BBA will open five or six branches this year

BBA International, importer and distributor of Bonia and Carlo Rino brand handbags, plans to expand aggressively despite the current eco¬nomic slowdown.

Patcharawan Boonnamsup, BBA's executive director, said it would be opening five or six branches this year, each with an estimated budget of Bt2 million, so that it can cover a nationwide customer base.

"Our sales revenue should grow 510 per cent this year, up from Bt40 million last year. We are not too worried about the market, because most of our customers are tourists, who still have high purchasing power," she said.

The company is developing proactive mar¬keting strategies with department stores like Siam Paragon as well as offering promotions to reassure regular customers and attract new ones in big cities like Chiang Mai.

The firm's managing director, Napa Chinissarayos, said it had put the brands on the catwalk for the first time in Thailand not only to attract interest but also to show that its prod¬ucts were of top quality. It hopes to add Bonia and Carlo Rino to the top 10 brands in Thailand's leatherwear market.

BBA International was created in 2003 as a joint venture between Cassardi International and Bonia Group of Malaysia.

Bonia Corporation was established in 1974 by SS Chiang in Singapore and was considered a leading fashion retailer with more than 600 outlets and 70 boutiques in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Canada, Austria and elsewhere even before it extended into Malaysia under professional management.

In 2005, BBA further expanded the market for Carlo Rino by introducing unique fashion designs. Carlo Rino has sales outlets in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Brunei and Indonesia and plans to tap into markets in Australia, South Africa, India and Fiji.

In Thailand, Bonia will target the middle to highend market of professional women, who have a preference for stylish products, while Carlo Rino will target teenagers and young pro¬fessionals.