt1.234 trillion or 60.69 per cent, followed by B2C Bt411,715 million or 20.25 per cent and B2G valued Bt387,552 million.

    In 2015, the top three industries expected to generate the most e-commerce are accommodation services, worth Bt658,909.76 million or 38.4 per cent, followed by manufacturing, valued at Bt350,286.83 million or 20.4 per cent, as well as retail and wholesale industry, valued at Bt325,077.48 million or 19 per cent.

    She also said that the top three industries that |gained the highest e-commerce value in 2014 were accommodation services valued at Bt530,159.13 million or 38.1 per cent, followed by manufacturing valued at Bt440,614.78 million, gaining 26.6 per cent, and information and communications valued at Bt264,863.74 million, growing 19.11 per cent.

    Computer and accessories, cosmetics and beauty as well as fashion are the three top categories for online retail and wholesale business.

    Art and entertainment business, games online, music and e-movies are the main categories in the online entertainment business.

    Surangkana said that the global and domestic economies are factors in driving the e-commerce market in Thailand and the government incentives or tax privileges will play a part in driving the e-commerce market of the country as a whole.

    She said that the top four online transactions for e-commerce business in 2014 were e-banking at 54.25 per cent, followed by credit and debit card 22.39 per cent, mobile payment at 14.53 per cent, and others at 8.83 per cent.

    However, mobile payment has high potential for growth because the modern lifestyle will mean using mobiles to pay transaction fees in the near future.

    She said that the total US B2C e-commerce market was valued at US$359.3 billion in 2014. Meanwhile, China’s B2C market was worth $322.1 billion. Japan and Korean were valued at $118.59 billion and $25.4 billion, respectively.

    Thailand and Malaysia had B2C market valued at $11.7 billion and $9.6 billion respectively.

     

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  • Echelon Thailand addresses the unique struggles of women in business

    Echelon Thailand addresses the unique struggles of women in business

    It may come as a surprise that Thailand not only boasts one of the world’s largest number of women entrepreneurs. It is also one of the few countries in the world where there are as many female business owners as there are male.

    At Echelon Thailand 2015, we are dedicating a panel solely to female entrepreneurs — their struggles, their drive, their rise in participation in business and why female entrepreneurs are here to stay. The discussion will include, but is not limited to, female entrepreneurship in different cultures around the world, existing policies and their issues and more.

    Araya Noo Hutasuwan is currently Vice President at Ardent Capital, an operator VC based in Bangkok with 15 companies in portfolio across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. She is focussed on advising current portfolio companies on their business strategies, helping drive subsequent funding rounds and potential M&As, sourcing potential deals, due diligence and making investment recommendations.

    Prior to working at Ardent, Araya co-founded several fashion retail brands with a presence in the US and Thailand, spent time setting up a factory in Myanmar and spent four years in Investment Banking at Phatra Securities with a focus on M&A.

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    Shannon Kalyanmitr is superwoman: Entrepreneur, women’s advocate, World Connector, Thai-American and Mother of Siamese-Viking Twins. She is also the Founder and Group CMO of MOXY, the shopping destination in Southeast Asia focussed on women.

    Coming from a long line of business development roles from Investment Banking (Lehman Brothers and PwC) to Television and Media (Singha Beer & Building a Digital TV Station from Scratch) – to Social Development (Tsunami Humanitarian work) and now Tech, Shannon has been able to marry the best of all her global experiences into MOXY, along with carrying on her passion for women’s development and entrepreneurship.

    An international marketing and communications professional with over 20 years experience, Pacharee Pantoomano-Pfirsch delivers winning solutions for some of the world’s most influential brands. From brand management to direct marketing to internal communications and community relations, her proven expertise and solid grasp of market communications come together with stellar results for leading-edge marketing strategies for her clients around the globe.

    Today, in addition to serving her clients at Brandnow, she is also the Chairwoman for the Bangkok Now, an organisation she founded in 2003.

    Juliette Gimenez, is highly passionate, a serial entrepreneur and currently Co-founder of Goxip, the mobile-first app that allows users to search, discover and shop fashion by image recognition and celebrity stylefeed. Gimenez has extensive experience in starting up companies and driving multi-million dollars sales growth in e-commerce, particularly from an early stage level onwards in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong at companies such as Cdiscount Thailand and LivingSocial. Previously, she was a VP at ubuyibuy, which got acquired by Groupon.

    Linh Thai is Founder and CEO of Stitch Appeal, an online fashion brand that creates custom tailored women’s fashion.

    Prior to this, she was a Director at DFJ VinaCapital, a leading venture capital fund based in Ho Chi Minh City. Before that, she was an Investment Banking Associate at Bank of America Securities in New York City, where she worked on equity, debt and M&A deals. Her experiences also include roles in marketing and operations at Internet startups in the US.

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