Central CEO sees good year for retail trade
Central Pattana has identified good business potential in areas surrounding Suvarnabhumi Airport due to high traffic within the airport, said president and CEO Kobchai Chiratiwat.
He did not mention whether it had targeted any particular location but said it would need 30-40 rai of land and investment of Bt3 billion to Bt4 billion.Next year the retail developer will construct one department store in Bangkok, another in Khon Kaen and two in Chonburi. Kobchai foresees that the retail business next year will have a better outlook than this year because politics is back on track, oil prices are turning stable, the fiscal budget has already been approved and the baht seems to be solid. Hence, consumption will back on track, for sure. Next year, Central will continue to arrange many marketing activities and promotions just like this year, but the activities will be more fascinating. The marketing budget next year will be similar to this year's figure of Bt400-500 million. Executive vice president for marketing Nattakit Tangpoonsithana said it was easy to boost the shopping mood of consumers because Thai people love shopping very much. He said Central usually saw a 5-per-cent increase in traffic in its shopping malls. Spending per customer this year is Bt500 to Bt1,000 for Central Plaza types and Bt1,500 in CentralWorld. Meanwhile, CentralWorld, in cooperation with nine public and private agencies including RS and Total Access Communication, will invest Bt50 million to arrange the Bangkok Countdown 2007 in front of CentralWorld on New Year's Eve. Nitida Asawanipont, The Nation
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