Malls ready to cash in on tax initiative

Effective since Friday, taxpayers can get a tax rebate on purchases worth up to Bt15,000. 

Siam Piwat backed the government policy by unveiling an attractive year-end campaign “The Season of Siam Celebration” to woo shoppers until December 31. The campaign allows shoppers to select the right gifts for their loved ones and to have a chance to win a number of world-class prizes.

Chanisa Kaewruen, the executive vice president of marketing and business relations at Siam Piwat, said that each year marketing promotion campaigns for year-end and the upcoming year were one of the biggest promotional activities. Every shopping centre would launch its own smart strategies to attract local and international shoppers to spend during the high season. 

This year, Siam Paragon and Siam Center are launching “The Season of Siam Celebration” campaign, offering year-end promotions. The highlight of this is a range of world-class prizes, which will be given away to customers. Shoppers spending Bt2,000 and more will have a chance to win a grand prize – a luxurious BMW 320i M Sport and many other prizes such as Siam Gift Card and Club 21 gift card. Members of Platinum M Card, Viz Card, Aeon credit card, True, and Muang Thai Smile Club will be granted a double coupon.

To support the government’s special tax deduction, Siam Paragon and Siam Center are preparing a series of prizes to be given away as part of a sales boost. Shoppers spending Bt30,000 and more will instantly get an exclusive gift from renowned brands at Siam Paragon and Siam Center. They will have a chance to win a one-of-a-kind prize, the first-ever made in Thailand – a limited-edition Snow Globe. 

Those who spend Bt50,000 or more at Siam Paragon will instantly get a limited-edition Siam Paragon-Patterned Snow Globe. Those who spend Bt30,000 or more at Siam Center will also get a limited-edition Siam Center-Patterned Snow Globe. These are limited in number and will attract a lot of interest from local and international shoppers. 

Siam Paragon and Siam Center are giving importance to customers who join their membership. The first 15 members of Platinum M Card with top spending will be granted an exclusive trip to Japan with luxury accommodation and a Michelin-star dining experience. The first six members of VIZ Card with top spending will win an iPhone 6s as well. 

“We are confident that shoppers will enjoy ‘The Season of Siam Celebration’ campaign, which encourages them to spend during the year-end festival. Moreover, the government’s policy will enliven the shopping atmosphere ahead of the New Year celebration. Shops in the two shopping centres will get agreeable sales,” Chanisa said.

Meanwhile, Big C Supercenter has responded to the latest tax deduction measure by launching a marketing promotion “Shop Puer Chat” (Shop for the Nation) to stimulate spending until year-end. Special discounts will be offered on electric appliances, smartphones, gadgets and more. The measure, effective since Friday, allows shoppers with receipts of goods and services spent from December 25 to 31 a tax deduction on spending up to Bt15,000. 

Warunee Kitjaroenpoonsin, director of corporate affairs, said Big C welcomed this initiative by introducing a marketing promotion “Shop Puer Chat” (Shop for the Nation) to create an even more pleasant shopping environment. Discounts will be offered on applied to different highlight products such as LED TVs, smart phones, gadgets and electric appliances, making a total number of over 15,000 sale items altogether. 

“To cope with the increase in the number of customers, we have more printers ready for receipt requests and more staff stationed at the customer service counter of each store. However, customers need to be aware that the tax deduction measure does not cover purchase of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, fuel and gas for all types of vehicles. In addition, customers are advised to get the full receipt at the same store where they purchase the goods, on the day of purchase. With the implementation of this measure, we estimate sales will increase by around 10-20 per cent,” she said.

Anawat Sangkhasap, head of marketing line at Robinson Department Store, said the company was glad to provide support for the government’s tax incentive, to help boost spending at the year-end. This measure will contribute good results by stimulating consumer spending, which will benefit the overall economy, as well as provide a positive psychological effect to consumers who spend their money. Anawat suggested that the government extend the measure to give individual shoppers more time to participate.

“At Robinson, we have allocated more than Bt80 million budget for the big campaign at the year-end, which is the peak shopping season. They include “All About Gifts 2016” to be held from December 8, 2015 to January 3 next year at all Robinson stores throughout the Kingdom. The campaign will allow The One Card members to collect points and redeem for discount coupons of up to 50 per cent. They will get a chance to win big prizes, worth up to more than Bt2.6 million altogether,” Anawat said.

He said Robinson had also launched a campaign to respond to the government’s tax deduction move by giving The One Card members with accumulated purchases of up to Bt15,000 on one day a Robinson Gift Card worth Bt300 free of charge. The campaign will run until December 31.

“Robinson, which operates 42 department stores throughout the Kingdom, expects Bt3.05 billion in sales in December this year. However, in the last seven days of this year, the company believes the number of shoppers will increase by not less than 20 per cent and the sales this month will increase by approximately Bt600 million from the previous target,” Anawat said.