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By Johanna M. Sampan, Reporter
Ignoring the global turmoil over the soaring
prices of fuel, Jimmy Lui Thai chooses to keep a positive outlook on
the prospect of his business interests in the country.
Thai is the president and executive director of
13 groups of companies under the umbrella of Primer Group - Uniglobe
Travelware Co. (UTCI).
In 2006, Thai received the Most Outstanding
Filipino Retailers award from the Philippine Retailers Association
and Department of Trade and Industry, citing the success of one of
his concept stores, The Travel Club. In the same year, the Ayala
Malls hailed him the Most Promising Retailer.
Among the famous brands that UTCI has introduced
in the Philippines are The North Face, Kickers, Samsonite and
Sledgers.
The firm’s most recent brand introduction is
the Life is Good line of products for the whole family such as
t-shirts, jackets, shorts and slippers as well as bits and pieces
for kids such as aqua balls, caps, wallets, water bottles and mugs.
Clytie Gay Co Tong Choa, brand manager of Life
is good, relates: “It all started when we have to come up with
fresh products for the R.O.X. Southeast Asia superstore. We went all
the way to Europe and United States for sourcing. Mr. Thai then
brought in Life is Good in November of 2007. High-end as it may
seem, the brand carries a feel good kind of humor and an enormously
optimistic view on each and every challenging day.”
Life is Good makes its presence felt by its
target market by conducting pro-kids events such as the Watermelon
festival that was recently held for the benefit of the Bantay Bata
Foundation.
For its corporate social responsibility program,
Primer, through its outdoor brand The North Face, sponsors Climb for
a Cause, a foundation dedicated to raising funds for the
underprivileged and the environment, and Tandikan Expedition, a
conservation research program that revolves around the Palawan
peacock and Palawan Hornbill, which are in danger of extinction. The
company also helped fund the expedition of Romi Garduce to the peak
of Mt. Everest in 2006.
With 14 awards in the field of marketing, and
using the power and level of relationship their brand has with their
customers to drive their business, Jimmy Thai is one guy with a
solid mission.
“My personal mission is to contribute to the
creation of a bigger Filipino middle class as well as to create
opportunities and not just wealth,” Thai says.
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