RETAILING / MEGA-STORES

Siam Makro launches centre to assist traditional retailers

PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP

Siam Makro Plc, the cash-and-carry wholesale chain, has launched a new ''Retailer Centre'' initiative to help its 350,000 traditional grocery store members to strengthen their competitiveness and reduce costs.

President Suchada Ithijarukul said the company has formed a working group to open the first Retailer Centre at its Lat Phrao Road store in the second quarter.

The centre is part of the company's campaign, ''Makro: Your Business Partner'', which is set to strengthen business relationships with small shop owners.

The company will help them improve their stores and increase competitiveness in a market where foreign retailers have been expanding in various formats from large-scale hypermarkets top convenience stores. It would also advise on sourcing funds for investment capital.

She said that the company would join with the Commerce Ministry's Business Development Department, which would transfer modern retail knowledge and expertise to individual traditional retailers through the centre.

Ekapong Tritrong, a lecturer at Silpakorn University's faculty of decorative arts, will also create various modern retail design models, including kiosks and conventional shops, at the Retailer Centre so that individual retailers could apply them at appropriate prices.

Apart from the first Retailer Centre at Makro Lat Phrao, the company plans more centres at new Makro stores nationwide.

''We have done business with our traditional retail customers for almost 17 years. Will we let them die in front of us?'' Mrs Suchada said.

Sales of Siam Makro in 2006 were estimated at 54 billion baht and are expected to increase by 5% this year. Official results will be reported next month.

The company yesterday officially opened its 30th store in Sa Kaeo province. The 240-million-baht branch has total retail space of 6,900 square metres, serving customers in a 100-kilometre radius, including Sa Kaeo, Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, and parts of Buri Ram province.

Mrs Suchada said the company saw huge potential for Sa Kaeo, which has a population of more than 500,000 and an average monthly household income of 30,000 baht.

As well, Sa Kaeo is a gateway for shipping goods and services from Thailand to Cambodia via Poi Pet.

The company will open its 31st store with retail space of 5,000 square metres on Koh Samui in April. Makro shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 80.50 baht, up 50 satang, in trade worth 7.03 million baht.

General News
Bangkok Post
Thursday January 25, 2007