Liverpool powered by new deal with Thailand's 3K Battery

[King Binny]

Announced towards end of Jan, but here's news from Thailand:

Mr Veerawat (left) shakes hands with Liverpool legend Ian Rush after signing a three-year deal to use the logo in promotions.

The country's leading maker of car batteries has promised to launch a variety of activities created specifically for Reds fans. 3K Battery believes the Anfield deal, reportedly worth more than Bt300 million (£6 million), will be a boost for the company's international image.

Liverpool legend Ian Rush attended the conference yesterday to announce the club's new partner.

"Unfortunately, not everyone has an opportunity to go to England and watch Liverpool play," said the Reds' record goal-scorer.

"So, what the club is doing is to bring the club to the people. We have fantastic support here in Thailand. A partnership would help us achieve [more in that direction]. I'm really looking forward to a long and successful relationship with 3K Battery," said the Welshman, who wrote "Phom Rak 3K" (I love 3K) on a message board to mark the beginning of the partnership.

Veerawat Korphaibool, 3K vice president, said the company would kick-off its Liverpool-themed activities with the "3K New Reds Power" campaign.

"3K has now become the world's first car-battery company to become an official partner of an English football club. We are the leaders in the market, domestically and internationally, with our products available in more than 50 countries worldwide.

"We're confident that our partnership with Liverpool will be a great success and hugely impress all Reds fans.

"Liverpool supporters in Thailand can expect special activities under our 'Exciting, Enormous, New Fun' banner. Our 500-plus shops nationwide will get a '3K New Reds Power… Your Style…Fun style' makeover, and lucky winners of a prize draw will get to meet Liverpool star players," said Veerawat.

A three-year partnership signed recently with Liverpool FC is expected to drive 3K Battery's domestic and export sales by 10% to between 6.2 and 6.3 billion baht this year, tallying over 1 million car batteries.

3K Battery's domestic and export sales are equally split. The total domestic market is projected to grow 5% year-on-year to 8 billion baht or 8 million units sold this year, with 3K Battery holding a 30% share.

3K Products Co, the distribution arm in the replacement market, had an opportunity loss of over 100 million baht in 2011 thanks to its inability to supply its clients for three months during the floods, said Veerawat Korphaibool, senior vice-president of 3K Products Co.

"The overall auto battery industry in Thailand will rebound this year after consumer confidence is restored," he said.

3K's V-Series sealed maintenance free (SMF) battery, which was launched in the replacement market in late 2010, is expected to help its sales this year in the European and compact markets when it launches in the first quarter this year.

Export sales are projected to be higher than domestic sales this year thanks to the V-Series receiving a strong response from customers in developed countries. 3K Battery is available in 50 countries worldwide.

Mr Veerawat said listed Thai Storage Battery Plc's contract with Liverpool FC is worth 300 million baht (£6 million) and was signed to mark 3K Battery's 25-year anniversary. 3K insists it is the first car battery company to partner with an English football club, as it aims to make its products internationally known.

"We have a strong determination to support sport in the country and return profits to the customers," said Mr Veerawat, director of Thai Storage Battery.

The company estimates there are over 14 million Reds fans in Thailand and are targeting that niche. 3K Battery can use the Liverpool FC logo in Thailand only for all promotional media including advertisements, still and motion pictures, premium gifts and campaigns.

3K Battery will introduce Thai soccer fans to Liverpool players at Anfield after signing a three-year partnership contract with the English Premier League side.

"We are rocking the football world," Veerawat Korphaibool, senior vice president of 3K Products Co, said yesterday.

"We are determined to become an international brand with the 300 million baht partnership contract."

The deal, which was signed recently, allows 3K Battery to use Liverpool logos in promotional campaigns and advertisements.

"We plan to organise a promotional campaign for Liverpool fans," Veerawat said.

"Liverpool fans could get a chance to meet Liverpool players like Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Dirk Kuyt and Pepe Reina in England."

3K Battery is the latest Thai or Thailand-based company to be a partner or sponsor of an English football club.

Among them are Singha beer, a global partner of Manchester United and Chelsea; Chang beer, an official partner of Everton; and AP Honda, a sponsor of Manchester United and Liverpool.

Also Big Cola is a sponsor of the English FA Cup and the England national team, while King Power owns Leicester City.

 

[Squiggles]

Downing should figurehead their promotional campaign, after all, he was almost battery charged.

 

[Asbo]

They was going to charge him overnight would have been better 😉

 

[King Binny]

3K Battery is looking forward to a long and successful partnership with English FA Cup runners-up Liverpool after signing an initial three-year contract.

The company will launch a campaign, "3K New Reds Power…The International Power" very shortly.

"We're delighted to secure a partnership with one of the English Premiership's famous sides, Liverpool, under the concept, '3K New Red Power… The International Power'. With the deal, we became the first company in the battery industry to support a football club," Veerawat Korphaibool, 3K Battery senior vice president, told a conference at the club where the Reds' Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez was present.

"As the leading manufacturer and distributor of car batteries in more than 50 countries worldwide, including Thailand, we're looking to enhance our image as a Thai product meeting world standards through sports marketing.

"As the official partner of Liverpool in the country, we've come up with a 360-degree marketing campaign to differentiate ourselves from competitors. The plan is to penetrate the Liverpool FC fan base in Thailand, which represents approximately 14 million people.

"We believe that the partnership will be successful business-wise. We want to ensure the Kop the special experience that we will offer through this deal," Veerawat said.

Veerawat said the company was also aiming to use the partnership to help develop the sport in the country.

"We're ready to extend our support to Thai football, especially at the youth level. We believe that youth football is the foundation for success at national and professional levels."

Ian Ayre, Liverpool managing director, said the club was happy to have a successful company such as 3K Battery as its partner.

"We are continuing to team up with successful companies around the world, which once again shows the value of the Club's brand globally.

"3K Battery is a forward-thinking company and, as with all our partnerships, we have taken time to form a relationship with 3K Battery so we can support mutual goals more effectively and provide significant brand visibility," said Ayre.

 

[Fabio]

We're getting wedge from all angles

 

[Cerberus]

Which should enter the porn industry next. Big money there. We could have double penetration on Liverpool bed sheets.

 

[Y1]

Liverpool fan base in ThailandMalaysia Singapore are huge. surprising that we have been so poor for so long

 

[RedStar]

This is the sort of shit the Glazers have been doing at Utd for the last few years, endorse fucking everything, its pretty much what keeps them above water despite the leveraged take over, it was inevitable that FSG would do the same here, we have been massively under represented commercially for the last few years. Its good to finally have owners who are operating in the 21st century

 

[Judge Jules]

Quite. We've paid far too high a price over the last twenty years for staying aloof from this sort of thing as football's been changing around us.

 

[the count]

I assume the same attitude will be taken when these same business whiz kids push up ticket prices again, bring out multiple replica kits on a yearly basis and generally find new and innovative ways to squeeze more income from the fan base

 

[Judge Jules]

Fair point, but we either take that risk or stagnate.

 

[the count]

I doubt any of us want to stagnate JJ but I don't believe you can have it both ways though I suspect there are many that will want to.

 

[RedStar]

I assume the same attitude will be taken when these same business whiz kids push up ticket prices again, bring out multiple replica kits on a yearly basis and generally find new and innovative ways to squeeze more income from the fan base

They may or may not do the things your talking about in the future, the money to finance the new stadium will have to come from somewhere, but until such a time as they do then you cant really throw it back in their faces, your speculating.

What they currently are doing is strengthening the corporate side of our business and bringing in much higher revenues from that part of the business.

 

[Modo]

A three-finger salute?
Now he's insulting Bosnians.
Ban him!!

 

[gkmacca]

Rushie must be getting sick of this: 'Ian, can you get over to Thailand for the first Standard Chartered/LFC-sponsored LadyBoy Hairdressers Marcel Wave Contest? We need you to hold a pair of scissors and a comb and look happy'.

 

[FoxForceFive]

This is the sort of shit the Glazers have been doing at Utd for the last few years, endorse fucking everything, its pretty much what keeps them above water despite the leveraged take over, it was inevitable that FSG would do the same here, we have been massively under represented commercially for the last few years. Its good to finally have owners who are operating in the 21st century

They do a lot better than 'keeping above water'.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Rushie must be getting sick of this: 'Ian, can you get over to Thailand for the first Standard Chartered/LFC-sponsored LadyBoy Hairdressers Marcel Wave Contest? We need you to hold a pair of scissors and a comb and look happy'.

Haha, there's more difficult ways to earn good money!