The company, which sells many brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior, estimates full-year sales will enjoy low double-digit growth, compared to high double-digit growth last year.

Pasica said that more consumers were getting friends who travelled overseas to buy the products at duty-free stores here and abroad. They were also buying Dior products from street vendors and small shops, she said.

As a result the company had adjusted its marketing strategy to increase public relations activities, fine-tune customer relations and create a new-concept Dior store.

The company's new 80-square-metre outlet at Siam Paragon is the largest of its 32 stores around the world.

Dior architect Mohamed Boukherrouba said the concept was to create a bright look as well as a private atmosphere for customers to talk with beauty assistants.

The shop sells skincare and make-up products, as well as fragrances. It is divided into a backstage make-up zone, a treatment room, skincare and make-up bars, and a fragrance zone.

The company plans to apply the same concept to its existing branches, which will be renovated at a rate of about five per year.

Pasica said she was optimistic the economic situation would return to normal by the end of the year.

The company's goal is to overtake Clinique to become the world's No 4 cosmetics brand, Pasica said. The company has been trying to overtake Clinique for many years and the gap is closing, she said.

Dior has 30,000 customers in Thailand, with 10 per cent of those being foreign visitors.

It spends 25 to 30 per cent of its sales revenue on marketing.

Nitida Asawanipont, The Nation