Maru-T finds Thai partner to distribute paint tools

Maru-T Ohtsuka Corporation, a Japanese producer of premium painting products, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Siam Hardware Industry Co to be the sole distributor of its products in Thailand.

The move is Maru-T Ohtsuka’s first venture overseas for distribution, said director Shinichiro Waki.

Maru-T Ohtsuka has production bases in Japan, China and Cambodia and annual sales revenue of around US$330 million.

“Thailand is a very interesting market for premium painting tools and there’s great potential as no one has yet introduced this segment of painting products to the Thai market,” said Mr Waki.

“We have not yet seen growth of the real professional painting market here but I am very positive that we will see it growing in the next few years.”

Yasushi Ide, president and chief operating officer of Maru-T Ohtsuka (Phnom Penh), said the company has chosen Thailand to be its second market because its economy has grown very quickly over the past decade and it has a very advanced construction sector.

“Buildings in Thailand are also more progressive nowadays in terms of design, which will require more advanced construction techniques including painting,” said Mr Ide.

He said having a local partner would help it gather information on what customers need and would be very useful in developing suitable products for Thailand.

Siam Hardware, which manufactures of metal hardware and hand tools, will offer premium painting products under the Maru-T brand, including micro-fibre paint rollers, lint-free paint rollers, longhair paint rollers, handmade traditional Japanese painting brushes and heavyduty scrapers.

Sales manager Akepong Achariyasilp said the company will initially try to educate consumers on the benefits of premium painting products while also creating brand awareness.

Siam Hardware has invested 10 million baht in this deal that will mostly be used for marketing, with the rest for merchandising.

Mr Akepong said the company has targeted sales revenue in the first year of at least 5 million baht.

He said Maru-T products will be available in leading paint and SCG Home Mart stores.