V-Gulliver recruits two more franchisees

The company has three branches on Sri Nakarin Road, on Nawamin Road and in Nakhon Sawan, and is in the process of opening five more in Samut Prakan, Chiang Mai, Suphan Buri, Khon Kaen and Bangkok.
The branches in Khon Kaen and Suphan Buri are the latest franchises and are expected to go into operation this quarter. The franchise contracts were recently signed between V-Gulliver and Shuishi Sugi, who has run a flower-export business in Khon Kaen for more than two decades, and Suphan Used Car Co.
Sugi said he had been in Thailand for more than 20 years and his core business was export of flowers. However, he had decided to enter the used-car business in Khon Kaen because he had a personal interest in automobiles.
“When I learned about the establishment of Gulliver in Thailand, I was interested in joining with it here because I have had a lot of confidence in the Gulliver brand in Japan, and I also believe it will succeed in Thailand,” he said.
Gulliver has been operating in Japan for more than two decades.
Sugi said Thais, especially those who live in suburbs, considered a car a necessity. “So I think the used-car business will never die, because every new car sold will create another used car, which will be bought by someone who may not be able to afford a new car for himself.”
Dusit Laisuwannachat, owner of Suphan Used Car Co, said he had been in the used-car business for more than 15 years, and joining with Gulliver as a franchisee would benefit his business directly because Gulliver had the know-how and technology for the sale and purchase of second-hand vehicles.
“Gulliver is my answer to be a success in the used-car business, and I want to say to someone who has not decided to join Gulliver that you may miss this train,” he said.
Nomura said the two new franchises were local partners of V-Gulliver and would strengthen Gulliver’s nationwide network.
He added that despite the fact that the used-car market in Thailand was not very good last year, the company had still gone ahead with its effort to recruit more franchisees to complete the firm’s business plan.
“We are also approached by many potential [franchisees] exploring the opportunity [to join] with Gulliver, and I am confident that we will be able to hit our target to open 10 branches soon.
“This year will be a challenging year for us, so we will have to speed up [negotiations] with many candidates who are now in line … and we hope to conclude this soon,” Nomura said.