Built on 10 rai of land, the mall will be open all days of the week, giving regular Chatuchak weekend shoppers – both Thais and tourists – a new shopping experience with 700 retail shops spread over 60,000 square metres, its developer Siam Piriya Development Co Ltd said.

Mixt Chatuchak is designed to serve customer demand by maintaining the unique style of the famous Chatuchak market with enhanced facilities under one roof, Siam Piriya said. The mall will provide parking space for 700 cars.

The opening of the mall next year is expected to strengthen SME operators in line with government policy. Interested business operators and retailers can book space in the project. The outlook for the retail industry is very positive, with 97 per cent of customers still shopping in offline stores and shopping malls. In addition, Omni-Channel strategies, providing a unique experience and personalisation also offer good opportunities for the retail industry, the company said.

Miporn Chaiyupatumpa, executive director of Siam Piriya Development Co Ltd, said the company is developing Mixt Chatuchak as the only mall in the heart of Chatuchak Weekend Market. TripAdvisor has named the market as the top shopping spot in Bangkok and it also holds the record as the world’s biggest weekend market.

“We believe the opening of “Mixt Chatuchak” will be well received, as it will complement and strengthen the position of Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is already a globally popular shopping spot. Although consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping, which has seen 8.5 per cent growth in 2018, according to ETDA, the information on consumer spending from Statista and PwC indicate that the majority of shoppers still prefer offline stores – 97 per cent in Thailand, 91 per cent in the United States and 83 per cent in China.

We also see new opportunities for retail business in the digital era that are Omni-Channel, blending shopping in a physical store with the online world, providing a unique experience, and personalisation that meets customers’ demands. We will have SME shops from Chatuchak market in our mall and they’ll be offering a wide range of unique products, which will be accessible everyday, as our shopping mall will be open seven days a week,” said Miporn. Miporn added that Mixt Chatuchak also plans to join hands with startups in the retail industry to offer an Omni-channel experience to keep up with technology in the future.

Sirichai Praphanturakij, executive adviser to the management of Mixt Chatuchak of Siam Piriya Development Co Ltd, said that Mixt Chatuchak would be a five-storey building on 10 rai, with total space of 60,000 square metres. The mall will also have space for holding major events, an area for 300 temporary sales stalls and a food court.

“Chatuchak is very accessible as it can be reached by bus, car and train – both from BTS [Mo Chit station] and MRT [Chatuchak station]. The area has high potential, as Bang Sue is being developed as a railway hub. Bang Sue Grand Station will draw a number of people in the area.

The mall aims to attract customers with a strong mix of retail products divided into 12 different zones comprising women’s shopping, young mothers, kids’ fashion, vintage, accessories, arts, home decor, souvenir and crafts, soaps and spa, leather goods, food & cafe and a marketing events zone with 300 temporary shops,” said Sirichai. Construction is now 80 per cent complete and open for bookings.

The upcoming election will help boost the local economy well into 2019 and RS is not affected by the slowdown in China’s economy. Channel 8’s rating is among the highest in Thailand and an attraction to advertising agencies, the company said. RS CEO Surachai Chetchotisak said the company posted revenue of Bt2.76 billion for the first nine months of the year, which yielded a net profit of Bt381 million.

For the current quarter, the company is confident in the potential of the MPC business, thanks to it being the high season of the year as well as the impending election spending.

Meanwhile, the company is not negatively affected by external factors such as China’s economy and international trade, as the company’s main target is the domestic market.

Telesales

Its call centre 1781 has a strong team of telesales who can close deals quickly and effectively, while Channel 8 enjoys top rating among Thailand’s TV channels. advertising agencies, RS claimed.

RS said t uses four strategies to promote its MPC business: 1) Improve efficiency in the management of its customer database, which has more than a million users and is expected to increase to 1.5 million by the end of this year;

2) Developing new SKUs in skincare category under the Magique brand, haircare category under the Revive brand, and food supplement category under the SOM brand. This December, two new products will be launched, targeting 30-plus customers, namely Magique Herblisse The Radiance Cream and Magique Herblisse The Renewal Serum;

3) New business partners will help introduce new products in the lifestyle category such as home appliances, household utensils, clothes and accessories to add diversity and increase business opportunities. Around the end of this year, a womens wear brand from Japan, HANA, will be imported to Thailand and is expected to be well-received by female customers;

4) Developing new advantageous channels to increase customer base using the 1781 call centre to offer instant shopping, free delivery and cash-on-delivery option, as well as advertising through RS’s own channels such as Channel 8, satellite TV channels and COOL radio station which are superior to competitors and enjoy direct engagement with 15 million customers a day.

The company believes that next year is going to be great for business and is also ready to push Thai movies to the international stage. The company plans to open at least 74 more cineplexes locally as well as in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Vicha Poolvaraluk, chairman of Major Cineplex Group Plc, said Major has opened 94 cineplexes in Thailand and 2 cineplexes internationally – in Aeon Mall 2, Cambodia and another at ITEC Mall, Laos.

Currently, Major Cineplex has 160 branches, 771 halls with 176,435 seats in total, of which 43 branches with 349 halls, and 79,003 seats are in Bangkok and the outer areas; 110 branches with 385 halls and 89,402 seats are upcountry; and seven branches with 37 halls and 8,030 seats are in overseas markets.

In 2018, Major Cineplex screened 313 films: 270 international films and 43 Thai films. In the last quarter of 2018, Major expects revenue boost from many international blockbusters such as “Venom”, “Fantastic Beast 2”, “Wreck-it Ralph 2”, “Aquaman”, and “Bumblebee” Also, Thai films have made a huge contribution this year – “Nakee 2”, for instance, earned Bt450 million while other Thai films like “Homestay” and “Gravity of Love” also were high grossers.

“Although many people see the cinema business as one that will be disrupted by the digital march, the numbers in large markets like the US and Canada show that their business saw more than 10 per cent growth year on year, and the industry surpassed US$11 billion revenue,” Vicha said.

The business is booming even from the low-season of the movie, when there are many top grossing this year are not debut in the summer for example, Black Panther, Venom, A Star is Born. As a result, movie business this year is on the path the hit US$12 billion domestically and should be more than US$41 billion globally,” he said.

Vicha said that Major does not think the digital disruption will impact the business in terms of losing revenue. He said the company has always integrated new technology into its businesses such as 3D, 4DX, Screen X, IMAX VR, and the latest – the first eSports cineplex worldwide.

The digital disruption can help the business boost up their potential and make their company to be closer to consumer than ever, just like the new service Movie on Demand which allow consumers to pick and choose the movie they would like to watch and change from ‘Showtime’ to be ‘Your time’.

Recently Major Cineplex Group was awarded the “Cineconic Technology and Innovator of The Year”, which will be handed over at the CineAsia event in Hong Kong from December 10-13.

Vicha said the company plans to open more cineplexes both locally and internationally in 2019. The company also plans to take more Thai films to the international market.

Considering the Thai population, the number of cineplexes are a mismatch compared to other countries like China, which has 51,000 halls, India has 11,000 halls, Japan has 3,000 and South Korea 2,000 halls.

In 2019, Major plans to open 74 more cineplexes and is targeting a total of 1,000 halls in 2020. The company will screen around 320 films: 270 international films such as “Avenger 4”, “Captain Marvel”, “Spiderman: Far From Home”; and 50 Thai films – 23 of them made by M Pictures, the company under Major Cineplex Group.

Daniel Teh, founder and executive director of Pope Jai Pte Ltd, told a group of Asean journalists who joined the Singapore International Foundation’s multilateral journalist programme last week, that he would like to prove that disabled people are capable of doing great work, if properly trained.

“There is so much discrimination in society, whether it is in a corporate or a smaller company. They [the disabled] usually face discrimination almost everywhere. I do not want them to get depressed,” he said.

In this respect, Teh has been hiring people with disabilities since he first entered the food industry by opening a small coffee shop in Chinatown seven years ago. The business gradually grew enough to become a good dining restaurant. He had to shift to Serangoon, as the building had to tear down. There, he facedhigh rental fees, which led to the relocation of his restaurant to the current venue on Orchard Road.

“I started with only $3,000 Singapore dollars (Bt71,964) in 2011. We have enjoyed a gradual growth over the past seven years, employing more people every year,” he said.

Teh said the enterprise has practised the “Never stop hiring” policy since the very first day of commercial operations.

“I do not want to turn away anyone as long as they are ready to help us. I will offer them (the disabled) a job. No interview is required. As they have different conditions that I might not be aware of, the best way is to give them a try here,” he said.

“By doing so, I can see their strengths and weaknesses as well as attitudes and behaviour. It tells you everything. A resume cannot tell you everything because it can be well-planned.” According to Teh, proper training is usually provided with a major focus on the strengths of an individual. Teh capitalises on what the disabled can do, and trains them to better serve the consumers.

“We train them to be independent. There are three things we are very much focused on – accountability, ownership and bonding. We have to be sincere with them so they are able to sense your sincerity, and understand how things are being run,” he said.

Drastic change

Teh confessed that he was once a troubled youngster but had turned his life around.

“Many years ago, I myself created a lot of issues in the community. Later, it came to a point where I could do something meaningful with my life. My aim here is to solve the ecosystem that could create jobs for disabled people to be a part of your workforce  because I employ them and now my business is valued at $400,000 (Bt9.57million),” he said.”

“It is a business. So, we cannot afford to be a sheltered workshop. What we want is to fill the gap and to allow them to be independent so they are able to take care of themselves.”

Currently, the enterprise employs around 30 people with disabilities, and plans to hire more in the months to come. Teh takes pride in the gradual growth of his restaurant – the first of its kind in Singapore that allows disabled people to serve the clients.

“I did not know what a social enterprise was until four years ago. When it comes to business, the very first thing that comes to my mind is that I need to earn money. If I do not have money, I cannot help them. All the income comes from my consumers. They are the ones who help us to do it,” he said. “A lot of people think social causes means doing charity. But that is not the case. You can employ them and they will be part of your team.”

“Beautiful Bangkok 2019: The Symphony of Happiness” will combine creativity with technology to project colourful, vibrant and imaginative works by seven leading Thai artists on Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard, to amaze and delight Thais and tourists during Christmas and New Year, with performances from December 18 to 31, MQDC chief executive officer Visit Malaisirirat said on Monday.

The show’s audience is expected to surge by 50 per cent, climbing from 600,000 people daily last year to 900,000 this year, he added.

 The company has responded by releasing its new premium Korean seafood brand, K•Fish, as well as the expansion of its online distribution channel, with the goal of generating Thai sales of Bt272 million per annum within the next five years.

According to chief executive officer Junho Lim, Jidubang’s business strategy is now to increase the growth of its seafood product line under the K•Fish brand.

After being marketed in Thailand for three years, it has generated sales of more than Bt40 million so far this year, a figure that is expected to rise to Bt70 million in 2019 as the result of the expansion of its distribution channels and the changing Thai consumer-behaviour trend.

Thais have been increasingly interested in eating at Korean restaurants for the past five years, with 70 per cent of restaurant sales now coming from Thai diners, as against 80 per cent being accounted for by Koreans five years ago, the CEO said.

Today, the Thai market is very important to Korean restaurant entrepreneurs and it is believed that Korean food fever in the Kingdom will go on and on, he added.

Given these factors, the company wants to release more seafood products to the market under the K•Fish brand.

The launch of Jidubang’s Korean seafood product line enables the company to enter the premium seafood product market and effectively reach Thai consumers, Lim said.

The K•Fish brand is the first South Korean government-certified fishery export under a promotional drive created by the country’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

“K•Fish products include 11 seafood products ready for export, which are Gim, Flatfish, Abalone, Miyok, Conger, Seasoned Squid, Oyster, Red Snow Crab, Fish Cake, and Tuna (canned and retort). We can guarantee the quality of Korean seafood thanks to our specific weather and geography,” Lim explained.

Jidubang currently sells the products at its own shops as one of its Thai distribution channels, including K Market and Jibubang Market.

All K Market branches will be transformed to Jidubang Market, in addition to its only stand-alone shop in Ratchada, in parallel with ongoing online-platform development through the firm’s website and application.

The new e-commerce platform is expected to be completed around March 2019.

Some 20 per cent of next year’s Thai sales will come from online channels, with a sales-growth goal of 60-70 per cent over the next five years, the chief executive said.

Overall Thai sales are targeted to double to Bt272 million in five years, from Bt136 million in 2018.

Although some passengers were reported saying “Raberd or Bomb” while checking in or on board aircraft, causing several unnecessary delays frequently, some of them still uttered the word “Explosive” on board consecutively. Such offense is relating to the Act on Certain Offenses against Air transport.

Charita Leelayuth, acting chief executive officer of THAI Smile Airways, revealed that in the past, the airline also found that many passengers who did not know that saying “Bomb” on the aircraft carrier was found guilty under the Act on Certain Offenses against Air Transport.

Penalties have been clearly prescribed in the Article 22 stating that any person who discloses a message or sends a message known to be false and that is, or is likely to cause others in the airport or those on board the aircraft during a flight to panic.

The offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine not exceeding Bt200,000, or both imprisonment and fine. If the act causes a danger to the safety of the aircraft during flight, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 5-15 years or a fine of between Bt200,000 and Bt600,000 or both.

In cases where passengers say “Bomb” outside of the aircraft, whether speaking at the check-in counter or while boarding, they may be prosecuted and subject to the fine for causing troubles to others.

“Not only the talk with impetuousness of explosives, but the joking words should not be spoken, including air hijack and terrorism since the airport is a place where security is critical.

If an officer of the airline sees or hears a message that may have such a security effect, he/she must notify the relevant authorities without exception. The airport security officers are obliged to comply with the rules of safety and related Acts in accordance with the procedures set forth. The passenger who articulates “Explosive” must be sent to the police station for further inquiry.

And if the baggage has been loaded, then it must be taken out for due check again. It is a waste of time and a real impact on other passengers, particularly flight delay which will have a significant effect.”

In addition, items to be careful include valuables such as cash, iPad, camera, notebook and jewelries. They should be put in a bag and carry with you to the aircraft. They are not allowed to be loaded under the cargo, as well as all types of power banks are not granted to load under the cargo as well, but allowed to carry on the plane.

There must be a power bank with capacity less than 20,000 mAh and/ or backup battery with capacity between 20,000 – 32,000 mAh (up to 2 pcs) while power banks with capacity over 32,000 mAh are prohibited. So, be cautious for these sensitive items so that your special trip can arrive at the destination save and sound,” Charita concluded.

The payment was for Bt6.693 billion, half the total licence fee of Bt12.511 billion.

With a complete spectrum portfolio including both low-band and high-band licences, its parent DTAC is now confident that it will deliver a strong network experience to customers across the country, said Alexandra Reich, chief executive officer of Total Access Communication (DTAC).

“We will use the 1800MHz spectrum acquired through the auction to support our large remaining 2G subscriber base and to enhance our 4G network efficiency. The extra capacity allows us to keep up with the rapid growth of mobile Internet demand and perfectly complements our portfolio.

“DTAC now provides mobile services across 110MHz of spectrum bandwidth in all frequency bands, including 10MHz on 900 MHz, 10MHz on 1800MHz, 30MHz on 2100MHz, and 60MHz on 2300MHz through a partnership with TOT,” she said.

The 1800MHz spectrum licence that dtac TriNet acquired at auction includes two times 5MHz in the range of 1745-1750 MHz, paired with 1840-845MHz.

DTAC will pay for the 15-year licence, valid until 2033, in three instalments.

The second payment is for 25 per cent, due next year, with the final payment due in 2020.

“DTAC has already paid the full Bt13.5 billion for the 2100MHz spectrum licence acquired in 2012. In addition to the first installment of the 1800MHz licence fee, DTAC is also preparing to make the first payment of Bt4.02 billion – out of a total amount of Bt38.064 billion – for the 900MHz licence fee, in compliance with the auction requirements,” the CEO added.