Bangkok--1 Apr--Verve
Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) gives a nudge toward creative industry as an economic drive for Thailand by staging ‘Quick Bites: Design for Better Eating’ exhibition that explores the eating habits of townsfolk in relation to curbside eateries across the capital. The exhibition is open free of admission to the public between 10:30 and 21:00 hrs. daily (except Mondays) from April 1 to June 7, 2009 at TCDC on the 6th floor of The Emporium Shopping Complex.
Providing background information, Mr. Paravi Wongchirachai, Deputy Managing Director of Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC), says: “As the center of knowledge resources in design and the official organization for promotion of creative society, TCDC regularly hosts a diverse range of activities and events with an aim to raise public awareness and understanding of creativity. These include exhibitions that touch many important social and economic issues of the nation.”
“With ‘Quick Bites: Design for Better Eating’, TCDC is taking its latest move toward the goal,” he continues. “The exhibition explores the eating habit of city dwellers, which is considered an integral part of urban lifestyle and the motif of businesses that center on keeping the stomach of their customers pleased. Ranging in the forms from curbside stalls to delivery service, these businesses generate a turnover of no less than 150 million baht each day, which translates into a massive turnover 54.75 billion baht per annum. The impressive figures have sparked TCDC’s interest to tap into opportunities that lie on city sidewalks by hinting innovative ways to increase efficiency and effectiveness of street vendor business. With use of creativity, the hidden potential of street stalls can be unleashed and serve as a catalyst for the nation’s economic recovery.”
“TCDC hopes this exhibition will be another event that inspires Thai people to take a more insightful look into what is just around them and learn to appreciate and take advantage of the Thai wisdom, particularly in innovations that help improve individual life and the society at large. By doing so, we will also be able to create increased economic values out of creativity, as seen in packaging innovations adapted from everyday items and wok-grown marketing strategies that show the flair of street entrepreneurs in doing business despite limited fund. The exhibition also recounts the evolution of street vendor businesses in Thailand that has today developed into successful delivery businesses and can spawn many more new business models in the future,” Mr. Paravi adds.
‘Quick Bites: Design for Better Eating’ exhibition consists of 5 parts: 1) ‘The city as buffet’ depicts Bangkokian’s ‘eat-all-day’ obsession and the diverse origins of food peddlers — a quirky reflection of the urban eating lifestyle; 2) ‘Street innovators’ gives an awe-inspiring look into practical inventions and down-to-earth marketing strategies of roadside entrepreneurs that help them generate sizable income; 3) ‘Rants & raves’ unveils findings of a recent survey on the needs of both the street vendors and their clientele in order to jointly promote better eating; 4) ‘Sidewalk millionaires’ makes a parallel between a Thai-styled food delivery service that grew from hawker basket and the business model of Mumbai’s renowned food-carrier, dubbawala; and 5) ‘Global icon’ offers tidbits of interesting information about utensils and supplies used by street vendors abroad, as well as the transfer of know-how to their counterparts in other parts of the world, including Thailand.
“The mystery of food vendor cart will be blown up and explained for the first time in Thailand at this exhibition. Listen to 1,600 curbside vendors and customers who share their complaints with ABAC Poll in the biggest survey of how people really want to eat in Bangkok. In addition, exhibition visitors can explore creativity that lies in the marketing strategies of street vendors and marvel at a range of innovations created by Thai people,” Mr. Paravi concludes.
‘Quick Bites: Design for Better Eating’ exhibition is open free to the public from 10:30 to 21:00 hr daily (except Mondays) between April 1 and June 7, 2009 at TCDC, 6th floor, The Emporium Shopping Complex. For queries, please call 0-2664-8448 Ext. 213, 214, or visit www.tcdc.or.th.
For further information please contact:
Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC)
Khun Kanokporn Kiattisak or Khun Patcharin Pattanabunpaiboon
24th Fl., Emporium Tower, Sukhumvit Road, Tel: 0-2664 7667
Verve
Khun Trungrutai Sundos (Bow), Tel: 0-2204-8078, 081-833-0224
Khun Porntip Wiriyakitpattana (Bee), Tel: 0-2204-8210, 086-813-1981