Lighthouse Weekend Market a boon to businesses

PHUKET: The new addition of a mini-motor expo at the Lighthouse Weekend Market last month produced four on-the-spot car sales, tagging the event as a business generator on Phuket – one in so much demand that it will continue through the rainy season.

The cars that sold were Mini Cooper, Volvo and Subaru models, confirmed Kanittha Prasopsirikul, market organizer and Managing Director of By Kanittha.

In its fifth month, the popularity of the market has been a boon to local retailers and independent vendors, and is now attracting more international brands as the local dockside trading area is expanded.

Visitor numbers totaled 1,700 over the three days; Saturday being the busiest day with about 1,000 visitors between 5pm and 10pm.

Many of the food vendors had to replenish supplies early on Friday evening as visitors filled the dockside to take advantage of the special early-bird deals on drinks and meals for an end-of-week rendezvous with friends.

“The success of the weekend market comes down to bringing a healthy mix of affordable, high-quality local produce, handicrafts and merchandise to a central location, where visitors can shop, eat and chill along the board walk of Phuket’s liveliest marina, while being entertained by a variety of professional performers,” said Ms Kanittha.

What began as an experimental idea to bring together about 50 local traders on the last weekend of January this year, quickly caught on to become a regular monthly event and now boasts a total of 80 stalls and other attractions.

Naka Toru, president of Kabuki from Siam Paragon, explained to the Gazette how impressed he was with the event.

“The purchasing power in Phuket is high and growing, especially when it’s compared to the current situation in Bangkok,” Mr Naka said.

Plans for the Boat Lagoon’s next Lighthouse Market are underway to bring more entertainment and expand on the shopping and dining options.

“Due to popular demand from vendors and visitors, we simply couldn’t just stop running the weekend market during the rainy season, as we’d initially planned,” said Ms Kanittha.

“In fact, we were persuaded to extend the market to three days and make provisions in case of rain. We were surprised by how many visitors and vendors turned out this weekend, despite the threat of stormy weather.”

Vendors and sponsors can contact organizers By Kanittha on facebook at The Lighthouse Market or by calling 081-810 3328