Ink Newsletter | January 2016
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Pelikan Asia Sdn Bhd.
Ink Newsletter | January 2016
Editorial Happy New Year 2016! Hope everyone had a good start to the year and is raring to go in 2016.
as the positive spillover affects our businesses in other retail channels and mass markets.
So what’s new for 2016? More products, more channels, and more promotional activities for Pelikan and our other brands. 2016 will be a challenging year for us as the market intensifies with aggressive promotions, competitive pricing and faster product turnaround from other brands in the stationery business, given the slower consumer spending anticipated this year. We have to be effective in our brand building activities and promotions, as well as efficient in our operations and business development in order to achieve our turnover goals. We are grateful that the Pelikan Store at The Gardens Mall, which started its operations in last September, has been well received by the public so far and has given the Pelikan brand some awareness and recognition. More events and marketing activities will be held to promote the Pelikan Store and we intend to work closely with our partners such as artists, art teachers and The Gardens Mall marketing team so we can tap into their wide customer base. The on-going art classes continue to be one of the main attractions at Pelikan Store. Coupled with the recently launched Pelikan Member Card, we are now in a better position to promote our brand and products to our end consumers and to gain consumer insights in the market. We hope to keep the momentum going for the brand building activities we are planning through the Pelikan Store,
We will continue to bring in new products in 2016 to keep our product assortment fresh, attractive and relevant to our customers. Suzy Card is now part of this new 2016 line up. Suzy Card specializes in papeterie products such as gift wraps, gift bags, stickers, as well as party supplies like balloons, party hats, banners and buntings, which are perfect for presents and decorations. Launched at the end of 2015 at the Pelikan Store, we hope to bring more Suzy Card products to the market with selected channels and partners. We are excited by what lies ahead for us in 2016 and will share more news and updates about Pelikan’s product offerings and promotions through the Ink Newsletter. Don’t forget to be our brand ambassador to all the people you know. Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Instagram, and share all our promotional activities and products news to your family and friends. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year. We wish you happiness, good health and wealth in the Year of the Monkey.
Phikyin Loo Yours sincerely,
In a Bl ts News/Even Marketing Flash Sale @ Pelikan Store Awesome discount at the Pelikan Store last long weekend! Pelikan Store had a flash sale for 3 days only from 23-25 January. The sale offered 15% discount storewide. Special for Pelikan Members, they were entitled to an additional 10% discount!
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Another reason to visit Pelikan Store! Pelikan Store is giving away Pelikan Store last long weekend! Awesome discount at the exclusive CNY Year of Monkey ang pow packets for a minimum for 3 days only from 23-25 sale flash Pelikan Store had a of RM100 spend in a single receipt. The cute design will surely t storewide. Special for discoun 15% January. The sale offeredbrighten up your Chinese New Year. Promotion ends 22 February. to an additional 10% entitled Pelikan Members, they were While stock lasts! discount!
Double
Celebrating the Chinese New Year and the Valentine’s Day that are coming in February, Pelikan is running a promotion for its Souveran and Classic range at Pelikan Store, Isetan & Kinokuniya KLCC and MO Shop Mandarin Oriental KL. Under this promotion, you will receive a leather pouch for every purchase of a Souveran pen and a free red heart shape gift box for every purchase of a Classic pen. This Double Happiness promotion will start on 1 February until 29 February. While stocks last!
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February Happiness for
Pelikan is participating in the MPH Bookerville Fair at Subang Parade. The fair will run from now until 8 February 2016. Pelikan is offering its colouring sets and other basic stationery at the fair. If you visit the fair during weekends, look out for Pelikan promoters that will be there to assist you.
This month’s product feature will look at the newly launch Susy Card products. Among the products that are available at the Pelikan Store:
Blowouts
Candles
Gift Bags
The party blower is equipped with fringe and feathers. The article is sorted by colour and there are 6 pieces in a poly bag with header. A party fun for the whole family.
Susy card’s candles come in unique designs that will surely brighten up your birthday party.
Susy card’s gift bags with designs for all occasion.
RSP: RM7.31
‘Happy Birthday’ Candles RSP: RM6.25 Number Candles RSP: RM4.13
‘Happy Birthday’ gift bag - 10.5 x 36 x 10 cm, matt laminated foil with handle hole punched. RSP: RM13.67 ‘Diamond’ gift bag - 10.5 x 36 x 10 cm, diamond motif with handle hole punched. RSP: RM13.67
Table Deco Smile 15g
Garlands
Colourful table deco for all kind of party especially birthdays party.
RSP: RM17 - RM24 per pack
RSP: RM6.25
Mini-hearts, funny face, and age number balloons RSP: RM8 - RM12 per pack
* Product images are for illustration purposes only. * Product prices shown are inclusive of GST.
Ink Newsletter | January 2016
Article
Ang Pow is synonymous with Chinese New Year. It’s a great tradition to have but how much do you know about ang pow? This month’s “Link to the World” features an informative article about this little red envelop that is usually stuffed with money.
All About
Ang Pow! Ang Pow red envelopes also known as “red packets” “Ang Pow” “laisee” “lai see” “hung bao” or “Hung-Bao”. They are considered extremely auspicious to receive as a gift and even more auspicious if they contain money. They are commonly used for Chinese New Year, weddings, birthdays or any other important event.
evil demon and eventually killed it. The villagers were triumphant and the elders presented the brave young man with a red envelope (more like a red pouch I would imagine) filled with money for his courage in saving them. Since then, the ang pow has become a part of traditional Chinese customs.
The image used on the front of a red envelope wish blessings and good wishes of long life, prosperity and good health. Through the years, artists have always found new ways to improve the message of good tidings such as carps swimming amongst flowering lotus, the fabled creatures of dragon and phoenix, Chinese zodiac animals depending on the year it will be used, peonies in full bloom, the three immortals, golden pineapples, Buddha’s and children. They are actually very beautiful and the varied designs we have seen over the years have been outstanding. As a company we hand pick every design as the quality and presentation is very important. These are sent free with every order we send containing Chinese i-ching coins for extra luck.
How much do you place inside the red envelope? It depends on the situation. If you give red envelopes to children for the New Year, age will be an important factor. Usually the older the children are, the more money they will get. For a child of five years old, two pounds will be fine. The amount contained has to be in even numbers. Even numbers are auspicious and odd numbers are perceived as denoting loneliness. For example, it could be two pounds, ten or twenty pounds. You can amass on New Years day a great deal of money as a child.
When giving money on festive or auspicious occasions, you should never put money in a white envelope or you would face the resentment of the recipient! Money wrapped in white envelopes is given when the occasion is sad, like funerals, when a gift of money is given to help with the funeral costs. This is called ‘Pak Kum’ money for the family of the departed. So if you ever come across a Chinese client please think twice about giving his or her fee in a white envelope although in our western countries it would be unlikely to offend. The story of Ang Pow red envelopes. The story of “ang pow” dates back to the Sung Dynasty in China. A village called Chang-Chieu was at the time terrorised by a huge demon. No one was capable of defeating it, not even their greatest warriors or statesmen. However, a young orphan, armed with a magical sword inherited from his ancestors, fought the
We often supply our red envelopes for weddings and if you do attend a Chinese or even a western wedding make a gift of money in the red envelope. But it should be relative to your financial situation and you shouldn’t overdo it as it can also be considered as showing off if you give more than you can afford. It is similar for birthdays although the red packets usually contain less money since birthdays are not considered as important as weddings. Giving red packets to employees prior to the New Year is also very common. This can be either a gift or a bonus. It is also believed that should you bequest them your gift their good fortunes will come back to your company. The number of coins or notes in the ang pow may take advantage of the Chinese homophones. For instance, you can give a favourable amount ending with eight (8), as it sounds like fortune in Chinese, or nine (9), which sounds like longevity. Four (4) is not a good number to give as it sounds like death. You should always give money in even numbers though as to receive one or three or any other
uneven number would be considered unlucky. Although to receive one Chinese i-ching coin in the envelope is considered very lucky. When are Ang Pows given? The practice of giving ang pow may be centuries old, but it is still as popular as ever. During Chinese New Year, they are given by married couples to small children, teenagers and unmarried adults. So it helps if you have a rich aunt or uncle as the gifts can be very large. They can be given at any time and you do not need a special occasion even, they are considered extremely auspicious just in the fact that they are given and if received you should try and pay some debt of with some of the money received, you should always leave a small part of the money inside the ang pow and place in your purse or handbag. Birthdays It is traditional and customary to give red envelopes to parents when their baby celebrates his/her first month. In return, parents distribute to well wishers gifts like red dyed eggs (ang nui), yellow rice (nasi kunyit) with curry chicken, bean cakes (ang ku), Money is usually given as birthday gifts for celebrants of all ages. The elderly also distribute gifts of money to the younger generation when they celebrate, for example, their 70th birthday. Feng Shui Feng Shui supporters believe that a red envelope containing a gold coin (i-ching coin), can bring good luck to the holder when placed in your purse, wallet, accounts books or handbag. They are also used as wish list holders, you write your dreams and aspirations on a piece of red paper and place inside the red envelope and sit back and wait. Some Feng Shui Practitioners even insist on being paid with their fee inside a red envelope, this is not something that I adhere to though. This article was written by Michael Hanna and kindly assisted by his talented niece Hannah Sacco (age 11) and featured in Feng Shui Store website. You can find the full article by following this link http://www.fengshuiweb. co.uk/advice/redenvelope.htm
Ink Newsletter | January 2016
p! u s ’ t Wha
01 | Year-End Fun at Pelikan Production! To celebrate a great year in 2015, Pelikan Production held a nice & warm Year-End Lunch Gathering for all their staff on 31 December 2015. Delicious lunch was followed by the eagerly awaited Secret Santa where everyone exchanged gifts with each other. Not only that, they also had lucky draws to everyone’s delight. Check out the smiling, happy faces in the photos!
03 | Pelikan Team Raid Percetakan Tenaga
02 | Baby News Congratulations are in order for Steven Lim of PASB for the birth of his baby girl! Summer Lim Xia Wei was born on 11 January 2016. This is Steven’s 3rd child. Congrats again to Steven.
Pelikan team visited one of their long time supplier’s office, Percetakan Tenaga, at Taman Perindustrian Tago last Friday. The purpose of the visit was to understand the different types of printing offered and the process flow of creating beautiful packaging and point of sales standees by Percetakan Tenaga, who has been responsible in producing some packaging and standees for Pelikan and many other global brands. The team was taken on a 2-hour tour of Percetakan Tenaga’s office, factory and warehouse by Mr Alex Lim and Mr Raymond Kang. All in all it was a great learning experience for the team!
04 | New Staff We welcome to new staff to the Pelikan family this time around. Ms Yasmin Amira, joined Pelikan Production on 21 Dec 2015 as Account Assistant. Please extend your usual cooperation to her. Ms Tham Chia Shing is the new face at PASB, doing her internship with the Finance Department for 3 months. She can be contacted at the extension 128. Welcome again to both of them.
05 | CNY Ang Pow Packets – Year of Monkey [Special Edition!] You have read in the “Wink – Marketing News” that Pelikan Store is running a promotion giving away exclusive Pelikan Year of Monkey ang pow to customers. All Pelikan Employees celebrating Chinese New Year will also receive the Pelikan ang pow from HR soon! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
06 | Christmas Cheer Aftermath Have you received all your orders from the Christmas Cheer staff sale? The sale ended on 15 January 2016 and recorded a total sale of RM7,285. Thank you for all your support. As mentioned before, a percentage of the total sale will be donated to a shelter home Rumah KIDS (for orphaned and abandoned children), located at USJ 1. PASB will also contribute goodie bags containing basic stationery supplies to the children. All Pelikan staff are encouraged to join in with their own contributions, be it in cash, food, home supplies or anything else that you feel could be useful for the children. A collection date will be announced soon so look out for it.
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If you have any suggestion or any stories you feel should be published in the next issue of Ink!, please contact Hazri Nasaruddin at hazri@pelikan.com.my. Any suggestion is welcome. Thank you.