Briefs

Ad spending drops slightly in January

Year of the Snake boosts motorcycle sales

The Thai motorcycle market welcomed the Chinese Year of the Snake last month with promising sales growth of 20 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Every market segment has been boosted by the nationwide increase in the minimum wage, said Suchart Arunsaengroj, director of AP Honda.

The motorcycle market took off vibrantly last month, when there were 180,253 new registrations with the Land Transport Department, 20 per cent more than in January last year.

Some 86,632, or 48 per cent, of the registrations were for family motorcycles, while automatic bikes achieved sales of 84,635 units, accounting for 47 per cent.

Honda posted the largest sales with 132,097 units in January, giving it a market share of 73 per cent.

Yamaha was second with sales of 34,857 units, for a 19-per-cent share, while Suzuki posted sales of 5,060 bikes (3 per cent), followed by 4,604 from Kawasaki and 3,635 and from other brands.

SCB Life expects premium to hit Bt50 bn

SCB Life Assurance targets total premium of Bt50 billion this year.

The company recorded revenue of Bt45.85 billion last year, which was 37 per cent higher than the 2011 level.

Managing director Vipon Vorasowharid said the company would focus on three strategies to boost its premium: developing new products; focusing on customer demand; and developing its operating system to support business growth.

Marketing lessons from Kotler next month

Krungthep Turakij TV will host a certified training session on "value-driven marketing" by Prof Philip Kotler on March 6.

This will be the first time that Kotler and Suthichai Yoon, chairman of Nation Multimedia Group, have shared their experiences in modern marketing techniques, such as "human spirit marketing" and "how to develop a superior company reputation through sustainability-driven thinking", at the same forum.

The event will be held at the Centara Grand at CentralPlaza Lat Phrao.

During the evening session, a "CEO exclusive dinner" will be held with Kotler talking on the topic "Increasing Shareholders' Value".

Ad spending drops slightly in January to Bt7.87 billion

Estimated advertising expenditure last month saw a 1.44-per-cent drop to Bt7.87 billion from Bt7.98 billion in January last year, according to media research by Nielsen.

Only advertising spending via television, transit and the Internet witnessed growth. TV commercials enjoyed a 4-per-cent surge to Bt5 billion from Bt4.8 billion; transit media posted an 18.32-per-cent increase to Bt239 million from Bt202 million; and Internet adverts saw a 92.11-per-cent surge to Bt73 million from Bt38 million.

Adverts via radio, newspapers, magazines, cinemas, and outdoor and in-store media faced a decline.

Midea appliances

The Chinese parent firm of Midea (Thailand) has put it fully in charge of the introduction of a full range of household appliances into the local market, beside air-conditioners, aiming at Bt100 million in total sales, representing a 20-per-cent share of the household appliances market in the first year.

The move is in preparation for the high competition that will come as the Asean Economic Community becomes effective in two years.

The complete line of electrical appliances to be imported for distribution under the Midea brand includes electric fans for tables, walls and ceilings, refrigerators, washing machines, hot/cold water dispensers, rice cookers, suki hot pots, electric stoves, stove hoods, and microwave ovens.

All of these products are being distributed through its dealers and in department stores and shopping malls nationwide.

Mobile shopping

Central Food Retail Company has teamed up with OfficeMate to offer "Scan & Shop with Tops", grocery shopping with mobile devices via QR (quick response) codes.

The new service features a nationwide delivery service for a minimum purchase of Bt499.

The Scan & Shop with Tops mobile application will be available for download free of charge for both Android and iOS systems.

Mall Group app campaign

The Mall Group is offering an application for iOS and Android mobile devices.

The "Load Free Ver Sale" campaign, running from tomorrow to March 3, offers customers many privileges once they download the app. The campaign is effective at The Mall, The Emporium, and Paragon department stores.

"Over the past few years, mobile technology has developed at a rapid pace," said Chamnarn Maytaprechakul, senior chief marketing officer for The Mall Group. "Smart phones and tablets are not for reading and sending e-mails any longer; applications have become essential marketing tools, making it more effective and convenient to reach customers through two-way communications and interactions."

The Mall Group has been using digital marketing for "The Mall Love Fashion", "Fashion Is You" and "Midnight Sale" campaigns at all three shopping complexes.

Recently, The Mall Group unveiled "The Mall Group" app for iPhones and Android devices, the most commonly used mobiles in Thailand. It provides information on promotions at all three complexes, and social-media platforms allow customers to share information with one other. The app is available at the App Store for iPhones and iPads and the Play Store for Android devices.

Insolvency procedure for Mfone starts

The insolvency process for Cambodia-based telecom operator Mfone is going forward under a court-appointed administrator after a Phnom Penh court last week accepted Mfone's application for insolvency proceedings, Thaicom says.

Mfone, a Shenington subsidiary, filed last month for insolvency. Thaicom owns 51 per cent of Singapore-based Shenington Investments.

Phuket firms probed

Authorities are closely examining the operations of 82 Phuket-based businesses suspected of breaching the Foreign Business Act, which prohibits foreigners from owning more than 49 per cent of Thai companies.

"We are determining whether they have proceeded in line with the law," Nimit Kangkajit said in his capacity as head of Phuket's business-development office. He said documents showed employees of these businesses held a high amount of shares.

"In-depth investigations, which will include the review of their financial statements, will take some more time," Nimit said. An informed source said a Russian was recently arrested in Phuket for operating a barbershop, a reserved occupation for Thais. Foreigners hold shares in about 3,000 companies in Phuket.

The Business Development Department this week dispatched a team to Phuket to examine businesses suspected of belonging to foreigners in contravention of the law.

Fewer funds

Thanachart Fund Management this year will launch 12 funds, much lower than the 60 issued last year because the high number of funds last year came from the merger with Siam City Bank, said managing director Boonchai Kiattanavith.

He said the company targeted the growth of assets under management this year at 15 per cent to Bt140 billion.

In the current quarter, it will launch T-APACx1, which will invest in Asia-Pacific stocks, targeting return at 10 per cent per annum. The Mixed Income Fund will focus on investing overseas, and return is projected at 5 per cent per annum.

Land deal

Ananda Development has signed a sale and purchase agreement for the acquisition of land for a new condominium project in Bangkok's Thon Buri district. The total acquisition price is Bt596 million, and will be funded by proceeds from Ananda's recent initial public offering, CEO Chanond Ruangkritya said.