Bangkok--Mar 3--4 D Communication
OfficeMate to strengthen brand using over 20 million baht in marketing budget with hopes to boost sales by at least 50% by end of 2005
- Company launches OfficeMate Catalog 2005 with over 8,000 product items on offer -
OfficeMate, Thailand’s first distributor of stationery products, office equipment, computers and office furniture via comprehensive catalog and Internet system announces successful performance in 2004 with 50% growth in sales to 500 million baht. After developing its unique system of product sales for over 10 years, the company has earmarked over 20 million baht as this year’s marketing budget to strengthen its brand and expand further into corporate clientele nationwide.
Worawoot Onujai, Managing Director of OfficeMate Co., Ltd., the first company in the country to offer products including stationery products, office equipment, computers and office furniture via comprehensive catalog and Internet systems, disclosed that in 2004 his company enjoyed 50% growth in sales which totaled over 500 million baht. “The sales contribution can be broken down into 60% stationery and office equipment, 30% computer equipment and 10% office furniture. Products in the computer equipment category showed impressive response and the highest growth rate,” he said.
The success is a result of the long experience and creativity and development of the system for over 10 years. The company conducts successful business through the following 4 key systems: 1. OfficeMate Catalog — highly effective catalog that compiles complete offerings with adequate product information that allows comparison in terms of pricing and specifications;
2. Call Center — using advanced IT system namely ACD (Automatic Call Distribution) and IVR (Interactive Voice Response) to ensure international standard and efficiency, the most complete in Thailand’s catalog order industry. There are also Call Center personnel to provide assistance in terms of clarification and after-sales services. 3. Logistics — divided into 2 major tasks - product stocking & warehousing and delivery. The company stocks over 8,000 product items each appears in the catalog to make sure delivery is fast and efficient. GPS (Global Positioning System) is used to allow highly effective satellite tracking to bring products to customers within 24 hours. 4. Information Technology — The company uses advanced IT system to enhance efficiency in catalog preparation, operation of the call center and logistics systems, harmonizing the 3 outlets for optimum output.
“As for catalog sales, OfficeMate has launched the latest OfficeMate Catalog 2005 that offers variety of products to help make professional life much easier. The catalog includes over 8,000 product items printed nicely and neatly on over 500 pages of art papers for realism. The products offered by the catalog are classified into 11 categories for convenience. Product delivery is free of charge and within 24 hours with satisfaction guarantee and free delivery to service center throughout product’s lifetime,” he said.
“At present, the company has further improved its e-commerce system offered via www.officemate.co.th, which is a B2C (business to customer) web site. The web site offers complete product details with simple process of ordering. There is also a B2B (business to business) system using OfficeMate eProcurement developed and designed to cater the system of each corporate client. Corporate client and its employees can order the products by themselves for convenience with online purchase order sent straight to OfficeMate to help reduce the lengthy process,” he said.
“In 2005, OfficeMate will spend over 20 million baht in marketing to promote branding using a greater number of media including radio, printed materials, bus sides, the Internet and interesting marketing activities with event scheduled to celebrate the company’s 10 years of operation. As part of the celebration, OfficeMate will kick off ‘OfficeMate Member Rewards’ — a program that allows customers to earn 5 points for every 100 baht purchase. Redemption of accumulated points includes small and large prizes such as Honda Jazz. A monthly publication called ‘At Office’ will also be made to offer interesting contents for working professionals, enhancing good working attitude using highly skilled writers to share experience and thoughts. In side, At Office, which is a free publication will include products on special promotion for OfficeMate members to enjoy as a way of conducting effective CRM. The publication is also available for sale at leading bookstores,” he explained.
“In 2005, OfficeMate is looking to increase sales by 45% over that of 2004, which will come to total sales of around 700 million baht with contribution ratio of 50% stationery and office equipment, 35% computer equipment and 15% office furniture. Sales for the next 2 years have also been projected to exceed 1 billion baht. The company is now aiming to get listed on the MAI to further strengthen its operation since buying products from catalogs is becoming popular due to the changing consumer behaviors. Office equipment no longer requires a showroom for product display. The catalog simply makes the process more convenient, while saving time and money. Office equipment has so much to do with the efficiency of employees. Choosing of proper office equipment will contribute to greater efficiency,” he concluded.
For more information please contact:
Wipavaris Ketpama Or Kannika Saipan, Nawatida Boachote
4 D Communication co., Ltd
Tel 0-2951-9119, 0-6329-3823, 0-9107-9809 End.