Business
Quattro Design showroom to reach AEC market

PHUKET: The dynamic duo behind Quattro Design, one of Thailand’s top importers and designers of exclusive furniture, have high hopes for the New Year as they open a showroom at Phuket’s Boat Avenue in Cherngtalay early next month.
“Now is the time for us to open the showroom in Phuket, as the Asian Economic Community takes effect next year, which will affect the market and every business in it,” said Quattro Design co-owner Praowphan Laoha-pongchana. “It is not just about reaching local people here in Phuket and neighboring southern destinations, such as Phang Nga, Krabi, Hat Yai and Koh Samui. The island is a hub, a dream destination for people around the world.”
Ms Praowphan sees the move as an effective way to reach other markets in the AEC; especially Singapore and Malaysian clientele, as well as the Chinese market.
Aiming to fill a gap in the luxury property sector, where demands and expectations for quality, durability and style are high, the collection of exclusive brands at Quattro Design ranges from vintage to classic art decor, and from contemporary minimalist designs to world-class names such as Prizmic & Brill, Kenneth Cobonpue, Schema and Eichholtz.
Following the launch of a pop-up store at the Boat Lagoon in November, the pair decided to move ahead with establishing the full-size Quattro Design showroom at Boat Avenue, adding another trendy brand to the booming new Laguna area shopping mall.
“We want to be the one-stop-shop for luxury, affordable luxury, design. We are not only able to provide high-quality furniture and accessories, we can handle entire design projects as well. Already, we have done lots of projects for the hospitality industry, the residential sector and commercial space owners,” Ms Praowphan said. “There are lots of opportunities in Phuket to work with villa owners and those in the hospitality industry.”
As well as bringing the world’s leading home and hospitality art decor to Phuket, the Quattro team of concept designers now offer a wide range of turnkey solutions to hoteliers, developers and home decor enthusiasts.
The Quattro Design team specialize in transforming residences, businesses and resorts with a full range of high-quality eye-catching items, including sofas, armchairs, ottomans, benches, coffee tables, mirrors and lighting, plus a range of trendy and durable outdoor day beds and recliners.
Ms Praowphan pointed out that IKEA’s opening of a pick-up and order point in Phuket, even though it is the first in Asia, would not make an impact to Quattro Design’s move onto the island.
“The opening of IKEA doesn’t really affect us, as it caters to a different market. It’s totally different in terms of price and quality of work. We focus more on luxury and affordable luxury.”
With more than a decade of experience in supplying other designers and top architects in Bangkok with concepts from the Quattro Design flagship store on Soi Thonglor, Ms Praowphan is confident that the push into Phuket will give her, and her business partner Wichada Sritakarin, a platform to showcase their turnkey interior design and decor services to discerning homeowners, villa operators and hoteliers in key Asian markets.
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Business
Governments & old media versus social media – who will win? | VIDEO

We look at the recent changes made by the Australian and Indian governments to except control over the world’s biggest social media platforms. India has issued strict new rules for Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms just weeks after the Indian government attempted to pressure Twitter to take down social media accounts it deemed, well, anti social. There is now an open battle between the rise of social media platforms and the governments and ‘old’ media that have been able to maintain a certain level of control over the ‘message’ for the last century. Who will win?
The rules require any social media company to create three roles within India… a “compliance officer” who ensures they follow local laws; a “grievance officer” who addresses complaints from Indian social media users; and a “contact person” who can actually be contacted by lawyers and other aggrieved Indian parties… 24/7.
The democratisation of the news model, with social media as its catalyst, will continue to baffle traditional media and governments who used to enjoy a level of control over what stories get told. The battles of Google and Facebook, with the governments of India and Australia will be followed in plenty of other countries as well.
At the root of all discussions will be the difference between what governments THINK social media is all about and the reality about how quickly the media landscape has changed. You’ll get to read about it first, on a social media platform… probably on the screen you’re watching this news story right now.
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Business
The social media giants in battle with ‘old’ media and world governments | VIDEO

“The rules signal greater willingness by countries around the world to rein in big tech firms such as Google, Facebook and Twitter that the governments fear have become too powerful with little accountability.”
India has issued strict new rules for Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms just weeks after the Indian government attempted to pressure Twitter to take down social media accounts it deemed, well, anti social.
The rules require any social media company to create three roles within India… a “compliance officer” who ensures they follow local laws; a “grievance officer” who addresses complaints from Indian social media users; and a “contact person” who can actually be contacted by lawyers and other aggrieved Indian parties… 24/7.
The companies are also being made to publish a compliance report each month with details about how many complaints they’ve received and the action they took.
They’ll also be required to remove ‘some’ types of content including “full or partial nudity,” any “sexual act” or “impersonations including morphed images”
The democratisation of the news model, with social media as its catalyst, will continue to baffle traditional media and governments who used to enjoy a level of control over what stories get told.
The battles of Google and Facebook, with the governments of India and Australia will be followed in plenty of other countries as well.
At the root of all discussions will be the difference between what governments THINK social media is all about and the reality about how quickly the media landscape has changed. You’ll get to read about it first, on a social media platform… probably on the screen you’re watching this news story right now.
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Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Business
Turbulence ahead for Thailand’s aviation industry | VIDEO

When the airlines, in particular, were asking the government to put their hands in their pockets for some relief funding in August last year, it was genuinely thought that international tourists would be coming back for the high season in December and January. At the very least local tourists and expats would head back to the skies over the traditional holiday break. And surely the Chinese would be back for Chinese New Year?
As we know now, none of that happened. A resurge in cases started just south of Bangkok on December 20 last year, just before Christmas, kicking off another round of restrictions, pretty much killing off any possibility of a high season ‘bump’ for the tourist industry. Airlines slashed flights from their schedule, and hotels, which had dusted off their reception desks for the surge of tourists, shut their doors again.
Domestically, the hotel business saw 6 million room nights in the government’s latest stimulus campaign fully redeemed. But the air ticket quota of 2 million seats still has over 1.3 million seats unused. Local tourists mostly skipped flights and opted for destinations within driving distance of their homes.
As for international tourism… well that still seems months or years away, even now.
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