Its initial attempt to boost sales will be the 4th HomeWorks Expo, running from next Friday to February 3 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre. Three business units under Central will participate in the event: HomeWorks, a home-improvement centre; PowerBuy, which sells home appliances and information-technology products; and the Central Marketing Group, a retailer of consumer goods. With an investment of Bt80 million, the three partners expect to pull in Bt400 million in cash during the event, which targets 300,000 visitors. A budget of Bt40 million has been allocated to set up the show. About Bt20 million will be set aside for a marketing campaign. The event will offer discounts of up to 80 per cent for certain goods. Another Bt20 million will be spent on ways to boost awareness among shoppers. PowerBuy president Suthisarn Chirathivat said the firm needed to stimulate spending early on in the first quarter and planned to work hard throughout the year. "The government needs about six months to get settled in. The economy should enjoy an improved outlook in the second half of the year," he said. "But we cannot wait until then to achieve sales." "This is why we've organised the HomeWorks fair. Soon after this, we'll have another big annual event for PowerBuy itself," he said. He said the new government should stimulate the property sector first, because it would in turn generate business for related industries like construction materials, furniture and home interiors. Meanwhile, CRC Power Retail senior vice president Pong Skuntanaga said the economy was relying entirely on an improved political situation. He hopes the economic outlook will enjoy a better outlook once the new government takes office and that the new government stages an economic recovery to improve consumer confidence. Last year, both HomeWorks and PowerBuy almost achieved their annual sales target, he said. But Pong declined to say what the actual figures were, while Suthisarn said PowerBuy achieved Bt12 billion and recorded growth of 10 per cent. The market was subdued in last year's fourth quarter at a time when stores normally recorded some of their best sales. He blamed the December 23 general election for the poor showing. Pong said HomeWorks this year would set the same growth target as last year. PowerBuy expects to 15-per-cent sales growth this year. It plans to open five to seven branches this year from its existing 80 outlets nationwide. Each new branch will cost Bt20 million. Meanwhile, HomeWorks will spend Bt1.5 billion to open a store in Phuket, which would be its largest outlet, occupying 26,000 square metres of space. It plans to build another branch occupying 15,000 square metres.