Unilever Platinum Stores: Building a brand for the community

This case describes the conception and development of an innovative store concept by Unilever, Thailand, and illustrates the challenges of setting up and scaling a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project that involves the active participation of the members of the community. Against the backdr...

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Main Authors: ZERRILLO, Philip C., MATHUR, Sarita, ITTHIOPASSAQUL, Pannapachr
Format: text
Language:English
Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2015
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Online Access:https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cases_coll_all/112
https://cmp.smu.edu.sg/case/3291
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Institution: Singapore Management University
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spelling sg-smu-ink.cases_coll_all-11132018-07-13T09:44:26Z Unilever Platinum Stores: Building a brand for the community ZERRILLO, Philip C. MATHUR, Sarita ITTHIOPASSAQUL, Pannapachr This case describes the conception and development of an innovative store concept by Unilever, Thailand, and illustrates the challenges of setting up and scaling a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project that involves the active participation of the members of the community. Against the backdrop of Thailand’s worst floods in over 60 years, Ratchtar Karasuddhi (‘Jack’), the head of business development for general trade at Unilever, comes up with an idea of assisting a flood stricken owner of a mom and pop shop (a local neighbourhood convenience store). Looking at the location of the shop, Jack believed that with some upgrading and better visibility, the shop could not only be revived, but become a serious alternative to the nearby modern trade convenience store. What started out as a simple wish to help a single distressed shop owner, soon spawned into a viable business idea that would benefit the local community and the company. The number of Star Stores, or Platinum Stores as they were called within Unilever, expanded rapidly – the first outlet was inaugurated in March 2012 and there were 7,800 Platinum Stores by July 2014. The frenetic growth in the number of stores eventually showed strain on the execution side of the business, as the operations side struggled to cope with the fact that four to five new outlets were being opened each day. Each store required the full engagement with and cooperation of the shop owner, a customised planogram, and training and capability building of the shop owner. Looking ahead, what will determine the sustained success of Platinum Stores in Thailand? 2015-02-01T08:00:00Z text application/pdf https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cases_coll_all/112 https://cmp.smu.edu.sg/case/3291 Case Collection eng Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Unilever FMCG Thailand Asia General Trade Mom and Pop Shop Convenience Store Marketing Distribution Channels Branding Community Brand Brand Consistency Point of Sales Merchandising Market Based Assets Asian Studies Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Marketing Sales and Merchandising
institution Singapore Management University
building SMU Libraries
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider SMU Libraries
collection InK@SMU
language English
topic Unilever
FMCG
Thailand
Asia
General Trade
Mom and Pop Shop
Convenience Store
Marketing
Distribution Channels
Branding
Community Brand
Brand Consistency
Point of Sales
Merchandising
Market Based Assets
Asian Studies
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
Marketing
Sales and Merchandising
spellingShingle Unilever
FMCG
Thailand
Asia
General Trade
Mom and Pop Shop
Convenience Store
Marketing
Distribution Channels
Branding
Community Brand
Brand Consistency
Point of Sales
Merchandising
Market Based Assets
Asian Studies
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
Marketing
Sales and Merchandising
ZERRILLO, Philip C.
MATHUR, Sarita
ITTHIOPASSAQUL, Pannapachr
Unilever Platinum Stores: Building a brand for the community
description This case describes the conception and development of an innovative store concept by Unilever, Thailand, and illustrates the challenges of setting up and scaling a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project that involves the active participation of the members of the community. Against the backdrop of Thailand’s worst floods in over 60 years, Ratchtar Karasuddhi (‘Jack’), the head of business development for general trade at Unilever, comes up with an idea of assisting a flood stricken owner of a mom and pop shop (a local neighbourhood convenience store). Looking at the location of the shop, Jack believed that with some upgrading and better visibility, the shop could not only be revived, but become a serious alternative to the nearby modern trade convenience store. What started out as a simple wish to help a single distressed shop owner, soon spawned into a viable business idea that would benefit the local community and the company. The number of Star Stores, or Platinum Stores as they were called within Unilever, expanded rapidly – the first outlet was inaugurated in March 2012 and there were 7,800 Platinum Stores by July 2014. The frenetic growth in the number of stores eventually showed strain on the execution side of the business, as the operations side struggled to cope with the fact that four to five new outlets were being opened each day. Each store required the full engagement with and cooperation of the shop owner, a customised planogram, and training and capability building of the shop owner. Looking ahead, what will determine the sustained success of Platinum Stores in Thailand?
format text
author ZERRILLO, Philip C.
MATHUR, Sarita
ITTHIOPASSAQUL, Pannapachr
author_facet ZERRILLO, Philip C.
MATHUR, Sarita
ITTHIOPASSAQUL, Pannapachr
author_sort ZERRILLO, Philip C.
title Unilever Platinum Stores: Building a brand for the community
title_short Unilever Platinum Stores: Building a brand for the community
title_full Unilever Platinum Stores: Building a brand for the community
title_fullStr Unilever Platinum Stores: Building a brand for the community
title_full_unstemmed Unilever Platinum Stores: Building a brand for the community
title_sort unilever platinum stores: building a brand for the community
publisher Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University
publishDate 2015
url https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cases_coll_all/112
https://cmp.smu.edu.sg/case/3291
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