INTRODUCTION
The key to conducting business successfully over the internet is good business
information management.
Who should run our local agent concessions?
Job description – local agent
The concession areas
The concession period
The cost of a year concession period
Purchase of bid documents
The bid document contents
Any business trading its products or services over the internet will be able
to access an online market of 248.6 million people (figures as of 31/01/00) worldwide,
and the market grows at a phenomenal rate each day.
Bear in mind however, that in trading online each business will have to compete
for the customer's dollar against global competition.
Price will of course be a big factor in the potential buyer's decision. Keeping
the product or service price competitive can only be achieved by business managers
learning the business information available.
The information available will assist individual businesses to;
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Reduce overheads in many areas thus reducing front end and back end costs,
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Broaden their customer base,
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Improve their product or service by adopting new or better techniques.
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Better predict 'trends, changes, developments and new opportunities' in their
industry.
Simply put, good information management = a competitive edge.
Thailand-YellowPages.com is far more than just a business directory web site.
It is a comprehensive business model designed to provide business information
and a resources management system, in a user friendly format, to the desk of every
business manager in Thailand – whether he or she is online or not.
The service is provided to our clients in one of two ways;
1. THROUGH THE LOCAL AGENTS NETWORK
We will appoint one Local Agent (concessionaire) for each postal code area
throughout the Kingdom.
Each Local Agent will become the interface through which those companies and
individuals without direct internet access themselves will be able to submit content
to, and request print outs of content from the Thailand-YellowPages.com web site.
Essentially, those not online can receive 'brief summaries/overviews' of any
content on the web site in a newsletter format. They then request a 'full detail'
print out of items of particular interest to them.
2. THROUGH THE THAILAND-YELLOWPAGES.COM WEB SITE
The web site itself with its numerous low cost, customised interactive advertising
options is designed to give our advertisers full and direct control over their
advertising content.
The Thailand-YellowPages.com business model provides a unique solution to many
of the problems impeding the development of Information Technology in Thailand.
If you have followed the international and domestic developments of the internet
over the past 6 months you will no doubt be aware that Thailand-YellowPages.com
is quite simply;
"the right product, at the right price, in the right place, at the
right time."
WHO SHOULD RUN OUR LOCAL AGENT CONCESSIONS?
It is our belief that the Thailand-YellowPages.com Local Agency Concessions
should be run by individual entrepreneurs who can put together a small but energetic
team of like-minded people.
This team should be extremely motivated and share a common objective:
To ensure that Thailand uses the information available on the internet to
maximum effect in developing new and expanding existing business opportunities.
The Thai IT Industry suffers from, and will continue to suffer from a shortage
of IT professionals for the forseeable future. Those with suitable basic qualifications,
and a desire to run their own business as opposed to working for someone else,
should take full advantage whilst the situation exists.
The opportunity to be a part of the solution to Thailand's economic problems,
as opposed to being a part of the problem... is one that should not be missed.
Remember: "If your dreams DON'T scare you, they are NOT big enough."
- Tweeds
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals
can change the world – Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
JOB DESCRIPTION – LOCAL AGENT
The Local Agent will be expected to play an important role in the community.
It is essential that the agent presents a good image and understands that to build
a good client base he or she must contribute to both the social and economic development
of those within the concession area.
The role of the Local Agent is:
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1.
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To introduce and sell a range of internet advertising options on Thailand-YellowPages.com
to both the internet connected, and non internet connected companies in their
concession areas.
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2.
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To provide information management services to those businesses and individuals
in their concession areas that do not have access to the internet.
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3.
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To provide low cost formal and informal translation services to clients not
fully conversant with the Thai or English language.
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4.
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To promote the localised use of information technology by providing a range
of FREE or subsidised services such as; Hosting newsletters.
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5.
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To provide FREE access to the Thailand-YellowPages.com web site for the people
in their concession areas via one or more staff operated computers at their outlets.
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6.
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To create job opportunities at a local level - by employing full or part-time
workers from the local workforce, providing computer and or English language training
in exchange for time spent on basic data uploading tasks, and or other computer
related tasks within their skills level at the time.
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7.
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To act as a selling agent on a commission basis for the sale of cars, houses,
second hand items etc. as advertised in the classified section of Thailand-YellowPages.com.
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8.
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To provide general business services for their client base, such as, compiling
business prospectus, financial projections, cash flow charts, feasibility studies,
for both buyers and sellers of local property, businesses etc.
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9.
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To assist local businesses in obtaining funding for their projects, assisting
them in obtaining lower prices on such routine expenditure as printing costs,
insurance etc. through the collective bargaining/purchasing power of their membership.
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10.
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To play an active role in advising the local business community of promotional
events, both domestic and international, that are worthwhile attending, if such
attendance costs can be made to fit their budgets.
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11.
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(For some agents) To establish and operate product viewing showrooms for new
and second hand goods advertised on Thailand-YellowPages.com.
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12.
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To organise and sponsor social and sporting events amongst the business members
of their concession areas, and those of neighbouring concession areas. This is
in order that their clients may 'socialise and network' with the people with whom
they are doing business online.
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THE CONCESSION AREAS
Concession areas will conform to the postal areas as defined by the postal
code system. Click here to review the postal code chart to ascertain the postal
code for the concession area that you are interested in. Then, from the local
post office for that area, obtain a detailed map showing that postal area and
it's exact boundaries, noting the codes of the postal areas onto which it borders.
THE CONCESSION PERIOD
The first concession period will be for a period of 3 years with a first option
to renew the next 3 year concession period.
THE COST OF A YEAR CONCESSION PERIOD
Given that we wish to encourage budding entrepreneurs to join Thailand-YellowPages.com
team as Local Agents, and in the knowledge that many potential candidates may
be victims of the economic recession, we will allow candidates to structure their
bid as follows;
(1) A monthly fee – payable 1 month in advance.
Plus,
(2) A deposit equal to 3 times the proposed months fee payment.
Example – Where the bid for the monthly fee is Baht 20'000.- The initial
payment would be Baht 80'000.- (Baht 20'000 + Baht 60'000.- followed by 35 monthly
payments of Baht 20'000.-)
The deposit of Baht 60'000.- would be refundable at the end of the concession
period.
Note 1* A reasonably accurate idea of the profitability of running such
a concession will be derived from the results of the financial feasibility study
the templates in the bid document will allow you to produce.
Note 2* Anyone may establish themselves as a temporary sales agent (selling
cars, houses, 2nd hand items etc. for third parties, and selling internet advertising
for Thailand-YellowPages.com in a given postal area, until a Local Agent is formally
appointed.
We recommend that parties interested in becoming a Local Agent consider acting
as temporary sales agents during this period in order to test the feasibility
of the business model.
PURCHASE OF BID DOCUMENTS
There will be a modest charge (circa Baht 3,000 but still to be finalised)
levied for the purchase of bid documents.
The charge will be dictated by the number of document sets requested.
Applicants will be advised of the bid document purchase price by email no later
than 1st May 2001. Bid documents may be applied for at any time after 1st February
2001.
The bid selection will be made on Monday, October 31st 2000 and the successful
bidders will be advised by email (or as otherwise requested).
Bid documents may be applied for by email to: enquiries@Thailand-YellowPages.com
requesting bid documents, or writing to;
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Thailand-YellowPages.com,
P.O.Box 77 Chang Klan Post Office,
Amphur Muang,
Chiang Mai 50101
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and supplying the following information;
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1.
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Name of the person applying for the concession. (or the name of a Thai limited
company, or other juristic entity who will operate the concession).
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2.
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Copy of I.D. (Thai nationals) or (Passport details) foreigners intending to
set up a Thai limited company or partnership to run the concession.
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3.
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The postal area (and it's code) of the concession area to be bid on.
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THE BID DOCUMENT CONTENTS
The bid documents provided for your use when applying for a concession area
will be very detailed, and will include;
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A template for establishing 3 year expenditure/revenue projections. (Note 1.)
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A template for establishing 3 cash flow projections.
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Proposed staffing levels.
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Details of suitable staff qualification /experience and specialised knowledge
requirements.
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A proposed capital and office equipment list.
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Suggestions on ideal premises etc.
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A business operations manual covering all procedures to be used in operating
a Thailand-YellowPages.com concession.
Note 1. The assumptions part of that template will list the details
you will need to obtain from local government and other sources in order to make
realistic projections.
For example; The number of small and medium businesses in the area, the different
types of business, the number of households, a demographic breakdown of residents
etc.
The assumptions part of the document will also include a set of such information
as is needed for accurate projections, such as; the number of vehicles sold per
1000 of the population per year, the number of TVs sold per 1000 people, the number
of computers per 1000 people etc.
In short, we at Thailand-YellowPages.com will incorporate into the bid document
all the tools, suggestions and advice needed for you to put together a
detailed project feasibility study.
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