OTOP centers to be established in department stores nationwide

BANGKOK, 5 May 2015, (NNT) - Department of Business Development (DBD) has revealed that One Tambon One Product (OTOP) centers will be established nationwide.

DBD Director-General Pongpan Jiarawiriyapan revealed that a pilot project is being held in Ayutthaya’s Sky Shopping Center, where an OTOP center is being established with 60-70 booths.

The mall operator has agreed not to charge OTOP vendors on leasing fees for a year. The OTOP center will launch its trial period in July, then make an official debut in the following month.

Ms. Pongpan said that the mall has given two options. The first option would be to allow the mall to set OTOP prices and collect a portion of the income based on its price bracket. The second approach is to let OTOP vendors set their prices and the mall would take a certain percentage of the income.

OTOP operators requested permission to inspect the center, saying the information would be helpful for marketing plans. They also suggested the stores hold a weeklong promotion event for OTOP items. The vendors claimed that the event would help gauge local demand for the products.


-- NNT 2015-05-05

Otop Centers free standing, with NO competition, have never shown a profit and now hope to do so in Malls ? Insane or beyond, way beyond insane.

Have a look at OTOP-Waking Street at Silom: 80% dead!

A waste of (taxpayers) money!

I agree with walking street a disaster No promotion Who wants to walk under a bridge to go shopping

It will never take off No incentive . Its not like baseball "Build it and they will come"

Promote it with something so people will go Just rent the booths out to anyone that things they

can make a go of it Better still make a beer garden It will work since the rain cannot get you . But retail stores forget it .

I think the same will happen with this. The government will help set it up then walk away without promotion of any type. So sad to waste a resource such and

OTOP items. Some of the items are world class but will get lost in the shuffle when done this way

The best place for an OTOP market is through customs at Suvarnabhumi, where everyone that was lazy to buy gifts for all the people back home can buy Thai stuff...assuming it's reasonably priced.

But don't put them in major malls. No ones going to buy that crap at a mall.