Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian Opens Its First Concept Store in Bangkok, Thailand

Meridian's latest press release:

Cambridgeshire, UK, Meridian, the renowned British manufacturer of state-of-the-art audio and video entertainment systems, together with its exclusive distributor in Thailand, MRD Audio Co., are launching the first Meridian Concept store in the world in the centre of one of the world`s most vibrant and exotic cities, Bangkok.

The Meridian Concept store, situated in Thailand`s most exclusive shopping complex - Siam Paragon in the upmarket Pathumwan district of Bangkok - represents the first dedicated Meridian showroom in the world, and as such will become the flagship demonstration location for the company`s range of products in Asia. Meridian products are currently available in over 50 countries, including the UK (Meridian`s home), the USA, Russia, India, China and Japan.

The Meridian Concept store is a unique retail experience, comprising a number of zones:

� The Gallery: a dedicated retail zone displaying the company`s compact products and organisational history

� The Crown Jewels: a display cabinet showcasing a current or historical ground-breaking Meridian product

� The Meridian Experience: a theatre for technical demonstrations of Meridian`s class leading home cinema products

� The Orangery: a home set-up demonstration room featuring flexible Meridian system configurations

� The Concierge Reception: an exclusive area where clients can discuss the finer details of their system and installation

Graeme Taylor, Meridian`s Director of Global Marketing, explains: “the Meridian Concept store marks an important development for Meridian Audio - the first of our concept stores in the world, and in Bangkok - the beating heart of South East Asia. We are very confident in this bold new step as the Asian market for luxury electronics is growing rapidly.”

International retail design specialists, KVB Design, developed the extraordinary concept for the showroom. Graeme Taylor comments: “In its design, this showroom aims to fuse traditional luxury with cutting edge design in a uniquely British way. We have selected natural materials such as hard woods, leather and fabrics in combination with accents of technology like fine metals and architectural glass and lighting. Reflected throughout the store is Britain`s reputation for prestige and technical luxury, which Asian consumers have long had a respect for and which have always been key pillars of the Meridian brand.”

Bangkok`s Meridian Concept store opens its doors to the public on November 12th this year and represents the next step in the company`s international expansion, which in itself affirms Meridian Audio`s on-going success in positioning the brand at the very pinnacle of international high-end audio and vision.

Meridian was established in Cambridgeshire in 1977 and has since won over 165 international awards for its exquisitely stylish and innovative products. The company`s ethos is to improve how we listen to music and deliver to its very discerning customers the highest and purest level of audio and visual performance available.

Well, it makes more sense than opening one in the U.K. with the state of the economy at present.

So, it's the Concierge to whom we address our technical questions in future.

Nope. The Concierge will be asking the questions: "Will you be spending a five-figure sum today sir, or six?"

Sorry, I was joking.

A couple of points to ponder:

- I wonder what the other "Premium Partners" think about this? Did they know in advance that this experiment with Meridian branded stores was coming?

- For goodness sake, why say nothing about this until the day before launch? How do you think Meridian's competitors like B&O would have reacted? Reopen a lot of their franchised shops which have been shut due to lack of customers?

With a Thai baht worth less than tuppence, let's hope the Concierge is asking for six or seven figure spending or this is going to be a very abrupt failure on Mothership's part.

I imagine they will accept the Greenback.

Interestingly, the current Marketing Director is ex-B&O...

Interesting.....for many years on HH various folk have made sensible arguments for M having it's own stores. I think it's a pretty brave move in the current climate. Let's hope that M get what they need out of it....and that it helps the transition that we appear to in.

I'll be in Bangkok in January so will try and check it out. Will ask the concierge if I can take some pics too.

First pics:

http://blog.worldinteriordesignnetwork.com/widn_blog/archives/2009/11/meridian_concep.html

On the 3rd pic there seems to be two Concierges..

Excellent!

My son works in publishing in UAE, splitting his time between Dubai (where he lives) and Abu Dhabi. The latter Emirate is still going steady whereas Dubai has taken a big knock economically recently - particularly in the real estate market.

Perhaps I could facilitate a concept store in Abu Dhabi (!).

This really is good news - I've never been to Bangkok. A good reason for going.

Maybe Moscow will be next.

Here are links to the photos:

Meridian Concept Store Exterior

The Crown Jewels

The Gallery

The Meridian Experience

The Orangery

Looks very nice. Can't see any 8k's in there.

In the orangery photo, are M selling some CD's at the back too?

Bob did ask for levels of interest in this at HH2 IIRC.

If I were M I'd be inviting the rich and shameless celebs in each location to come down for 'personal demos' etc. That'd get the wow-factor going.

Ha ha ha ha. The large London landscape on the right is by Daddy's man on the ground, Yariv Milchan.

I'm sure this is possible with the Muse connections.