Avon’s country manager for Thailand, Kelly M Harte, and Thailand Post’s vice president for business development and marketing, Anussara Jitmittrapap, who have signed a deal under which Avon products will be delivered by Thailand Post’s express service.

She said the postal service would enhance Avon's ability to distribute products to its 39 Avon Beauty Boutiques, independent sale representatives and members in 30 provinces.

Although Avon has an internal distribution department, Harte said some routes needed specialists to ensure the products are delivered on time. The company's distribution department still operates, but now depends on Thailand Post for more difficult deliveries.

Avon has had Thailand Post's service on trial for nearly two years and, in that time, has sent 500,000 items by post. Every order worth more than Bt500 is delivered free, but those worth less than Bt500 cost Bt50 per delivery.

The two partners are also staging a beauty road show at 31 post offices throughout the country this month. The road show lasts for two days at each post office.

Thailand Post vice president for business development and marketing Anussara Jitmittrapap said the Avon contract was part of a recent move by Thailand Post into product deliveries for corporate customers. It gains Bt600,000 in revenue from Avon per month. Other customers include Mistine and U Star.

She said the corporate delivery business would grow well because many direct-sales operators, such as those that sell cosmetics and companies that sell products via TV Direct, are interested in using Thailand Post because it saves them money.

Thailand Post has 11 depots and 1,178 post offices around the country.

As part of its plan to make profits from current assets, Thailand Post will soon launch "mail room" - a delivery service for individual companies. It is setting up the systems needed for the service, as well as small centres in its post offices, and will soon launch pilot centres, Anussara said.

Nitida Asawanipont, The Nation