Post-riot aid for small Bangkok retailers
By Jon Fernquest
Help is on the way to small business
people whose businesses were crippled by
political events in Bangkok over the last few months. Today's article begins after the vocabulary below.
(In photo on right "small tourism operators affected by the red-shirt protests sign up to seek assistance from the coordinating centre set up by the Tourism Council of Thailand. About 300 operators reportedly are signing up for the aid at the ground floor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand offices each day." Photo by WEERAWONG WONGPREEDEE)
help is on the way -
actions are now being taken to help people
crippled - damaged severely so it can no longer operate properly
operators - businesses doing this business
protests - meetings, sometimes forceful or violent, or public statements by people who strongly disagree with something ชุมนุมประท้วง
assistance - help (given to someone) ความช่วยเหลือ
coordinate - working together efficiently to achieve goals ประสานงาน
coordinating centre - the place from which a project or program is managed and guided
sign up - to sign an official list to join and participate in a program or project
aid - help; assistance ความช่วยเหลือ
crippled - damaged severely so it can no longer operate properly
operators - businesses doing this business
protests - meetings, sometimes forceful or violent, or public statements by people who strongly disagree with something ชุมนุมประท้วง
assistance - help (given to someone) ความช่วยเหลือ
coordinate - working together efficiently to achieve goals ประสานงาน
coordinating centre - the place from which a project or program is managed and guided
sign up - to sign an official list to join and participate in a program or project
aid - help; assistance ความช่วยเหลือ
TOURISM HELP
More campaigns to help retailers
Many following up on Silom success1/06/2010
Phusadee Arunmas and Krissana Parnsoonthorn
More help is on the way for riot-hit retailers to sell their products and pare down inventories after the success of the Silom walking street campaign last weekend.
Both the government and operators are looking to tap consumers' eagerness to help revive business by shopping.
Thaya Theepsuwan, a Bangkok deputy governor, said a second walking street would be set up in front of Siam Paragon from the Henri Dunant intersection to MBK on Saturday and Sunday. Another Silom walking street - the first one generated 140 million baht in sales - will be staged on June 12-13.
campaign - a
planned group of especially political, business or military activities
which are intended to achieve a particular aim การรณรงค์
retail - the sale of goods from a fixed location such as a department store or convenience store (See Wikipedia)
retailer - a store or chain of stores, a "retail" business
follow up - an action that continues what has already been started, doing something additional after initial action (example: follow up sales lead, follow up with a phone call after the sales presentation)
campaigns - a long series of events staged to achieve a goal or to promote something (for example, an "anti-smoking campaign")
riot - a violent protest การจลาจล
riot-hit - hurt by the riot
pare - cut back on, reduce
pare down inventories - reduce inventories, reduce the goods being stored before being sold
walking street - a street for people to walk only without cars (follows the original "Walking Street" in the coastal resort town of Pattaya)
campaign - a planned group of especially political, business or military activities which are intended to achieve a particular aim การรณรงค์
looking to - planning to
tap - use
eager - want to do something very much, very excited that some event will happen กระตือรือล้น
eagerness - being excited about doing something or about some some future event
revive - bring back to life, get started once again after stopping ฟื้นชีพ, ชุบชีวิต (
deputy - a person who is given the power to do something instead of another person, rank is immediately below leader รอง, ตัวแทน,ผู้รักษาการแทน
intersection - a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
generated - created
stage - organize an event (examples: stage an event, stage a concert)
retail - the sale of goods from a fixed location such as a department store or convenience store (See Wikipedia)
retailer - a store or chain of stores, a "retail" business
follow up - an action that continues what has already been started, doing something additional after initial action (example: follow up sales lead, follow up with a phone call after the sales presentation)
campaigns - a long series of events staged to achieve a goal or to promote something (for example, an "anti-smoking campaign")
riot - a violent protest การจลาจล
riot-hit - hurt by the riot
pare - cut back on, reduce
pare down inventories - reduce inventories, reduce the goods being stored before being sold
walking street - a street for people to walk only without cars (follows the original "Walking Street" in the coastal resort town of Pattaya)
campaign - a planned group of especially political, business or military activities which are intended to achieve a particular aim การรณรงค์
looking to - planning to
tap - use
eager - want to do something very much, very excited that some event will happen กระตือรือล้น
eagerness - being excited about doing something or about some some future event
revive - bring back to life, get started once again after stopping ฟื้นชีพ, ชุบชีวิต (
deputy - a person who is given the power to do something instead of another person, rank is immediately below leader รอง, ตัวแทน,ผู้รักษาการแทน
intersection - a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
generated - created
stage - organize an event (examples: stage an event, stage a concert)
The retailers who missed the chance to join the first Silom walking street will be offered space in a new 800-metre walking street [near Paragon]," she said.
The Commerce Ministry also plans to expand a walking street dubbed "Together We Can Grand Sale" every weekend to provincial areas until July to stimulate shopping and tourism.
chance
- opportunity (a situation where it is possible to do something)
missed the chance - lose opporunity, not act quick enough
expand - to become larger ขายตัวออกไป
dubbed - given a name ตั้งฉายา, ตั้งชื่อเล่นให้
stimulate - act so as to increase activity กระตุ้น (See glossary)
missed the chance - lose opporunity, not act quick enough
expand - to become larger ขายตัวออกไป
dubbed - given a name ตั้งฉายา, ตั้งชื่อเล่นให้
stimulate - act so as to increase activity กระตุ้น (See glossary)
Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said the aim was to help entrepreneurs affected by the riots and arson attacks in the capital following the dispersal of the red-shirt protests on May 19. The events will be held in Pattaya on June 5-6, Nonthaburi from June 12-13, and in Nakhon Sawan from June 19-20.
Affected businesses would also be allowed to join other trade fairs to be held throughout June by the ministry in border provinces such as Mukdahan and Tak.
aim
- purpose; goal เป้าหมาย จุดมุ่งหมาย
entrepreneurs - business people เจ้าของกิจการ
capital - the city or town that is the government center of a country or province (example: Bangkokis the capital of Thailand, Chiang Rai is the capital of Chiang Rai province)
dispersal of protests - when government takes action to remove protesters from the area they are protesting in
trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
trade fairs - a large meeting where companies display the goods and services they sell to possible customers (See Wikipedia)
ministry - a government department dealing with an area of activity กระทรวง
border - the official line separating two areas, regions or countries เขตแดน อาณาเขต
entrepreneurs - business people เจ้าของกิจการ
capital - the city or town that is the government center of a country or province (example: Bangkokis the capital of Thailand, Chiang Rai is the capital of Chiang Rai province)
dispersal of protests - when government takes action to remove protesters from the area they are protesting in
trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
trade fairs - a large meeting where companies display the goods and services they sell to possible customers (See Wikipedia)
ministry - a government department dealing with an area of activity กระทรวง
border - the official line separating two areas, regions or countries เขตแดน อาณาเขต
In a bid to revive confidence of traders and foreign visitors in the Ratchaprasong shopping hub, the ministry also plans to organise a world-class fashion show in October or November, featuring international brands such as Fendi, Louis Vuitton and other internationally renowned products and international supermodels.
Chulalongkorn University, which owns Siam Square, is arranging temporary tents in Siam Square sois 1, 2 and 3 covering 3,000 square metres to allow retailers hit by the fires and riots to sell non-food goods. Food operators will be offered to use empty shophouses covering 3,000 sq m along Henri Dunant Road, and 10 tutorial schools will be offered space at a parking lot at the Novotel Siam Square.
bid
- an attempt to do something ความพยายาม
confidence - feel sure and certain about something ความเชื่อมั่น, ความมั่นใจ
revive confidence - make people feel sure about something again (after they lost this sureness or "confidence")
traders - people who trade securities (stocks, bonds) and derivatives ผู้ค้าหุ้นและหลักทรัพย์
hub - the central or main part of something where there is most activity จุดศูนย์กลาง
international - ระหว่างประเทศ between countries
brands - products with well-established names that people remember, that create a certain image and expectations about the product
renowned - famous and admired for a special skill or achievement ที่มีชื่อเสียง
temporary - done or used for only a limited period of time ชั่วคราว
empty - having nothing inside ว่างเปล่า
shophouses - the building you see most often on the streets of Bangkok, with a shop on the first floor, and a living area on the floors above (See photo at top of page) ร้านค้า
food operators - restaurants
confidence - feel sure and certain about something ความเชื่อมั่น, ความมั่นใจ
revive confidence - make people feel sure about something again (after they lost this sureness or "confidence")
traders - people who trade securities (stocks, bonds) and derivatives ผู้ค้าหุ้นและหลักทรัพย์
hub - the central or main part of something where there is most activity จุดศูนย์กลาง
international - ระหว่างประเทศ between countries
brands - products with well-established names that people remember, that create a certain image and expectations about the product
renowned - famous and admired for a special skill or achievement ที่มีชื่อเสียง
temporary - done or used for only a limited period of time ชั่วคราว
empty - having nothing inside ว่างเปล่า
shophouses - the building you see most often on the streets of Bangkok, with a shop on the first floor, and a living area on the floors above (See photo at top of page) ร้านค้า
food operators - restaurants
The temporary retail space, which opened since last week, will be available for two years pending the redevelopment of 40,000 sq m to replace the Siam Theatre, which was destroyed on May 19.
The space is free of charge for just a period of time, not two years, and Chulalongkorn University will decide how long is the free period," said the university's vice-president, Gp Capt Permyot Kosolbhand.
retail
- to sell directly to the public for their own use ขายปลีก
space - an area in a building used for some activity
retail space - shopping center, an area with a lot of stores and shops
pending - waiting to be dealt with, settled or completed ยังค้างอยู่, ซึ่งยังไม่จบสิ้น, อยู่ในระหว่าง
real estate development - building real estate (homes, mall, shopping center, office building)
redevelopment - rebuilding
replace - to get rid of someone or something, and to put a new person or thing in its place หาคนมาแทน, เลิกให้และนำสิ่งใหม่มาใช้แทน
free of charge - free
long - to want something very much ต้องการ ปรารถนา
space - an area in a building used for some activity
retail space - shopping center, an area with a lot of stores and shops
pending - waiting to be dealt with, settled or completed ยังค้างอยู่, ซึ่งยังไม่จบสิ้น, อยู่ในระหว่าง
real estate development - building real estate (homes, mall, shopping center, office building)
redevelopment - rebuilding
replace - to get rid of someone or something, and to put a new person or thing in its place หาคนมาแทน, เลิกให้และนำสิ่งใหม่มาใช้แทน
free of charge - free
long - to want something very much ต้องการ ปรารถนา
Arena in Thong Lor Soi 10, a football field owned by Oishi Group CEO Tan Passakornnatee, is also offering free space until June 6. Over the past weekend, bargain-hunting shoppers thronged Arena for products ranging from clothes to bags, shoes and toys.
Central Retail Corp yesterday also announced a new offering of free space at Baan Silom Arcade for three months to help riot-hit businesses sell their goods.
It also offered 1,500 sq m at Tops Marketplace Udomsuk free of charge for small retailers. Those renting 700 sq m at China World Wang Burapha will pay only electricity bills. Another 300 sq m at Power Centre Hua Mark are available at cheap rents of 200 baht per day.
free space - 1. an
area that can be used for an activity for free, 2. an area that has
nothing in it now (so can be used)
bargain-hunting shoppers - shoppers looking for very reduced prices (good deals)
field - to use a person as your representative ส่งต้วแทน
bills - money owed to others that must be paid quickly
electricity bills - money that must be paid for electricity used during the month
bargain-hunting shoppers - shoppers looking for very reduced prices (good deals)
field - to use a person as your representative ส่งต้วแทน
bills - money owed to others that must be paid quickly
electricity bills - money that must be paid for electricity used during the month
A CRC spokeswoman said most of the affected retailers were now heading for the walking streets held by the BMA. After that, they will seek space from private operators.
The Mall Group, meanwhile, will stage a fair at Bitec from tomorrow to Sunday to allow its suppliers and other affected retailers to distribute their inventories.
private operators - "private"
companies owned by people (not the government)
stage - to organise and event ทำการเปลี่ยนแปลง ปฏิวัติ
suppliers - a company that provides goods to other companies that use them in their business (includes raw materials, pieces of equipment, etc...)
distribute - to give something such as food, clothes or money to a group of people แจกจ่าย
inventories - goods kept in storage for future sale or use by a company or organization
stage - to organise and event ทำการเปลี่ยนแปลง ปฏิวัติ
suppliers - a company that provides goods to other companies that use them in their business (includes raw materials, pieces of equipment, etc...)
distribute - to give something such as food, clothes or money to a group of people แจกจ่าย
inventories - goods kept in storage for future sale or use by a company or organization
(Source: TOURISM HELP, More campaigns to help retailers, Many following up on Silom success, 1/06/2010, Phusadee Arunmas and Krissana Parnsoonthorn, link)
