Analysis of Commerce Sector in Thailand

PROJECT REPORT

SERVICES – COMMERCE SECTOR

PART ONE – COMPANY DESCRIPTION

CPALL: CP ALL PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED

CPALL operates the convenience store business under the 7-Eleven trademark and franchises to other retailers in the territory of Thailand and has invested in supporting businesses such as manufacturing facility of food & bakery products, bill payment services and so on. [9]

Products Sold: Ready to eat food and beverages, personal care products, stationery, household products, magazines

Major Customers: The Company’s customer groups are varied, including people of every gender and age with different occupations, who live and engage in daily activities near 7-Eleven stores.  

Competitors: Tops Market, Lotus Express, Family Mart, and other grocery stores

BIGC: BIG C SUPERCENTER PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED

BIGC Supercenter is Thailand’s leading modern trade retailer. The business can be divided into two categories: retail and property. The retail operations cover all the stores from large hypermarkets to proximity stores, and the property operations refer to shopping centers that accompany most of our hypermarkets and markets. [13]

Products Sold:fresh food, dry food, clothing and accessories, electric appliances, and home décor and accessories

Major Customers:mid-to-low income customers, mid-to-high income customers, wholesale and retail customers

Competitors: Tesco Lotus and Siam Makro

HMPRO: HOME PRODUCT CENTER PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED

The Company is in the retail business of home improvement segment by selling goods and providing complete range of services relating to construction, refurbishment, addition, renovation, improvement of buildings and houses. It operates One Stop Shopping Home Center under the trade name of HomePro. [1]

Products Sold: goods and services relating to construction, refurbishment of houses, and renovation materials

Major customers: retail customers, contractors and project owners

Competitors: HomeWorks, HomeMarts, and Boonthavorn

1

MAKRO: SIAM MAKRO PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED

The principal business of the Company is the operation of Cash and Carry Trade Centres throughout Thailand, under the name "Makro", selling food and non-food products to registered member, predominantly to small and medium size business, retailers, caterers, professional sectors and institutions, government agencies, education institutions and other business operators. [4]

Makro operates the member-based wholesale center, under the name “Makro”. Makro has continuously expands the branches to provide a wide range and assortment of product, to professional members and business operators nationwide (main customer), including retailers, restaurants, catering businesses, service business operators, government agencies, education institutions and other business operators.

In retail market segment there are many competitors but in wholesale market segment Makro is the number one and difficult to find any competitors. However, Big C has launched BIG C JUMBO to get the market share in wholesale market segment. There are 3 branches now so BIG C JUMBO is the competitor that Makro should keep eye on.

PART TWO – ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

Economic Analysis and Outlook for the commerce industry. Use high-level factors, and analyze impact on sales, profit, and cash flow. Use PEST to analyze factors that can affect commerce industry. [15]

POLITICAL

• Government legislation, such as Anti-competition regulation to protect traditional shops, so that commerce corporation cannot open retail outlets at certain areas -- the company cannot earn revenue if it cannot open new retail outlets, so regulation can negatively affect the sales, profit and cash flow. [24]
• Trade policies, such as tariff increase, which can increase prices of imported products -- imported products become expensive, cost goes up, less sales, less profit, cash flow negatively affected [23]
• Government grants, to traditional shops, who affect the competitive scenario -- it enables traditional shops to take market share from big retailers [25]
• Tax rebate for consumption or home purchase -- tax rebates give extra cash to consumers, consumers spend the money. The spending positively impact sales, profit and cash flow [17]