Kao Commercial (Thailand) Co, the producer of Feather shampoo, is introducing a new shampoo segment in line with its parent firm's new strategy to drive panAsia brands across the region's markets.
Minoru Tokita, the company's president and CEO, said this year Kao Corporation, its parent firm, devised a new strategy focusing on hair-care and skincare products.
Kao Thailand has two pan-Asian brands in the beauty-care category: Biore facial care and Asience hair care products."New Essential Damage Care", a new premium hair care line for damaged hair, will be available this month.
Thailand launches the line after Japan,Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
New Essential Damage Care is meant to compete with Procter & Gamble's Pantene and Unilever's Dove.
Demand for hair cleansing and treatment products grew by 5% in 2008, while damaged care shampoo grew at 20.7%in 2008 and 26.5% in the first half of 2009.
Kao Thailand controls 4.2% of the estimated 11.8-billion-baht Thailand hair care market. The company expects the new product will drive growth of Kao Thailand's hair care products by 20%.The company will spend 150 million baht for marketing the product this year.
Shigeru Ueyama, president of Global Beauty Care Business, Premium Hair Care, at the Kao Corporation in Japan,added the product demonstrated constant growth and massive potential based on responses from customers in Japan,Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
"We are confident that our New Essential Damage Care line will likewise receive a tremendous response from Thai consumers," said Mr Ueyama.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Scacare maker joins Japanese
Pharmacosmet Plc, the manufacturer of the Tea Tree and Scacare personal and skin-care brands, will form a business alliance with a Japanese partner to codevelop skin-care products and market them in Japan next year.
The move will help its products to become regional brands as well as triple the company's sales to one billion baht by 2013, said managing director Sutee Ratananakin.
The company is now working with the Japanese partner, which is in the skin-care-related business, to develop personal and skin-care products exclusively for Japan. The company will endorse Tea Tree and Scacare as sub-brands to the core brand of the Japanese partner.
Pharmacosmet will handle the production of new product formulas. In the initial step, it will start producing moisturiser, facial foam and products for men.
Forming the strategic partnership is the company's major business strategy in overseas along with appointing sales agents.
"There is a huge opportunity in the Japanese market but competition is very fierce as well. But if we are successful in Japan, we will spin off our business to other international markets in the future and both products will become regional brands," Mr Sutee said.
To support future growth, the company has invested about 20 million baht to add 5,000 square metres of space at its factory in Phutthamonthon Sai 5 to produce products for export markets as well as more original equipment manufacturing (OEM) products. The sales proportion between domestic and export markets would be 60:40.
Mr Sutee said the company had restructured its organisation in terms of product portfolio, brand rejuvenation and modernisation after acquiring Pharmacosmet from the founder a few years ago.
About 10% of the Scacare product items were dropped and Tea Tree and Scacare products were reformulated with more additives.
Sales of Pharmacosmet last year were 380 million baht and are forecast to rise to 450 million baht by the end of this year. About 70% of sales came from Tea Tree and the remainder from Scacare.
The move will help its products to become regional brands as well as triple the company's sales to one billion baht by 2013, said managing director Sutee Ratananakin.
The company is now working with the Japanese partner, which is in the skin-care-related business, to develop personal and skin-care products exclusively for Japan. The company will endorse Tea Tree and Scacare as sub-brands to the core brand of the Japanese partner.
Pharmacosmet will handle the production of new product formulas. In the initial step, it will start producing moisturiser, facial foam and products for men.
Forming the strategic partnership is the company's major business strategy in overseas along with appointing sales agents.
"There is a huge opportunity in the Japanese market but competition is very fierce as well. But if we are successful in Japan, we will spin off our business to other international markets in the future and both products will become regional brands," Mr Sutee said.
To support future growth, the company has invested about 20 million baht to add 5,000 square metres of space at its factory in Phutthamonthon Sai 5 to produce products for export markets as well as more original equipment manufacturing (OEM) products. The sales proportion between domestic and export markets would be 60:40.
Mr Sutee said the company had restructured its organisation in terms of product portfolio, brand rejuvenation and modernisation after acquiring Pharmacosmet from the founder a few years ago.
About 10% of the Scacare product items were dropped and Tea Tree and Scacare products were reformulated with more additives.
Sales of Pharmacosmet last year were 380 million baht and are forecast to rise to 450 million baht by the end of this year. About 70% of sales came from Tea Tree and the remainder from Scacare.
L'Oreal lauds bone expert
Recently, Prof Dr Nateetip Krishnamra, head of the Consortium for Calcium and Bone Research (Cocab) at Mahidol University's Faculty of Science, received the "L'Ore'al Special Science Recognition in Sustainable Development" award.
The bestowing of the special acclaim took place on the occasion of L'Ore' al's 100th anniversary, and was aimed at selecting and applauding a successful Thai female scientist aged over 40 whose research contributes sustainable benefits to Thai society.
Prof Nateetip was chosen for Cocab's research work on prolactin, a protein hormone that balances calcium in the human body and performs a vital role in nursing mothers' production of milk for their babies. The team also found that prolactin stimulates intestinal calcium absorption and bone turnover and reduces the release of calcium through the urine.
The main objective of the research is "to help Thai people maintain strong bones", explained Prof Nateetip, who has been active in multidisciplinary research into calcium and bone metabolism for 30 years.
She added that a thorough understanding of prolactin may lead to new diagnoses and treatments of metabolic bone disorders. Metabolic bone diseases are among the major threats to most elderly people. It is expected that by 2020, Thailand's elderly population will number 14 million, almost double next year's figure of 7.5 million.
A related disease called osteoporosis affects people of all ages. It is a medical condition where the bones become brittle due to hormonal changes or lack of calcium or vitamin D, and is the number six cause of death among Thai people,especially women.
According to Prof Nateetip, the research covers studies of the role of prolactin and changes in calcium balance and bone turnover during human pathology.
The research also aims to develop new technology to accommodate research into calcium and bone such as electrophysiological techniques, atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation.
Dr Kopr Kamnuanthip, honorary chairman of the recognition committee,said that there were two special elements to the award: It was the first time the focus was on sustainable development,and the first time the person honoured was a female scientist.
"This act of recognition is intended to encourage more women to enter the various branches of the science industry as well as to instil greater confidence in practising female scientists to continue their creative work in their career," said Dr Kopr.
The recipient has to be an acknowledged successful researcher and her research must have been published in an international journal and accepted by her professional peers, Dr Kopr said,explaining the criteria used in the judging process.
Besides being the head of Cocab, Prof Nateetip teaches at the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University. Prof Nateetip was a doctoral student awardee of the Prof Tab Nilanithi Foundation in 1997. She won the Faculty of Science's Best Teacher Award in 2002 and the Thailand Research Fund's Senior Research Scholar prize from 2004 to 2006 and again from 2007 to 2009.
The bestowing of the special acclaim took place on the occasion of L'Ore' al's 100th anniversary, and was aimed at selecting and applauding a successful Thai female scientist aged over 40 whose research contributes sustainable benefits to Thai society.
Prof Nateetip was chosen for Cocab's research work on prolactin, a protein hormone that balances calcium in the human body and performs a vital role in nursing mothers' production of milk for their babies. The team also found that prolactin stimulates intestinal calcium absorption and bone turnover and reduces the release of calcium through the urine.
The main objective of the research is "to help Thai people maintain strong bones", explained Prof Nateetip, who has been active in multidisciplinary research into calcium and bone metabolism for 30 years.
She added that a thorough understanding of prolactin may lead to new diagnoses and treatments of metabolic bone disorders. Metabolic bone diseases are among the major threats to most elderly people. It is expected that by 2020, Thailand's elderly population will number 14 million, almost double next year's figure of 7.5 million.
A related disease called osteoporosis affects people of all ages. It is a medical condition where the bones become brittle due to hormonal changes or lack of calcium or vitamin D, and is the number six cause of death among Thai people,especially women.
According to Prof Nateetip, the research covers studies of the role of prolactin and changes in calcium balance and bone turnover during human pathology.
The research also aims to develop new technology to accommodate research into calcium and bone such as electrophysiological techniques, atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation.
Dr Kopr Kamnuanthip, honorary chairman of the recognition committee,said that there were two special elements to the award: It was the first time the focus was on sustainable development,and the first time the person honoured was a female scientist.
"This act of recognition is intended to encourage more women to enter the various branches of the science industry as well as to instil greater confidence in practising female scientists to continue their creative work in their career," said Dr Kopr.
The recipient has to be an acknowledged successful researcher and her research must have been published in an international journal and accepted by her professional peers, Dr Kopr said,explaining the criteria used in the judging process.
Besides being the head of Cocab, Prof Nateetip teaches at the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University. Prof Nateetip was a doctoral student awardee of the Prof Tab Nilanithi Foundation in 1997. She won the Faculty of Science's Best Teacher Award in 2002 and the Thailand Research Fund's Senior Research Scholar prize from 2004 to 2006 and again from 2007 to 2009.
TIPS ON HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN YOU
People are not products but there are ways for you to stand out
Can people be branded?
If you're like most people, you're probably faithful to at least a couple of brands. Maybe it is your favourite brand of rich and tasty ice cream or a particular shampoo that does more for your hair than any other. Certain brands command higher prices than others because they are perceived as superior.
If brands are so powerful that they can bring out such loyalty in us - the kind of loyalty that keeps us reaching into our hearts and our pocketbooks year after year - why shouldn't people be branded? Why can't we, as individuals, evoke that same kind of loyalty in our careers? In fact, think about it: If you were the "brand of choice" in your workplace, what that would it mean in terms of promotions, recognition, and higher pay?
Now, of course, I'm not suggesting that you're a product like a tub of ice cream or a bottle of shampoo. But the truth is that we are all like shampoo because just as shampoo must offer a benefit to improve your hair, you must also offer something of value in business. Otherwise, you're out of luck...or worse, out of a job. Taking charge of your personal brand at work is exactly how you become known for what you have to offer.
The good news is: Personal branding doesn't have to involve advertising yourself in a sandwich sign. It's not all about self-promotion! There are subtle ways you can become known for your greatest strengths and talents.
So, the question isn't whether people can be branded. The real question is: How do you create a personal brand that makes "YOU..." - the trademarked You - the brand of choice in your workplace?
The art of branding yourself
Becoming the brand of choice in your workplace means that your Audience is loyal to YOU... Who is your "Audience?" They are the people who can most impact your work and career. It may be your boss, your clients, or your colleagues. These are the people whose needs you must fulfil in order to set yourself apart as uniquely valuable. Just as a corporate brand must fulfil the needs of its consumers, you must figure out the needs of your audience and focus on meeting those to the best of your ability.
But how do you know that you're meeting your audience's needs and becoming their brand of choice?
In my experience as a marketer, the only way to take a corporate brand to the top is to use a proven step-by-step framework that establishes a brand's position in the marketplace. And this same proven framework works for personal branding, too.
It begins with a Personal Brand Positioning Statement that consists of the same six elements that have been used to create every top-selling corporate brand.
I have already mentioned the first two of the six elements, but what are the remaining four?
- Audience - The people who most affect your career or your job.
- Need - The problems of your audience that you must help resolve.
- Comparison - Others who could also fulfil your audience's needs, and how you can set yourself apart from them.
- Unique strengths - The talents and strengths you bring to the job that make you memorable to your audience.
- Reasons - The credentials and experience that will convince your audience that you can deliver your unique strengths.
- Brand character - The aspects of your personal brand that are unique to your personality.
These six elements fix together like a jigsaw puzzle to carefully define the personal brand you want for yourself and that can help you achieve greater success at work.
If you haven't taken the time to carefully define what you want your specific personal brand to stand for, chances are the people you most want to influence on the job aren't clear about what you stand for either.
How clear are you on who 'YOU...' are?
Have a question for the branding coach? Write to Brenda@BrendaBence.com
Brenda Bence is managing director of Brand Development Associates International. Prior to this, she spent 20 years of her career with Procter & Gamble and Bristol-Myers Squibb managing dozens of brands across four continents and 50 countries.
Can people be branded?
If you're like most people, you're probably faithful to at least a couple of brands. Maybe it is your favourite brand of rich and tasty ice cream or a particular shampoo that does more for your hair than any other. Certain brands command higher prices than others because they are perceived as superior.
If brands are so powerful that they can bring out such loyalty in us - the kind of loyalty that keeps us reaching into our hearts and our pocketbooks year after year - why shouldn't people be branded? Why can't we, as individuals, evoke that same kind of loyalty in our careers? In fact, think about it: If you were the "brand of choice" in your workplace, what that would it mean in terms of promotions, recognition, and higher pay?
Now, of course, I'm not suggesting that you're a product like a tub of ice cream or a bottle of shampoo. But the truth is that we are all like shampoo because just as shampoo must offer a benefit to improve your hair, you must also offer something of value in business. Otherwise, you're out of luck...or worse, out of a job. Taking charge of your personal brand at work is exactly how you become known for what you have to offer.
The good news is: Personal branding doesn't have to involve advertising yourself in a sandwich sign. It's not all about self-promotion! There are subtle ways you can become known for your greatest strengths and talents.
So, the question isn't whether people can be branded. The real question is: How do you create a personal brand that makes "YOU..." - the trademarked You - the brand of choice in your workplace?
The art of branding yourself
Becoming the brand of choice in your workplace means that your Audience is loyal to YOU... Who is your "Audience?" They are the people who can most impact your work and career. It may be your boss, your clients, or your colleagues. These are the people whose needs you must fulfil in order to set yourself apart as uniquely valuable. Just as a corporate brand must fulfil the needs of its consumers, you must figure out the needs of your audience and focus on meeting those to the best of your ability.
But how do you know that you're meeting your audience's needs and becoming their brand of choice?
In my experience as a marketer, the only way to take a corporate brand to the top is to use a proven step-by-step framework that establishes a brand's position in the marketplace. And this same proven framework works for personal branding, too.
It begins with a Personal Brand Positioning Statement that consists of the same six elements that have been used to create every top-selling corporate brand.
I have already mentioned the first two of the six elements, but what are the remaining four?
- Audience - The people who most affect your career or your job.
- Need - The problems of your audience that you must help resolve.
- Comparison - Others who could also fulfil your audience's needs, and how you can set yourself apart from them.
- Unique strengths - The talents and strengths you bring to the job that make you memorable to your audience.
- Reasons - The credentials and experience that will convince your audience that you can deliver your unique strengths.
- Brand character - The aspects of your personal brand that are unique to your personality.
These six elements fix together like a jigsaw puzzle to carefully define the personal brand you want for yourself and that can help you achieve greater success at work.
If you haven't taken the time to carefully define what you want your specific personal brand to stand for, chances are the people you most want to influence on the job aren't clear about what you stand for either.
How clear are you on who 'YOU...' are?
Have a question for the branding coach? Write to Brenda@BrendaBence.com
Brenda Bence is managing director of Brand Development Associates International. Prior to this, she spent 20 years of her career with Procter & Gamble and Bristol-Myers Squibb managing dozens of brands across four continents and 50 countries.
UNILEVER SECOND-QUARTER PROFIT DOWN 17 PER CENT
Unilever, the maker of Dove soap, Lipton tea and Ben & Jrrry's ice cream, reported yesterday that profit fell 17 per cent in the second quarter as its profit margins eroded amid the economic downturn.
Net profit at the consumer products giant was euro758 million (Bt37.1 billion) in the quarter, down from euro909 million in the same period a year earlier, while sales rose 1 per cent to euro10.5 billion.
The sales figure was in line with analysts' expectations.
Unilever didn't specify why its margins slid, but noted it had spent more money on advertising and suffered from higher commodity costs. Profit was also hit by euro77 million more in pension-related costs than a year earlier.
"While conditions remain difficult in many markets, I am encouraged by the return to volume growth across all regions," chief executive Paul Polman said in a statement.
Sales were up 6.6 per cent in Asia and Africa, now Unilever's largest market, 0.6 per cent in the Americas, but fell 5.1 per cent in Western Europe. Operating profits were up by 18 per cent in Asia, but fell by1 per cent in the Americas and 24 per cent in Western Europe.
"Unilever is delivering on its promise of a return to volume growth, which has come much quicker than we anticipated," said analyst Richard Withagen of SNS Securities, who has a "reduce" rating the share. He said volume growth hadn't translated to profits due to pricing weakness but "we see this as a solid performance".
Shares rose 4.3 per cent to euro19.61 in Amsterdam.
Among product lines, at Univlever's savoury and dressings arm, its largest, sales fell 5.8 per cent and operating profits were down 18 per cent.
Unilever said its Knorr soups brand had grown well in the Americas and Asia but that sales were down in Western Europe.
Overall in the US, Unilever said it had capitalised on the move to more in-home eating with successful campaigns behind Hellmann's mayonnaise, Ragu pasta sauces and Bertolli frozen meals.
Unilever's personal-care arm sales grew by 8.5 per cent and operating profit rose 6 per cent. Unilever said new product launches had helped, such as a new Dove deodorant and the Axe body spray. It also noted good growth for Suave, its value brand in the US. Ice cream and drinks sales rose 3.8 per cent but operating profits fell 8.4 per cent. Unilever didn't say why.
Net profit at the consumer products giant was euro758 million (Bt37.1 billion) in the quarter, down from euro909 million in the same period a year earlier, while sales rose 1 per cent to euro10.5 billion.
The sales figure was in line with analysts' expectations.
Unilever didn't specify why its margins slid, but noted it had spent more money on advertising and suffered from higher commodity costs. Profit was also hit by euro77 million more in pension-related costs than a year earlier.
"While conditions remain difficult in many markets, I am encouraged by the return to volume growth across all regions," chief executive Paul Polman said in a statement.
Sales were up 6.6 per cent in Asia and Africa, now Unilever's largest market, 0.6 per cent in the Americas, but fell 5.1 per cent in Western Europe. Operating profits were up by 18 per cent in Asia, but fell by1 per cent in the Americas and 24 per cent in Western Europe.
"Unilever is delivering on its promise of a return to volume growth, which has come much quicker than we anticipated," said analyst Richard Withagen of SNS Securities, who has a "reduce" rating the share. He said volume growth hadn't translated to profits due to pricing weakness but "we see this as a solid performance".
Shares rose 4.3 per cent to euro19.61 in Amsterdam.
Among product lines, at Univlever's savoury and dressings arm, its largest, sales fell 5.8 per cent and operating profits were down 18 per cent.
Unilever said its Knorr soups brand had grown well in the Americas and Asia but that sales were down in Western Europe.
Overall in the US, Unilever said it had capitalised on the move to more in-home eating with successful campaigns behind Hellmann's mayonnaise, Ragu pasta sauces and Bertolli frozen meals.
Unilever's personal-care arm sales grew by 8.5 per cent and operating profit rose 6 per cent. Unilever said new product launches had helped, such as a new Dove deodorant and the Axe body spray. It also noted good growth for Suave, its value brand in the US. Ice cream and drinks sales rose 3.8 per cent but operating profits fell 8.4 per cent. Unilever didn't say why.
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