The Mall Group will celebrate Chinese New Year with a variety of activities and promotions to boost customer spending. The company projects the campaign to generate Bt2.5 billion in sales.
Chamnarn Maytaprechakul, executive vice president of The Mall Group, said that towards the end of 2015, customer spending improved. During the final two months, the Consumer Confidence Index was the highest in eight months, fuel prices had declined, tourist numbers increased, and the government provided a year-end tax break.
The Mall Group saw a 20-per-cent sales increase during the seven-day tax-break period, which helped the company reach its annual sales goal of Bt52 billion, 4-per-cent growth compared with 2014. “For 2016, we expect consumer spending momentum to continue, especially with Chinese New Year, an important celebration in Thailand that is just as popular as [January 1] New Year and Songkran. Spending during Chinese New Year is no less than Bt50 billion,” Chamnarn said.
Robinson Department Store targets growth of 8 per cent year on year in the first quarter of this year as its “Robinson Chinese New Year” campaign welcomes the Year of Monkey. Shoppers will receive a red packet of discounts worth Bt1,200 for every Bt1,000 of spending. Prosperity-boosting and cultural activities in the Chinese tradition will also be in place.
Sompong Rungnirattisai, chief commercial officer of Tesco Lotus, said Chinese New Year was an important occasion for a large number of people in Thailand. He said Tesco Lotus wanted to make the celebration affordable for customers as they were facing a challenging economic situation.
“We have invested more than Bt250 million to bring down the prices of fresh food items by up to 46 per cent when compared with last year. We are also offering several cash coupons to help customers save during the season.
“In addition, we have prepared special gifts for customers. Those spending Bt600 or more at Tesco Lotus will instantly receive a Chinese New Year red envelope containing special discounts on 50 items, worth a combined Bt4,400. Customers who spend Bt400 or more can redeem a lucky monkey doll at a special price of Bt159, down from the full price of Bt299,” he said.
Siam Piwat Co, operator of Siam Paragon and Siam Center, together with Muang Thai Life Assurance, Kasikornbank and Advanced Info Service, has announced “Siam Prosperous Chinese New Year 2016”, a campaign to celebrate Chinese New Year and greet the Asean Economic Community. The campaign, to be held from February 3 to March 13 in Siam Paragon and Siam Center, will provide discounts of up to 80 per cent, lucky red envelopes and many other privileges, said Chanisa Kaewruen, Siam Piwat deputy managing director for marketing events and business relations.
Central Pattana (CPN), Thailand’s largest retail developer and operator of CentralWorld, CentralPlaza and CentralFestival, along with their business partners, has invested Bt40 million in a campaign named “The Great Chinese New Year” to be held from February 5-29.
Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, executive vice president for marketing at CPN, said the company understood the needs of the new generation of Thai-Chinese customers and what they want during this festive season. They have more purchasing power than in the past and tend to be selective and require a certain standard of quality in the products and services they receive.
At Big C Supercenter outlets, red packets of shopping discounts have been offered since mid-January. As well, shoppers get the chance of winning gold prizes every day until February 8, Chinese New Year’s Day.
Future Park, the largest mall in Rangsit area, also launch an event called ‘Sweetest Moment of Chinese New Year’, between February 5 and 14, in which more than 1,000 shops within the complex will offer promotional sale of up to 80 per cent discount.