BizBuzz

Despite the economic slowdown, some merchants are doing well because people feel the need to shop to make a sacrifice to Chinese gods for good luck and fortune.
Warunee Kitjaroenpoonsin, director of corporate affairs at Big C Supercenter, said last week that since consumers, not only Chinese-Thais but also Thais, believe in Chinese deities, they are willing to spend more money shopping for food and oblations to pay respects to the gods during Chinese New Year or other Chinese celebrations.
“Sales have been up strongly since people expect that they will get good luck after paying respect to the deities. Many television programmes that depict fortune-tellers advising people to pay respect to the gods have also helped stimulate sales of supermarkets,” she said.
Big C provides many kinds of food and offerings that will serve the demand of people during Chinese New Year and other events.
“Beliefs” or “faith” also help to get the cash registers ringing at bazaars following rising awareness of stone charms.
The prices of bracelets and other ornaments made from stone of many colours have doubled or tripled after many stars said that wearing such ornaments in various colours will bring love and wealth.

SCG CHIEF GETS VOCAL |IN NORWAY

After clinching a deal to take over Nornor Group, a Norway-based company offering research services for the plastics and materials industries, Cholanat Yanaranop, president of SCG Chemicals, recently flew to Stathelle where he held four meetings on the same day: the first with management; the second with all the staff in a “town hall meeting”; the third with Nornor’s three employee unions; and last with executives to discuss science and technology.
Even though Nornor has only 50 employees, it has three unions. Cholanat was relieved after learning that the union system there looked quite reasonable.
He then proposed to Nornor management a staff party that evening, where he was prepared to sing a song. Nornor executives were somewhat hesitant at first since it was not their custom to do such a thing.
Thankfully, it turned out that the Thai boss’ karaoke skills were not too bad, as his rendition of “Imagine” coaxed some tears out of some Norwegian staff who joined the party till late.

THAWATCHAI LEADERSHIP LAUDED

Recently, Thawatchai Arunyik, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, was recognised as one of Asia’s Top 100 influential people in the travel business by the publishers of NOW Travel Asia magazine.
He was recognised for his leadership of the agency and its vigorous marketing efforts to maintain the flow of visitors in what had been one of the most challenging years in Thai tourism history.

Contributed by Petchanet Pratruangkrai, Suchat Sritama and Pichaya Changsorn.