Central calls for major govt events 'Right time for postflood marketing'
With the aim of minimising losses expected in the first quarter of next year due to the impact from the recent floods, Central Retail Corporation (CRC) is urging the government to support business operators by organising big events that would stimulate lo
“During the flood crisis in October and November, the company suffered a 25-per-cent drop in overall sales,” Busaba Chirathivat, CRC senior vice president for corporate communications, said yesterday.
CRC currently operates an array of leading retail businesses such as Central Department Stores, Robinson Department Stores, Tops, Power Buy, Supersports, B2S, HomeWorks, Thai Watsadu and Office Depot.
The company has lowered its revenue-growth target from 8 per cent to 5-6 per cent. However, Busaba said business would recover early in the new year because people affected by the floods would have to spend money on repairing and replacing their damaged properties.
She added that organising the right marketing events at this time, until the end of March, would encourage people to spend and also create a good image of the country, which would bring back foreigners after many governments issued travel advisories against visiting Thailand during the crisis.
“As a retail business operator, we would like the government and related sectors to focus on putting up a series of events and shows until the end of this current peak season to support local business and tourism,” she said.
For example, yesterday CRC joined forces with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to organise street fairs and sidewalk sales called “Ploenchit Happiness’ on Bangkok’s Ploenchit Road on December 18. The event will have 120 booths with a number of companies and individual operators selling merchandises from 4pm to 10pm.
Corporates are to pay Bt20,000 for a booth, while individual operators will pay about Bt5,000-Bt8,000 per booth. There will be entertainment programmes with performances by famous artists during the event.
“Revenue from booth rental and sales during the event will be donated to the Thai Red Cross Society to aid flood victims,” Busaba said.
Additionally, Vilaiwan Twichasri, TAT deputy governor for tourism products and business, said the fair would be another event that could help rebuild the confidence of both foreign and local tourists.
