Starmark expanding

       Starmark will open three kitchen furniture outlets in Bangkok and upcountry next year as part of its plan to boost sales 15 per cent.
       Managing director Nantana Srisakulpinyo yesterday said one branch would be in the Crystal Design Centre on Pradit Manutham Road in Bangkok and the next two in new HomePro stores upcountry. The expansion will require more than Bt30 million next year.
       "We cannot estimate the cost exactly for next year, because we're negotiating branch size with the Crystal Design Centre, and that may cost more than Bt10 million, the normal budget for opening a branch," she said.
       The company expects sales to grow nearly 10 per cent this year, but the property market is showing signs of recovering this quarter, so demand for kitchen furniture for both low- and high-rise residences will likely increase next year.
       More than 60 per cent of Starmark's business comes from property projects, which deal with developers, and the rest from retail sales.
       Some 70 per cent of sales are from new residential projects and the rest from the replacement market.
       The company wants to increase the proportion of retail sales to 45 per cent next year, so it must increase its network to 48 branches, from 45 now.
       The company will launch its latest kitchen design: the New Hygienic Thai Kitchen 2010 series, offering three models starting at Bt25,000 a square meter.
       Starmark expects these models to drive sales until next year, Nantana added.