Bangkok--21 Aug--Poly Plus PR
Tops introduces “Customer Interactive Marketing” to tap online market, launch Tops Shop Online & Tops Mobile App to fulfill shoppers’ lifestyle
Central Food Retail Company Limited, Thailand’s leading supermarket chain, introduces new marketing strategy ‘Customer Interactive Marketing’ to attract customer’s digital lifestyle. The launch of new business opportunity consists of Tops Shop Online, Tops Mobile App, as well as social media activities via facebook Tops Thailand.
Mr. Alistair Taylor, President of Central Food Retail Co., Ltd., which operates Tops Super, Tops Market, Tops Daily, and Central Food Hall, said, “Customers are making a major behavioral shift to online communication. From Neilson consumer survey in 2011 found that 24 per cent of Thai people were using the Internet, of which 32 per cent were accessing the Internet from a PC and 66 per cent from mobile phones, including feature and smart phones.
“Following these figures, Tops and Central Food Hall realized a new business opportunity of e-commerce and decided to launch Customer Interactive Marketing, an online marketing tool to communicate with customers directly and instantly. The platform comprises three touchpoints: 1) Tops Shop Online, 2) Tops Mobile Application, and 3) Tops Thailand: facebook fanpage.”
Tops Shop Online, available at www.tops.co.th, provides more than 10,000 products items. Customers can enjoy promotions such as RedHot, Tops Sale, Buy One-Get One Free, as well as benefits of SPOT Rewards Card offers such as point earning, point redemptions, cash voucher and discount coupons — giving customers the same benefits as shopping at store.
“We introduced Tops Shop Online as a pilot project to test e-commerce,” Mr. Taylor said. “The online shop now has been modified and is now fully operational, offering more than 10,000 items covering a wide range of consumer goods, including both ambience fresh food and all grocery. The service covering every district in Bangkok and some areas of Nonthaburi, Pathumthani, Samut Prakan, and Chiang Mai provinces. It has been well received by customers with sales of Q2 2012 comparing to Q1 2012 grow 215 per cent.
Tops Mobile Application puts the supermarket into consumers’s hands on both iOS and Android operating systems under the name “Tops Supermarket.” Customers can receive promotions, check points balance on their SPOT Rewards Card, using barcode reader to scan for product they want, and create their own shopping lists for reminding for their next store visit. They can also find location of nearby Tops & Central Food Hall branch through a GPS system. To cater to customers who love to cook, Tops and Central Food Hall mobile applications also provide a “Recipes & Tips” feature. They will enjoy a variety of recipes from the Tops Mobile Application, available as a free download.
The latest data show a large potential base of Tops Mobile Application users: 5.5 million people own iOS smart phones and another 7 million customers have Android phones. The application draws new users daily, via iOS version now at 1.23 million and 700,000 from Android version.
“The development of the mobile application is aimed at serving the lifestyle of consumers who love technology,” Mr. Taylor said. “Its features were created to fulfill our customers’ demands to the fullest, highlighted with barcode scan for their next shopping trips or share their recommended products and also look for meal solution at Recipe & Tips.”
In addition, a social media activity is now actively on facebook, currently the most favorite social media tool. On the “Tops Thailand” facebook page, information is instantly exchanged and directed to consumers, regarded as real-time, two-way communication by Tops and Central Food Hall to get closer to consumers. facebook activities are focused on useful information such promotions & events, personal care tips, games & online activities, alternative channel for customers feedback, and other activities to create sharing community among facebook members. The page has attracted about 17,550 “Likes.”
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