ROBINSON SET TO OPEN 25 STORES

Robinson Department Store plans to invest 2.8 billion baht to open five new stores this year as part of a plan aimed at boosting revenues by 20%.

Jiraphan Thongtan, general manager for finance for Robinson, told investors at a briefing yesterday that the company would aim to open five new stores per year over the next five years.

Investment for each store is projected at 500 to 700 million baht, she said.

RONBINSONS EYES BRANCH BINGE

Mr Preecha (centre) with actress Mint Chalida Vijitvongthong and actor Naded Kugimiya at the launch of Robinson Department Store’s Rama IX branch.

Robinson Department Store Plc plans to double its branches and sales over the next five years after expanding slowly over the past several years.

The number of branches in 2016 is expected to reach 50, up from 25 by the end of this year. Sales would rise to 34.6 billion baht over the same period.

Robinson president Preecha Ekkunagul said at least 2.5 billion baht would be spent to add five new branches each year for five years, with the funding to come from the company's cash flow.

Next year's five new branches will be in Bang Na, Bang Khae, Surat Thani, Lampang and Suphan Buri, each creating 500-600 new jobs.

ROBINSON ADDING 7 MORE STORES

Robinson Department Store Plc will spend 4 billion baht to open seven new outlets this year and next.

Customer response to first lifestyle centre in Trang has exceeded expectations since the opening four months ago, says Mr Preecha.

Included in the two-year expansion plan is Robinson Suphan Buri, its second stand-alone lifestyle project, worth 800 million baht, where outside tenants will be invited to rent space next year, said president Preecha Ekkunagul.

The first lifestyle centre opened in Trang last November to penetrate secondary provinces where big shopping malls were not present.

"The feedback in Trang has exceeded our expectations with double-digit growth every month since it was opened four months ago," he said.

Apart from Suphan Buri, the other six new stores will be in Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Bangkok's Rama IX and Bang Khae areas, Mega Bang Na and Surat Thani. By the end of 2012, Robinson will have 30 branches.