TODAY

Your economic experiences as a young man
My youth was a considerable struggle. Grand-father is an Art Master U San Hlaing. Mother was a schoolteacher, and father a writer/poet. My father passed away when I was in Grade 7. Mother withstood the calamity, so Role Models to me in my youth were mother and grandfather. Just after sitting for Grade 11 Examination I was a salesman at a lottery-ticket shop, and a part-time tutor to children in the evening. I also attended Basic computer course at MCC. Firstly I joined MEGA Co Ltd as a Merchandiser and then rose in positions. I also worked in pharma-ceutical companies like Diethelm, Ranbaxy. Due to good choices and parental guidance I was able to acquire more knowledge using what salaries I earned. My first startup was Yukiko Entertainment in February 2013. I was a pioneer in Myanmar animated cartoons, 2D and 3D. It was ASEAN level; but I left the industry in about 2005 because of the growing piracy problem. My education is: B.A (English); MSC (Strategic Business Analysis, UK); Diploma in SAE (C.M.T.C Australia); and currently I am on Northampton University’s MBA programme. But up to Doctor of Business Administration is targeted.

About 1st Milky Way Company Limited…
1st Milky Way Comapny Limited was started in 2006. It has two subsidiaries: Milky Way Out-door Advertising and Milky Way Marketing Agency.

Again, Outdoor Advertising comprises Billboard Advertising, Mobile Advertising, sides of Buildings Advertising, Kiosks Adver-tising, Bus Shelter Advertising, and LED Advertising. A new line extension business will be serviced by LED standing players to be set up at shopping centers, airports, terminal build-ings, business towers, hotels and restaurants.

Marketing Agency is providing sevice in media strategy, production, event manage-ment, media planning, brand strategy, creative development, consumer activation, etc.

Myan Tour Company Limited. . .
Myan Tour Company Limited was established in February 2014, comprising Myan Tour Travel & Tours and Myan Tour Limosine Service.

Myan Tour Travel & Tours is domestic as well as international. It takes care of collective Tour, Package Tour, Corparate Tour, and other Tailor Made Trip Plans according to customer’s Itinerary.
Limosine Service is provided on call. It may be by the hour, or the distance long or short we use luxury cars of our own.

Any advance preparation in diversification?
Myan Tour materialised thanks to the advice and urging of friends and clients. The follow-up is our service. Better service will bring more familiarity by word of mouth, I hope.

Control to provide good service
Our corporate training in service is constant. I urge employees to take up outside courses, and from time to time share my past experiences of struggle with them.

Your additional businesses
We keep a gym called Reform Sports Club. There are aerobic courses, Yoga courses and Dancercise, which is dancing and exercise combined. With Cybus and Gadler brand machines we are targeting Middle Class.

How to survice among competitions in Advertising Field and Tourism Field
As market leader in outdoor Advertising we use market leader strategy. Its tactics are :lnnovation, Fortification, Confrontation and Harassment. We are customer oriented first and foremost, maybe we are the pioneer in LCD standing player placements. Fortification is preparedness not to have our market robbed by others. Confrontation is easy to understand-harassment is to create obstacles for competitors and is against ethics, so we never use that.
In tourism field we are young and a market follower.

Limosine Service as a niche market targets foreign CEOs, NGOs, executives, diplomats and business class.

Dealing with challenges in outdoor Advertising
We have to remain flexible because the govern-ment, rules and regulations would change from time to time. Then there is higher municipal taxes. But we cannot charge clients more because they have to be kept for long. Nature of my business requires that good contacts be maintained for long.

By the country’s trend what type of adver-tisement is advisable?
Firstly it depends on product. Know your segment’s target market and choose suitable communication platforms for it.

As Myanmar trend goes, Radio is No 1, followed by TV, social medial, and then journal. billboard is last, but it is unavoidable for B2B purposes. And its service charge is rising year by year. Therefore effective advertisement coo-rdinated with budget and period is advisable.

Assessment on advertising prospects
Advertising will be dynamic beyond 2016 because international investors will likely be coming in.

How are you as a local advertiser prepared for the infiltration of international adverti-sers?
I should consider, Could there be a merger, acquisition, or another competitor? From synergy approach I could partner with them as a wise choice.

How do you upgrade your knowledge to remain innovative?
As an avid reader I opt for continuous learning while reviewing the experience gained at practical workplace.

How do you lessen stress in a busy life?
Emotional management is very important, and cause for stress must be identified first. Self-management is important to release stress. I do meditation, gym and yoga. Reading is my hobby. On the road I listen to music, and watch movies at night.

Current CSR activities and their beneficial effect..
I have been for altruistic work since long ago. In 2008 1st Milky Way Company gave donations and encouragement to Nargis victims on site on every weekend. CSR activities of our company are three. For philanthropy we make contribu-tions jointly with civil society organizations. Second is ethical marketing: we shun irrespon-sible advertising, do not poach others’ employees.

The last factor is HR based CSR. We plan and implement programmes for employees’ welfare, so that they might become proud of their organization, their happy workplace.

Good CSR records mean winning more trust than others from clients and partners. Myan Tour is connected to Blood Donation Bank, and Milky Way to MANA (Myanmar Anti Narcotic Association). Therefore every client and company buying our service may assume to have become a partial donor for some altruistic cause, and feel delightful satisfaction. Meanwhile our image improves, mainly thanks to word of mouth. CSR works are making merit as well as a living.