On November 4, at the headquarters of Thai fragrance brand Pudawan Company in Samut Prakan Province, Thailand, brand founder Chachai Onmanarosi displayed products. Published by Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Lachen)
Xinhua News Agency, Bangkok, November 6 News: Small brands pursue dreams in big markets—Stories of Thai companies at the China International Import Expo
Xinhua News Agency reporter Xia Kangjing
In Samut Prakan, the capital of Thailand, close to Bangkok, a two-story building is hidden among green plants. Walking into the living room on the first floor, fragrances, sprays, and soaps are displayed on the entire wall. There is a faint aroma in the air, and the smell of lemongrass is particularly distinctive. This is where Thailand’s local fragrance brand Pudawan started.
"Do you know what's special about the lemongrass used in this product?" Chachai Onmanarosi, the founder of the brand, picked up a fragrance and introduced it to reporters. Different from the common white and green lemongrass, the raw material of this fragrance is red lemongrass from Mae Hong Son Province in northern Thailand, which has a more unique aroma. The inspiration for the brand name also comes from there, which means mountains and sun.
This year, Pudawan products with the flavor of Thai herbs were once again unveiled at the China International Import Expo. From Samut Prakan in Thailand to Shanghai, this company looks forward to taking advantage of the CIIE to bring its brand to more places in China. Chachai told reporters that the CIIE provided many opportunities, and the company’s first-ever participation in the exhibition exceeded expectations. Not only did it meet online and offline partners, it also gained opportunities to further expand its business in Chinese shopping malls and shopping malls.
This is a fragrance product taken at the headquarters of Thai fragrance brand Pudawan Company in Samut Prakan Province, Thailand on November 4. Published by Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Lachen)
It has been seven years since Pudawan started preparing to enter the Chinese market. Chachai said that there are differences in culture, climate and consumer preferences in different regions of China, and opening up the Chinese market means constantly working closely with local partners and learning new business methods. Pudawan mainly relies on offline sales in Thailand, while in China it mainly relies on online sales. "China's e-commerce is developing rapidly, and the online market is huge." Chachai said.
The long-term investment is paying off. According to him, sales in the Chinese market currently account for nearly 10% of the brand's total sales. This year is expected to double compared with last year, and it is expected to continue to maintain good growth momentum next year.
On November 2, Nongthago Bangyaba, founder and CEO of Thai snack brand Makoo Makoo, was interviewed by a reporter from Xinhua News Agency in Bangkok, the capital. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Weitong
With the same dream of opening up the Chinese market, Thai snack brand Makoo Makoo independently participated in the CIIE for the first time this year. Preserved fruits, gummies and beverages are the three main categories of products exhibited at this exhibition, among which mango-flavored plum preserves and plum-flavored sparkling water made their debut in the Chinese market.
Nongthago Bangyaba, founder and CEO of Magu Magu, tried to combine the traditional Chinese snack plum preserves with the flavors of Thai tropical fruits. As an ethnic Chinese, he hopes to connect the food cultures of Thailand and China through these foods.
This is a product of Thai snack brand Mogu Mogu taken in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, on November 2. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Weitong
Currently, Mogu Mogu has set up a branch in China and plans to independently operate its official online store in order to communicate more directly with consumers and obtain first-hand market information.
Chong Pai Ket, vice president of the China-Thailand Chamber of Commerce, believes that the CIIE is a bridge for Thai small and medium-sized enterprises to explore the Chinese market. It not only helps companies find customers and partners, but also provides opportunities to test their business models.
"Many small and medium-sized enterprises in Thailand have realized their dreams through the CIIE." Zhuang Paiji said that the Chinese market is huge, and successfully entering this market may bring considerable business scale to the enterprises.
From herbal aroma to plum taste, two Thai companies are looking for not only sales opportunities at the CIIE, but also long-term possibilities for joint development with Chinese partners. "Trade is two-way. Only when both parties can benefit from cooperation can business continue for a long time." Nong Thago said.
