COUP FALLOUT
Shoppers stay away from downtown as stores shutter
Commercial areas in Bangkok were sluggish yesterday after many companies and middle-to high-end shops closed after the Administrative Reform Council took power on Tuesday night.
There were fewer shoppers about and the Siam Paragon shopping complex, the Emporium shopping complex, Central Department store, and retailers on Silom Road along Bangkok's Skytrain line became quiet. At the Emporium a few shops, mostly fashion brand outlets, were closed. Meanwhile, many shops in Siam Paragon - particularly high-end watch and jewellery stores as well as high-end fashion brands - locked their doors. Most were international brands like Hermes, Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Cartier, Channel, Rado, Tag Heuer, Mauboussin and Bulgari, while the few that remained open were local operators. Silom Road and the Emporium Tower also had some shops and company offices, including Proctor & Gamble, closed. With few shoppers, some small stores on Silom Road closed early. A 41-year-old shop owner said she usually stayed open from 11am to 11pm but that she might close shortly after 3pm. She is usually able to log sales of Bt5,000 to Bt6,000 before 3pm, but yesterday she made only Bt3,000, and most customers were regulars. She predicted that the current political turmoil would end soon, restoring confidence among tourists, who are the main customer group on Silom Road. Dr Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, executive vice president for marketing at Central Pattana Plc, said Central saw fewer shoppers but was unable to give more details. Despite military personnel and tanks on standby at many places around Bangkok and its outskirts, merchandisers on Silom Road, Central, were undaunted. Many people on the street said that this was the first time a military coup was in line with what a large section of society wanted. Silom merchandisers, CPN's Dr Nattakit, and people in the street, predicted that the current situation would end soon and no serious confrontations would arise. However, for safety reasons, both Central and Siam Paragon yesterday announced they would close at 8pm, rather than 10pm as usual. They will have to monitor the situation on a daily basis to set closing times. Both Central and Siam Paragon as well as Robinson will postpone special activities that were scheduled for the next few days. In the long term they will continue promotional and marketing activities that have been planned for the rest of this year in order to keep business flowing.
Nitida Asawanipont The Nation
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