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Tag: Thailand

  • Thai Transport Authority Fines Uber, Grab Drivers

    Thai Transport Authority Fines Uber, Grab Drivers

    When U.S.-based Uber launched in Thailand in 2014, the Department of Land Transport said the company’s drivers were not properly registered or insured, and its payment system did not meet regulations. However, authorities did little to stop the service since it was so popular with tourists and locals.

    But the government is clamping down on the service now, with 23 Uber drivers fined in Bangkok this week alone. Grab drivers have also been fined, though not as many, with drivers caught working for one of apps now having their licenses suspended for up to six months and fined 2,000 baht ($57).

    Authorities are targeting Uber and GrabCar specifically because they are the only two services in Thailand where private car owners can use their own cars to pick up passengers. Uber has a site set up so drivers can sign up and start earning money through the app.

    The Department of Land Transport’s Deputy Director-General Nanthapong Cherdchu said the agency would ask the military government to use an emergency measure to shut down the apps if drivers don’t comply. Many taxi drivers in the country — angry over losing business to the two apps — have even launched their own investigations in an effort to turn Uber and Grab drivers over to the authorities. Uber, however, is hoping they can work with the government and convince them that these ride-hailing services are beneficial to the country.

    “Uber remains committed to creating reliable transportation for everyone,” Uber spokeswoman Amy Kunrojpanya said.

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  • AEON Launches “365 Days… Enjoy Shopping with AEON Credit Card”

    AEON Launches “365 Days… Enjoy Shopping with AEON Credit Card”

    Mr. Kiyoyasu Asanuma (left), Managing Director of AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited, together with Mr. Nuntawat Chotvijit (right), Director of Marketing, AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited, presided over the recent launch of “365 Days… Enjoy Shopping with AEON Credit Card” campaign. The campaign offers a range of special privileges to AEON Royal Orchid Plus Platinum cardholders, AEON Gold cardholders and AEON Classic cardholders throughout 2017. Cardholders will also be entitled to special promotions from AEON’s partners, including its newest partner, Pizza Hut.

    The first exclusive promotion available to all cardholders is a set of Extra Value Meals worth 79 baht from McDonald’s and a Buy One, Get One Free promotion from Pizza Hut when placing an order at the restaurant or using the delivery service. The second promotion entitles cardholders to a Buy One, Get One Free cinema ticket, or at a special price of 99 baht, when buying a cinema ticket at any Major Cineplex theatre.

    Moreover, for the third benefit, Get up to 500 baht cash back when spending an accumulated amount of 3,000 baht or over with AEON credit cards The fourth promotion entitles AEON credit cardholders to receive a 5% discount on items at MaxValu and MaxValu Tanjai every 1stand 15th of the month. The campaign runs from today until 28th February 2018.

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  • Bangkok home to Asia’s first Playboy Cafe

    Bangkok home to Asia’s first Playboy Cafe

    Lam Yook Millenium Millennium (2002), the distributor of Playboy clothing in Thailand, has opened the first Playboy Cafe in Asia.

    It is in the Central Festival EastVille complex in Bangkok, with a second cafe scheduled to open in Central Marina Pattaya next month.

    Playboy cafe 1

    A budget of Bt30 million (US$856,000) has been earmarked for the opening of about 30 Playboy Cafes across Thailand within five years.

    Flying in from the US to preside over the opening, Playboy heir/chief creative officer Cooper Hefner says about 3000 Playboy outlets sell fashion accessories and clothes in such markets as China, India and Taiwan.

    She says Lam Yook has beenwith Playboy for more than 15 years in Thailand. It is the first company in Asia to gain a licence to run a Playboy Cafe.

    Lam Yook COO Pornpat Wangworawong says his company outlined its plans last year after setting up Playboy outlets in five department stores in Thailand. It plans to open a Playboy outlet at Central Plaza Korat this year and is introducing a business line to mark the Year of the Rooster. A Thai website will be launched in June.

    Playboy cafe 2

    “Before opening the cafe, we ran a market survey and learned that Thais like hanging out with friends and eating,” says Pornpat. Playboy Cafe’s signature item is the Bunny Burger.

    Covering 158 sqm in Central Festival EastVille, the cafe has capacity for 70 customers.

    Sales of the brand in Thailand have risen 30 per cent on average over the past few years, but last year’s growth was only 10 to 15 per cent because the global slowdown affecting the garment industry. To counteract this, the company plans to renovate its standalone shops and turn the outlets in department stores into unisex models.

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  • Crocs store is closing door

    Crocs store is closing door

    One in four Crocs stores will be closed globally as the maker of the world’s ugliest shoes plots a survival plan.

    The store cull was announced along with another quarterly loss: the shoemaker finished its last three months US$44.4 million in the red, albeit a better performance than the same period a year earlier when it lost $73.9 million.

    Global sales were down 10.2 per cent to $187.4 million but in Asia the company says its retail sales declined by a whopping 16.6 per cent.

    Total Asian revenue was $68.8 million, down 9.8 per cent year-on-year, with wholesale revenues down 5.3 per cent (explained as a result of the sale of the South African business in April 2016). Retail sales in Asia declined 16.6 percent, despite the opening of nine stores since 2015. Online sales declined 7 per cent in Asia, which Crocs says was the result of weak sales in China on Singles’ Day.

    In Europe, revenue was down 14.2 per cent.

    As it restructures to ensure its survival, Crocs CEO Gregg Ribatt will step down on June 1, to be replaced by Andrew Rees who has for the past two years been president. The two roles will now be combined and Ribatt will remain on the company’s board.

    Rees told an analysts’ briefing that customers are responding favorably to new colors and prints added to the core Crocs molded product line.

    “We’ve also confirmed the importance of any newness to our iconic molded footwear through new color and graphic introductions, and through the expanded use of licensed characters,” he said.

    “Our spring/summer 2017 collection rolled out to warm-weather doors in November and early reads are encouraging. Going forward, our innovation and newness will be most heavily concentrated on core clogs and sandal, slips and slides where we see the greatest opportunity for growth.”

    Crocs is also banking on the endorsement of the product by celebrities Drew Barrymore, John Cena, Yoona Lim and Henry Lau who will feature in the brand’s latest Come As You Are marketing campaign launching in April.

    Full year figures

    Crocs’ full-year picture was nowhere near as bad as the last quarter’s. Total sales were $1.04 billion, down only a little from the $1.09 billion of a year earlier. On a constant currency basis, revenues declined 4.7 per cent.

    The company recorded a full-year net loss of $16.5 million, far better than the $83.2 million of 2015. Excluding non-recurring charges, the adjusted loss was $26.9 million.

    Rabat says Crocs has been reshaped into a company that :”functions more efficiently and effectively” and is in “a far better place now than two years ago”.

    “And while the operational work is critical, it is not yet, and I emphasise yet, translating into the financial gains we continue to believe are achievable.”

    Since 2014, Crocs has halved its SKU count, boosted the appeal of core sellers and added new collections.

    Once the store cull is complete in 2018, Crocs will operate about 400 outlets, adding $35 million to its bottom line in 2019. At the end of 2016 it had 558 stores.

    Carrie Teffner, Crocs EVP and CFO, says that given volatile market conditions, the company is not setting mid-term revenue and margin targets.

    “That said, we continue to believe that… longer term, the business can deliver EBIT margins in the 10 per cent range.”

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  • Solid year for revitalised Dairy Farm International

    Solid year for revitalised Dairy Farm International

    Hong Kong-headquartered multi-format retailer Dairy Farm International has celebrated its 130th anniversary with a strong set of results, with food, home furnishings and restaurants delivering higher profits.

    Total sales, including those of associates and joint ventures, rose 14 per cent in US dollar terms and 17 per cent on a constant-currency basis to US$20.4 billion. Sales of wholly-owned subsidiaries rose 1 per cent to $11.2 billion.

    Underlying net profit rose by 7 per cent to $460 million, partly due to a 13 basis point net improvement in operating margins as well as increased contributions from Yonghui and Maxim’s. Operating profit rose 6 per cent.

    Supermarkets & hypermarkets solid

    Total food division sales, which include Wellcome and Giant, were flat in US dollar terms, although up 1 per cent on a constant currency basis.

    “In an environment of severe pressure on pricing, sales growth in Hong Kong supermarkets and in the convenience store businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Singapore helped to offset declines in the group’s supermarkets and hypermarkets in Singapore and Indonesia and largely flat sales elsewhere,” explained CEO Graham Allan.

    “The closure of a number of unprofitable stores in Singapore and Indonesia also weighed on sales performance. However, specific actions, including strategic store closures, prudent management of costs and more targeted promotional activity, delivered improved operating margins.’

    Operating profit from the food division rose 13 per cent to $267 million, with the largest gains coming from Singapore and Indonesia.

    Sales of $6.2 billion from supermarkets and hypermarkets (excluding Yonghui) were in line with last year in constant currency while operating profit increased by 13 per cent to $194 million.

    Wellcome in Hong Kong drove higher sales through strengthening its fresh offer and an enhanced merchandise assortment. Operating profit was lower, principally due to a continued rise in rental costs and competitor promotional activities. In Macau, San Miu achieved sales and operating profit growth in its first full year in the group with range enhancement and increased fresh participation.

    In Taiwan, sales and operating profit were ahead of last year. A new ‘superstore’ concept was introduced for Wellcome with two net new stores opening during the year, while Jason’s continued its store expansion.

    “The retail landscape in Indonesia was challenging with limited recovery in consumer confidence and significant competition from the continued rollout of mini-market stores across the country, which impacted sales growth at supermarkets and hypermarkets,” said Allan.

    “Nevertheless, improved margins, from pricing and promotional activities, the closure of a number of underperforming stores and tighter cost control boosted profitability. Improving the fresh assortment and revitalising the upscale Hero brand remain key focus areas for the business.”

    In Malaysia, sales and operating profit were behind 2015 due to persistent low consumer confidence together with ongoing price controls following the introduction of GST, which continued to weigh on performance.

    The Philippines recorded a strong year with all banners reporting like-for-like sales growth and improved profitability. “A more appealing fresh assortment coupled with tactical pricing and successful marketing activities underpinned an encouraging increase in footfall,” said Allan.

    “Rustan’s benefited from increased sales of its imported and exclusive brands, while measures to improve cost efficiency were also implemented.”

    In Singapore, sales were down year-on-year due to poor consumer sentiment and the impact of store rationalisation. “Cold Storage achieved an encouraging operating profit increase, despite reduced sales following the closure of underperforming stores. Giant saw steady sales and positive profit growth, driven by increased margins and lower operating costs.

    “In the coming year, we aim to invest in the renewal of customer facing and back office technologies to improve our customer experience and internal efficiency whilst optimising ranges and supply chain productivity.”

    In Vietnam, Giant posted sound sales growth, from its single store, with increased customer traffic being the main driver and in Cambodia, the group saw “encouraging increases” in like-for-like sales and operating profit.

    Convenience sales reach $2 billion

    Convenience stores reported $2 billion in sales, an increase of 5 per cent year-on-year in constant-currency terms. Operating profit increased by 15 per cent to $73 million.

    In Hong Kong, 7-Eleven outpaced the competition and grew sales and operating profit despite soft consumer sentiment and difficult market conditions. Like-for-like sales strengthened during the year supported by promotions, range improvements and new products. A slight gross margin improvement led to a higher operating profit despite cost increases from labour and rent. In Macau, sales were flat and operating profit was lower due to slowing tourist numbers and a substantial cigarette tax increase in 2015.

    In Mainland China, 7-Eleven continued its solid growth and passed its 800th store milestone. During the year, sales and operating profit increased, with store network expansion and like- for-like sales growth. This was driven in part by an expanded ready-to-eat (RTE) product range.

    In Singapore, 7-Eleven achieved positive like-for-like sales growth arising from a store re-ranging project with a strong focus on RTE, including the successful introduction of new private label products sourced from 7-Eleven Japan.

    “Operating profit was significantly ahead of 2015 due to these initiatives and the rationalisation of loss-making stores,” said CEO Graham Allan. “The RTE range will be further expanded in 2017 and there will be increased focus on acquiring new profitable sites.”

    Health & beauty sales rise

    Dairy Farm’s health & beauty division achieved $2.6 billion in sales, up 4 per cent on a constant currency basis, however profit declined 5 per cent to $175 million due to margin pressure and higher rents in Hong Kong.

    “Gains in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines, offset disappointing sales in Malaysia,” said Allan.

    In Hong Kong, Mannings’ sales increased in 2016 despite a smaller store network. “As mainland Chinese tourist arrivals continued to decline, promotional campaigns and loyalty programmes were launched throughout the year targeting local consumers,” said Allan. “Sales were flat in Macau as mainland Chinese tourist arrivals remained soft.

    On the mainland, Mannings “showed gradual improvement” with solid sales growth, particularly in baby care, beauty care and personal care, while the contribution from corporate brands increased.

    In Singapore, Guardian reported growth in sales, while operating profit also increased with higher gross margins and greater focus on cost and shrinkage management, partially offset by higher rental costs, but in Malaysia, Guardian experienced “a challenging year” with lower sales and operating profit due to subdued consumer sentiment, increased competition and weakness of the ringgit.

    In Indonesia, Guardian posted double-digit sales growth for the fifth year in a row, despite the net closure of 73 stores. Operating profit was higher than in 2015 with higher gross margins.

    In Vietnam, Guardian recorded another strong year of double-digit sales growth and improvement in gross margin. Corporate brand penetration increased significantly as brands such as Botaneco Garden proved popular with local consumers and in the new market of Cambodia, progress was made through range expansion and increased corporate brand penetration supporting strong like-for-like sales.

    In its second year in the group, Rose Pharmacy in the Philippines delivered performance improvement through sales growth, gross margin enhancement, better cost efficiency and the closure of a number of underperforming stores. Guardian brand products were launched with encouraging early signs of customer acceptance.

    Home furnishings solid

    Home Furnishings, essentially the Ikea business in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia, recorded a 12 per cent rise in operating profit to $71 million driven by increased sales of $597 million, 6 per cent ahead of 2015.

    “Sales and operating profit were higher than last year in all three markets. Like-for-like sales growth was particularly strong in Taiwan and Indonesia.”

    Hong Kong led the group in introducing new concepts to increase consumer access, launching online shopping in April 2016 and opening two pick-up points in Macau and on Hong Kong Island. Indonesia introduced online shopping in July. Taiwan opened a pick-up point in Hsinchu and launched online shopping in February 2017.

    “We continued to strengthen our low price image through ongoing price investment, and increased our focus on market specific products to enhance our local consumer appeal.

    “In the coming year, Home Furnishings plans both to continue its push in consumer accessibility and to drive forward its expansion plans, having identified a second Indonesia store location and opening a fourth store in Hong Kong in the second half of 2017,” said Allan.

    Solid growth for Starbucks, Maxim’s

    Sales in Dairy Farm International’s restaurants division rose 7 per cent year-on-year to $2 billion and profit rose 4 per cent.

    “The business delivered another year of record earnings in a difficult market environment while continuing to expand outside Hong Kong,” said Allan.

    The division expanded its reach by acquiring Cova, a premium chain of cake shops and restaurants, and by opening its first Treats food hall.

    In China, Maxim’s added 16 new stores across its brands, including the first Cheesecake Factory franchise at Shanghai Disney Town.

    The company now operates 20 Starbucks cafes in Vietnam and Cambodia and describes their performance as “encouraging”. The group launched its first Thai franchise in September – MX Cakes and Bakery, a joint venture with ThaiBev, which has opened three outlets in Bangkok.

    “Looking ahead, the group continues to see various exciting opportunities, including entry into the Beijing market with the opening of Jade Garden, Cafe Landmark and The Cheesecake Factory planned in 2017. Maxim’s will also continue to explore franchise and acquisition opportunities across the region.”

    Dairy Farm will “compete aggressively”

    Chairman Ben Keswick said Dairy Farm International is “transforming itself to compete aggressively in a changing retail landscape”.

    “Central to this are a strong focus on understanding changing consumer behaviour, growing market share, building digital engagement with customers and sharing know-how across the group. Investment is being sustained in supply chain, IT infrastructure and systems, and the skills and expertise of our people to support this transformation. Each business is committed to optimising the shopping experience of its customers and to serving their evolving needs as efficiently as possible.”

    Keswick said increasing convenience through expansion and enhancement of the store network remains a high priority, although when necessary, underperforming stores will be closed. Last year the entire group added a net 114 stores, despite a number of closures across its divisions.

    At December 31, Dairy Farm International had 6548 stores in operation in 11 countries and territories, including its interest in 487 Yonghui stores in Mainland China.

    “Despite the uncertain economic outlook for 2017, the group continues to strengthen its businesses,” said Keswick. “Investments are being made to enhance its competitive position, increase customer convenience and adapt to emerging consumer trends. These investments, coupled with the exposure of its market-leading retail brands to Asia’s growth markets, will support Dairy Farm’s long-term success.”

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  • DHL broadens logistics reach in Thailand

    DHL broadens logistics reach in Thailand

    DHL E-commerce, a unit of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has expanded its logistics service in the Thai market with nationwide coverage and price-competitive business-to-consumer (B2C) international shipping.

    There is also pick-up service for small e-commerce merchants and the 2.7 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand where online sales are growing rapidly, according to top executives.

    Charles Brewer, CEO of DHL E-commerce, said Thailand has a huge growth potential for e-commerce because online sales currently account for only 2 per cent of total retail sales, compared with the global average of 9 per cent.

    Among Asean countries, Singapore’s online sales are the most developed, accounting for 4.5 per cent of total retail sales, compared with Indonesia’s 0.5 per cent of total retail sales.

    To support e-commerce growth, the Thai government needs to help develop the ecosystem for online transactions, e-payment as well as transport and other logistic services.

    Over the past year, DHL has branched into the so-called last mile service for e-commerce in Southeast Asia with a complete range of delivery, pick-up, warehousing and related services as high-volume e-commerce transactions boom in the region due to the high penetration rate of smartphones and other factors.

    Customer expectations on delivery time have also shifted towards the so-called “next day” delivery after placing their purchase orders online, prompting DHL to offer faster services in the Thai market.

    “The e-commerce market in Thailand is the second largest in Southeast Asia and expected to grow 22 per cent annually towards 2020. There are increasing demands for cost-effective and high quality logistic solutions to meet rising consumer needs,” said Kiattichai Pitpreecha, managing director of DHL E-commerce Thailand.

    For Thai SMEs, the expanded service will allow them to deliver products to customers with greater convenience and a faster process so that they spend less time travelling and waiting to drop off their goods.

    With a 3,222-square-metre e-commerce logistic centre in Bangkok, plus vehicles and other facilities, the firm is equipped to deliver 15 million shipments per year in Thailand.

    For merchants, DHL also offers a cash-on-delivery service with daily remittances plus access to a multilingual call centre and easy IT integration to handle online orders so that shippers can easily prepare orders for delivery into the DHL network.

    In addition, DHL offers cross-border services to help Thai customers expand into overseas markets at a competitive price based on a pay-per-use solution.

    Malcolm Monteiro, CEO of DHL E-commerce Asia Pacific, said the government’s recent initiative has boosted opportunities for businesses and industries, especially SMEs, to digitise their operations and services.

    With as many as 2.7 million SMEs, Thailand is seen as a high growth market where these firms will extend their business models into online marketplaces where DHL aims to enable their businesses to leverage the e-commerce potential both domestically and internationally.

    Besides the e-commerce service, DHL has long been a provider of international express delivery services which can help connect Thai SMEs to the global online market.

    At present, DHL has a network of fulfilment centres in the US, Mexico, Europe, Hong Kong, Australia and India, allowing merchandise to get to consumers in those regions faster.

    According to Brewer, the cross-border B2C, or retail e-commerce, is projected to grow to US$1 trillion in 2020 as the DHL operation in Thailand also witnesses a significant growth in this segment over the past year.

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  • SK Planet and Samsung sign for online partnership

    SK Planet and Samsung sign for online partnership

    Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania has signed a memorandum of understanding with global platform innovator SK Planet on an eCommerce partnership in Southeast Asia.

    Signed in Singapore, the deal aims to promote Samsung’s brand presence and provide increased convenience and access to the Korean company’s products in Southeast Asia through online shopping sites 11street Malaysia, 11street Thailand and Elevenia in Indonesia.

    This follows Samsung and SK Planet collaborating in the South Korean domestic market.

    During the past four years, SK Planet has grown in overseas markets by leveraging its expertise from 11street Korea. SK Planet has launched its eCommerce platform into new markets every year, beginning in 2013 with Turkey’s N11.com, where it became market leader in two and a half years, followed by Elevenia in Indonesia, 11street Malaysia and, this month, 11street Thailand.

    “Our official launch was a great success with more than 3000 partners, customers and media joining,” says 11street Thailand CEO Hong Cheol Jeon. ‘This collaboration with Samsung will help to strengthen our partnership in Thailand and enhance our customers’ online shopping experience.”

    Samsung has an official shop-in-shop page on 11street, complemented by delivery and installation by authorised distributors. The page lets consumers search, browse and buy Samsung products easily, as well as access online-only products, pre-sale offerings and promotional discounts.

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  • Thai specialty coffee growers tip cafe boom

    Thai specialty coffee growers tip cafe boom

    Despite many cafes closing in the past year, the Thai coffee-shop business is expected to grow 15 to 20 per cent this year.

    According to specialty coffee growers, the growth will be driven by the country’s economic improvement and higher demand from coffee drinkers.

    Specialty Coffee Association of Thailand (SCATH) president Apicha Yaemkesorn says coffee shops can be easily opened on every corner in Bangkok and major provinces, and more will be seen as there are many new offices and condo buildings.

    “The growth can also be expected to spread into small provinces and towns in the near future.”

    Fewer than 10 per cent of Thais drink coffee, and those who do drink about 1.2 cups a day on average, compared with three cups a day for American coffee drinkers.

    While about 30 to 40 per cent of coffee shops closed last year, the number of new entrants increases every year.

    Apicha says that opening a coffee shop is not hard in Thailand as only a small budget is needed and coffee makers are inexpensive. “It is an ideal business for new entrepreneurs, but many of them have lack knowledge about coffee and cafe management skills.”

    This year Thailand is projected to have a 15 per cent rise in arabica coffee planting areas in the north and a 5 per cent increase in robusta planting areas in the south. Rubber and palm growers in the south have turned to growing coffee because of low prices for rubber and palm oil.

    Coffee beans can be harvested about three or four years after planting, says the Office of Agricultural Economics.

    Apicha estimates the longer droughts in Thailand will reduce the supply of local arabica coffee beans to 7000 tonnes this year from 9000 tonnes last year, while robusta coffee beans will total 15,000 tonnes, down from 17,800 tonnes.

    Arabica coffee beans are priced at about 180 baht (US$5.10) a kilo in Thailand and 80 to 90 baht/kg for robusta.

    Volatile climate change and longer droughts are pushing Thai coffee bean prices higher than in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, which see prices around 95 to 105 baht/kg.

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  • Lazada Thailand sent top five sellers to Alibaba Campus

    Lazada Thailand sent top five sellers to Alibaba Campus

    Lazada Thailand sent five of its top performing sellers to Alibaba’s campus in Hangzhou. They joined a delegation of 34 Lazada sellers.

    Led by Lazada Group, the visit took place from 23 to 25 February 2017 and include a rare opportunity to hear from Jing Jie, Vice President of Strategic Partnership Development, Alibaba Group and Aimone Ripa di Meana, Chief Marketplace Officer, Lazada Group to gain insights on the eCommerce landscape development and best-practices of online selling. The delegates had the chance to visit and network with other successful sellers such as Semir from Alibaba’s Tmall platform as well as attended two training sessions on “Operations and Assortment Planning for Singles Day” and “Online Customer Management” conducted by Taobao University.

    Apart from Thailand, the sellers mainly originate from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam; markets that Lazada operate in. These sellers worked closely with Lazada throughout the Online Revolution 2016 event, and have emerged as top in their respective product categories, such as fashion, electronics, and other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) categories.

    These top performing sellers experienced strong uplift in their sales during the month-long Online Revolution sale. In addition to their exceptional performance during the 2016 Online Revolution shopping event, these sellers offered great value to shoppers with their deals, efficient product dispatches as well as achieving minimal number of returns and cancellations on their products.                                                                               

    Alessandro Piscini, CEO, Lazada Thailand said, “Lazada is widely known as Southeast Asia’s number one online shopping site, but we are also the region’s top selling eCommerce marketplace. Today, we have about 55,000 local and international merchants and we are enabling them to achieve commercial success with Lazada.”

    “We empower our sellers and equip them with the best tools available to help them succeed. With this inaugural business trip for our sellers to Hangzhou, we have structured the trip to ensure our sellers can hear and learn from other successful examples, and scale their business in the future,” added Alessandro Piscini.

    Veraphon Ngamjarassrivichai, Chief Marketing Officer of Galaxy store, which sells household equipment, sports, games, and toys at https://www.lazada.co.th/galaxy/ shared, “working with Lazada has made our E-Commerce journey much quicker and easier. Since joining Lazada, we have managed to still grow our business, and last year we generated 4 times revenue from Lazada. Galaxy is excited to join the trip to Alibaba Campus in Hangzhou and take advantage of all the new opportunities the three day event will bring.”

    In addition to sending top five sellers to Alibaba Campus in Hangzhou, Lazada, as the brand holding by Alibaba Group, is committed to train over 30,000 SMEs following Thailand 4.0 model and collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce by organizing training workshop for SMEs at the New Economy Academy (NEA) starting from 2nd February 2017 onwards until the end of this year. This training workshop aims to cover practical trainings on how to sell products and services on an eCommerce platform. Lazada also offers sellers a comprehensive suite of tools and solutions to make their online business a success. The seller centre for instance gives sellers a comprehensive overview of their business with Lazada. It is also a mobile platform for sellers to manage their business on-the-go. Sellers also receive a weekly performance report from Lazada with details on areas they can improve for better sales.

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  • The Wonder Room Unveils its Fresh New Look on the 3rd Floor of Siam Center

    The Wonder Room Unveils its Fresh New Look on the 3rd Floor of Siam Center

    “The Wonder Room”, women’s multi-brand store on the 3rd floor of Siam Center, opens the door to welcome fashionistas again after the refurbishment. Under the new look inspired by art studio, the store carries more than 40 Thai and international fashion brands to serve “hip and fashion-forward socialite with unique character”. To celebrate this re-opening, it launches The Wonder Room Collection” that offers ABSOLUTE SIAM items, available only at Siam Center, and welcomes the summer with “Future in The 80s” collection.

    Parisa Chatnilbhandhu Group Senior Vice President – Retail Business Development of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., revealed that The Wonder Room has been the top choice for fashionistas who have a unique and distinctive sense of style and never follow trends because they always find one-of-a-kind items here. To better fulfill their needs, the store now adds the modernity and liveliness to the previously sophisticated decoration in black and gold thanks to “NENDO”, globally recognized design studio that transformed Siam Discovery.

    “In this transformation, The Wonder Room was expanded to 200 sqm, with completely new appearance. Mr. Oki Sato, chief designer and founder of “NENDO”, defined fashion items as pieces of art displayed by the wearers. Once stepping into the store, the shoppers will feel as if they were in an art studio where an artist crafts masterpieces. Every element like canvas frame, easel and photo frame, including the center table that displays products, are carefully placed to create this mood. The unexpected combination of green, black and white gives a sense of contrast, yet a modern and lively look,” added Parisa.

    The Wonder Room not only carries a wide selection of leading brands but also offers Absolute Siam collection available exclusively at Siam Center.  For the upcoming summer, more than 40 ready-to-wear brands of women’s wear, handbags, footwear and accessories will take fashionistas back to the 80s under concept of “Future in the 80s”.  The spring/summer collection 2017 incorporates distinctive pattern, bright spectrum, graphic, sailor stripes and metallic decoration to create a variety of looks, whether they are business look, casual look or party look.

    The fashion-forward ladies will find a wide selection of fashion brands such as DRYCLEANONLY, Tohns, HER La Femme, KANAPOT AUNSORN, VIPPY ROSE, TandT, Vinn Patararin, Mani Mina, FAFALU, PONY STONE, SEE and ACID while fans of Korean fashion will love LOW CLASSIC, Fleamadonna, SYZ and A.Bell. Moreover, the look will not be complete without an essential accessories from mikiwuu, Activity One, Darlin Jewelry, Revival, Porshz, la, Minacode, Iphforia and Ornaments & L’or and handbags and shoes from She, NATTAPONG, Ratthzart Studio, March and WALKIN.

    In this summer, SWIMWARE will raise the temperature with its hot and sexy swimwear while innerwear from Pattricia A. Garde, ZAZZIE, T-REX and NAVY can be perfectly matched with the outerwear to add sensuality. Lastly, ESTRO, Nostalgic and PAPERSELF will add the final touch and boost the fashionistas’ confidence with their beautiful cosmetics.

    To celebrate the new look of The Wonder Room, Vinn Patararin and jewelry brand la co-designed capsule collection. For the first time, “FABLAB” joins hands with The Wonder Room in offering a wide range of online fashion brands at FABLAB corner.

    Come visit The Wonder Room today on the 3rd floor of Siam Center. Under the new concept of art studio, this multi-brand store offers “ABSOLUTE SIAM” items, masterpieces in “The Wonder Room Collection”, which cannot be found elsewhere and will make you stand out from the crowd

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  • Japanese cosmetics brand Do-Best eyes Asian expansion

    Japanese cosmetics brand Do-Best eyes Asian expansion

    Japanese cosmetics brand Do-Best is looking at opportunities in the Philippines and broader Southeast Asian markets, including Indonesia.

    Do-Best CEO Daitaro Sugawara was in the Philippines for a group networking session organised by Security Bank and Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. He was matched with executives from local retailers including Metro Retail and National Bookstore.

    Do-Best was founded 45 years ago to produce “high-quality, low-priced products” and is already exporting to Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan.

    Sugawara says the company wants to tap into the fast-growing Asian markets with young consumers seeking low-cost cosmetics and beauty lines. Its products are already popular in Japan’s proliferation of 100 Yen shops and similar stores.

    “That’s why I was interested to have a meeting in the Philippines. My product is like my family, so I want Philippine distributors or retail stores to take care of our products.

    “I want to keep the original price as in Japan,” Sugawara said.

    Tadahiro Miyamoto, GM of BTMU’s Manila branch, says a lot of Japanese companies are now looking at the Philippine domestic market. “You should look at the shopping areas, you see a lot of Japanese products.”

    A large number of participants in the recent business-matching event were from the retail sector, agriculture and real estate.

  • 11street Thailand launched by SK Planet

    11street Thailand launched by SK Planet

    Korean-headquartered online marketplace 11street has launched in Thailand.

    Parent company SK Planet says 11street Thailand is the first Korean-owned eCommerce marketplace to open in the Southeast Asian nation.

    An opening ceremony was held at Bangkok’s CentralWorld shopping centre this week, and prominent advertising livery has appeared on BTS stations to promote the brand.

    Korean actor Song Joong-ki and Thai actress Mew Nittha, who feature in marketing for the business, attended the launch event.

    Thailand is the fourth overseas market for SK Planet, a division of SK Telecom. It follows Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia.

    11Street Thailand will offer “millions of trendy high-quality products at competitive prices,” the company said.

    “11Street will be a leading eCommerce firm that promotes the Korean wave in retail industry,” 11Street Thailand CEO Jeon Hong-cheol said. “We expect our entrance to Thailand will stimulate Korean manufacturers and ICT firms to make their presence felt in Southeast Asian markets.”

  • Canterbury New Zealand opens in Bangkok

    Canterbury New Zealand opens in Bangkok

    Sports brand Canterbury New Zealand, established in 1904, has opened its first Thai flagship store in Bangkok.

    Located in the Phayathai Building, the 70 sqm shop offers 120 products in four major categories: men’s training, women’s training, on-field accessories and a British-Irish line. The retailer has kitted out some of the top sporting teams in the world.

    Silver Fern Holdings, the exclusive distributor for Canterbury in Thailand, has set a three-year expansion plan. This includes standalone stores in major tourist cities such as Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Phuket, plus shop-in-shop outlets at major shopping malls in Bangkok including Emporium, Siam Paragon and The Emquartier.

    “We aim to increase annual sales of Canterbury products in Thailand from the Bt15 million [US$1.7 million] expected for this year to about Bt60 million in three years,” says Silver Fern Holdings MD Mark Bennett.

    The investment for standalone outlets will be about Bt1.5 million a store, each with about 70 sqm of retail space. Pop-up and shop-in-shop stores will have about 30 sqm of retail space.

    Canterbury claims to be the world’s original rugby brand, and is official kit supplier to a host of rugby teams globally. It says its clothing is designed for training, workouts and general fitness.

    “We see Thailand as a potential market for Canterbury sportswear products thanks to a growing middle class and the health-and-fitness trend,” says Bennett.

    The company will introduce its latest Control Gear and Compression Gear technologies into Thailand. Control Gear is engineered to optimise training performance, while the Compression Gear range provides graduated levels of constant compression in key zones to optimise sports performance.

    Canterbury products are also available through distributors in Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.

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  • Japanese tariffs hobble Vietnamese tuna exports

    Japanese tariffs hobble Vietnamese tuna exports

    Thai and Filipino tuna exporters have accessed the market tariff-free for years. Vietnam’s tuna exports to Japan have steadily declined since 2013 due to exceptionally high tariffs, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

    Following a bilateral trade deal, Japan scrapped tariffs on Thai canned skipjack tuna, which carried a 3.2 percent tariff in 2009 and 1.1 percent tariff in 2011. During the same time, Japan has maintained a 6.4 percent tariff on similar products from Vietnam, according to VASEP.

    Japan extended the same policy to canned yellowfin tuna and frozen tuna loin, lifting duties entirely on Thai yellowfin imports in 2012 and Filipino imports the following year under the Generalised Systems of Preferences (GSP).

    During that time, Japan levied a 9.6 percent tariff on canned yellowfin tuna from Vietnam, even after the Vietnam – Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA) came into effect in October 2009.

    The two countries have yet to set a timeline on lifting tariffs on Vietnamese tuna exports, which generates between $450-550 million, annually.

    Japan ranks among Vietnam’s top-eight tuna export markets and VASEP has called on the Ministry of Industry and Trade to negotiate a deal similar to the arrangement enjoyed by exporters in Thailand and the Philippines.

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  • Competition squeezes out Ookbee Mall

    Competition squeezes out Ookbee Mall

    Ookbee Mall Thailand will close its eCommerce business Ookbeemall.com next month, citing heavy competition.

    Launched in November 2015 with an initial investment of 150 million baht (US$4.2 million), Ookbee Mall is a JV between Japanese eCommerce investor Transcosmos and Thai e-book store Ookbee.

    Founder Natavudh Pungcharoenpong says the mall was launched as an experiment to see if the low customer-acquisition cost of digital business could convert to physical business. “It turns out it cannot.”

    He says eCommerce needs to be on a large scale, and global players use subsidised promotion strategies to acquire customers, which Ookbee cannot afford to do. “Our capital can be better used in other areas, mostly digital products.”

    Pungcharoenpong says the closing of the eCommerce business will not hurt Ookbee’s digital business (e-book store). “Many people in Bangkok panicked and called us to cancel their digital subscription, as they confuse eCommerce with our core business. Our core business is e-books, and will remain intact.”

    Ookbee Mall was established as a one-stop portal for books and magazines, beauty and cosmetics, and products sourced directly from Japan. Last month, Ookbee partnered with Chinese internet giant Tencent to build a user-generated digital content company, Ookbee U.

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