Counter Service Co Ltd, a subsidiary of the Charoen Pokphand Group, plans to spend Bt100 million to expand from 4,500 branches to 5,000, in order to achieve income growth of 20 per cent this year, says the company's general manager of office marketing and business development.

Prasert Manuphibul said half the budget would go for equipment for the new branches and the other half for marketing.

The company will also increase its strategic partners, from 166 businesses that advise their customers to pay their bills via Counter Service branches to 266 this year.

To increase its partner numbers, the company yesterday signed an agreement with Hotel Hub Co Ltd, a tour agent with online services through www.surprisethailand.com. Customers who book package tours, golf clubs, spa services or rental cars via the website can also pay for them through Counter Service.

Hotel Hub managing director Theeranat Paoharahan says the company expects numbers to increase from an average of five to 10 customers a day to 50 a day after the company joins with Counter Service, which happens today. The company will also conduct an aggressive marketing campaign in which customers who pay through Counter Service in April and May will receive a Bt1,000 voucher for the Ripley's Museum in Pattaya.

The company is also negotiating with other companies, especially transport firms, to allow customers to pay for tickets at one of its branches.

Counter Service recorded 81 million bill payments last year for estimated income of Bt820 million, up 20 per cent from 1994. Each bill paid through Counter Service averaged Bt1,500 last year, up 25 per cent from the average of Bt1,200 per bill in 1994.

Somluck Srimalee

The Nation