• 
• 

Published on October 10, 2007

Vice president Peter Stockdale said the country's growth potential for cosmetics and skincare products would be stirred by the substantial decline in import duties arising from the Thailand-Australia free-trade agreement and by the growing number of

people concerned with environmental issues such as global warming.

Under the free-trade pact, import tariffs on Jerlique products will be eliminated next year. At present, they face an 8-per-cent duty.

The company expects to reduce the retail prices of Jerlique products in Thailand by at least 10 per cent, Stockdale said.

"We are changing our brand image to become more modern," he said. "About US$5 million [Bt171 million] will be invested to change our product logo as well as our packaging, so that about 80 per cent of it can be recycled."

As well, the company will introduce a new concept for its display fittings in stores. About half of the fitting materials, in-store furniture and decorative items, will be recyclable.

The Central Marketing Group, which is the authorised distributor of Jerlique products in Thailand, plans to renovate its Jerlique Signature Day Spas at its Chidlom, Lat Phrao and Bang Na branches to comply with the environmentally friendly concept next year.

After rebranding, Jerlique's new target customers will be "Earth child" people who feel a moral responsibility for taking care of the planet, as well as individual consumers who will use a selection of products to suit a modern and trendy lifestyle, Stockdale said.

As Asia is the focused market for Jerlique, the company has set up a sales and marketing headquarters in Hong Kong, to be closer to consumers in the region.

The Nation