Carabao strikes note of confidence

"We expect to share about 10 to 15 per cent of the domestic musical instruments market next year, up from 5 per cent currently," said direc¬tor Tassapol Bijleveld.

Established in late 2004, Carabao now provides the full range of musi¬cal instruments, including amplifiers and drumhead packs.

Tassapol, who is also CEO of the nofrills carrier Thai AirAsia, holds 20 per cent of Carabao's paidup cap¬ital of Bt1 million. Other sharehold¬ers and directors include wellknown singers and musicians Preecha Chanapai and Terry Mekwattana.

He said initially the company had focused on customers who were clas¬sified as firstguitar owners, with products limited to only acoustic gui¬tars.

"Our guitars are for anyone who wants to own a goodquality first gui¬tar at an affordable price," said Tassapol, adding that once the com¬pany is ready for production, it can serve more product lines to cus¬tomers.

Over the past three years, there has been a good response from customers. Carabao guitar prices range from Bt2,000 up to Bt10,000.

The company has entered into a deal with a manufacturer in China for supplying customised instruments according to its designs. The compa¬ny can now provide more products such as electric guitars for profes¬sionals.

"We don't think of sales volume much," said Tassapol. He added that the company primarily needed to gain more market share in the instruments market.

Carabao yesterday also announced Landco Sport and Musical as a dis¬tributor for its products.

A marketing salesperson at Landco Sport and Musical said he was confident of distributing Carabao instruments as the company has proved for three years that its prod¬ucts have concert quality like other wellknown brands.

He said the company would dis¬tribute Carabao instruments through its network of more than 100 music shops nationwide.

"Now we're in talks with schools and governmental agencies to sell them Carabao instruments," he said. "The Carabao band, which has used Carabao brand instruments in its concerts for years, should be a strong selling point."