Bangkok--14 Dec--JWT With projected growth of 10% in the fashion apparel segment in 2008, Future Park Rangsit is opening a new fashion zone ‘F-Runway’ as the freestyle fashion center on a sales space of more than 3,000 sq.m. on the 3rd floor of the shopping complex. Under its zoning strategy for clear-cut product segmentation, the shopping complex hopes to turn the new zone into the center of freestyle fashion for the new generation and attract 30% more of the target group. A campaign ‘Flyover to Glittering Star 200’ will also be launched to spur sales during the end of the year. According to Ms. Jittinan Wanglee, Vice President — Sales of Rangsit Plaza Co., Ltd., the operator of Future Park Rangsit Shopping Complex, the market of apparel and ready-made garment is valued at Bt100 billion approximately, men’s and women’s combined, with continuous growth of about 10%. By quarter, however, the market experienced a decline in Q1/2007, particularly in the segment of fashion apparel, due mainly to the poor confidence in the political situation. The problem also extended its effects to Q2/2007 with a slowdown. The market started to recover in Q3/2007 as the political situation and economic condition improved, providing a relief of worries among customers and consequently some increased spending. As for Q4/2007, further improvement in the ready-made garment market, especially in the fashion segment, can be looked forward to. In part of Future Park Rangsit, customer behaviors diverse by their lifestyles. Apparel sections for both men and women are enjoying more and more popularity, noticeably in premium-brand shops on G Floor. Mass-market clothing on the 3rd floor of the shopping complex has also welcomed more customers. A survey conducted early this year reveals that some 80,000 customers/day were drawn into the 3rd floor on weekdays and about 140,000/day on weekends, an average of 97,000 customers/day approximately. According to the survey, most of the customers were looking for trendy products, have their own styles, and gave priority to reasonable pricing. With all the mentioned factors in consideration, Future Park Rangsit foresees an opportunity to expand its base of fashion products to attract more new-generation people with changing lifestyles. The company has invested over Bt50 million to turn sales space of more than 3,000 sq.m. on the 3rd floor into a fashion and lifestyle zone ‘F-Runway’ to give a clearer segmentation of the products and to draw in the more purchasing power of new-generation customers into the shopping complex. Ms. Jittinan says further that the F-Runway will serve as a new, freestyle fashion center for the new generation (students and first jobbers), offering a comprehensive range of products that include clothing, bags, shoes, and accessories. The zone’s decoration follows the ‘shops-in-shops’ concept that allows customers to enjoy a variety and good mix of products to mix and match in their own style. Products in this zone can be classified into 3 groups: Active, an individual style for casual days; Creative, a lively and trendy style for first jobbers that also opens the room for mix-and-match; and lastly, Elegant, which adds a feel of luxury through perfect combination of clothes, shoes, and accessories, giving a little touch of sophistication to customers’ business days. With the inauguration of the F-Runway zone, Future Park Rangsit hopes to attract 50% more customers to the third floor of the shopping complex and offers a clear-cut segmentation that respond to the lifestyle of the new generation more efficiently. Future Park Rangsit will also launch public relations activities to liven up the shopping ambience and spur sales during the opening of the new zone, Ms. Jittinan continues. More than 80 shops in F-Runway zone are also joining the celebration by offering up to 50% discounts. A special campaign ‘Flyover to Glittering Star 200’ will also be launched with a highlight on lucky draw for prizes worth a total of Bt2 million. To create a continuous buying spree and to celebrate opening of the new zone and the New Year, the campaign will run from December 13, 2007 until January 13, 2007. With the new zone and the festive campaign, the shopping complex will be even more colorful and lively, an improvement that further strengthen the image of Future Park Rangsit as the integrated shopping complex in North Bangkok, Ms. Jittinan concludes For more information, please contact: Future Park Rangsit Public Relations Khun Pattra Mora, Khun Jirattaya Nungrujit T. 02-958-0011 Ext. 1162, 1886 JWT Public Relations, JWT (Thailand) Khun Porntip Wiriyakitpattana (Bee) T. 02-204-8210 M. 086-813-1981 Khun Prasit Kritsadaariyachon (Bob) T. 02-204-8216 M. 081-586-2813