What could be bought in Thailand then sold for a profit in the UK?...am thinking more along the lines of silk and gold etc than Thai stick....

There are loads of products to be exported from thailand.

The problem is marketing them at the other end.

Do you want a business here in thailand, or do you want to make money?

If you're in it for the money, China cant be beat (IMHO).

Whats on your mind?

Spent a month in Thailand recently...to get married primarily..but was impressed with the low cost of silk products which are much more expensive in the UK...eg one shirt from Marks and Sparks £35-45 pounds...also gold seemed incredibly well priced...similar products in the UK costing 300% more....just mulling over the idea of bringing back silk products...but with the increased interest in Thai food in the UK....(Thai restaurants really are starting to pop up in the most unlikely of areas)...I can see a little 'all things Thai' shop doing well in Bath for example...or Covent Garden!...lol!..

If you are serious, contact Indo-Siam or Sun-Belt Asia, or a dozen other advisory companies.

There are pitfalls - you have to have people you can trust at both ends - there are on-costs imposed by the UK Government on many goods - gold has to be hall-marked for sale in UK, so there are assay costs - EU restrictions on import of made-up clothing from all but ex-French colonies (exaggeration, but there are restrictions). So on, so on.

You should be aware of wholesale / retail practices, import / export reulations and have a big enough budget to do the job properly. If you play at it - you will certainly lose money.

Research is is the key . You ned to invest some time (and money ) into finding out what you need to know ie costs, restrictions timing etc etc. Talk to as many people as you can, look around the shops and see whats aavilable and at what price etc etc. Look for quotas too........some countries or economic regions put quots on the amount of a certain product that can be brought in...(if it is in competition with a similar local product) Also, if you bring in a product that needs a small amount of finishing then it willbe cheaper as it will have "local labour component"...!!

In reality it will be more difficult to import something that competes with a local industry. So if you go for something completely different that you feel will have a market, you may be in with a chance. For example, handicrafts are of good quality here in Thailand and normally this type of thing will attract a lower duty than other products.

But go for it and start small......believe me it works.....there is easy money to be made if you start small and build it up.

Spent a month in Thailand recently...to get married primarily..but was impressed with the low cost of silk products which are much more expensive in the UK...eg one shirt from Marks and Sparks £35-45 pounds...also gold seemed incredibly well priced...similar products in the UK costing 300% more....just mulling over the idea of bringing back silk products...but with the increased interest in Thai food in the UK....(Thai restaurants really are starting to pop up in the most unlikely of areas)...I can see a little 'all things Thai' shop doing well in Bath for example...or Covent Garden!...lol!..

"Speaking of shirts"

You would pay at least the price you have quoted for a 100% Thai silk shirt here in Thailand.

I would very much doubt that the ones you are referring to in Marks and Sparks to be 100% genuine Thai silk.

You can get heaps of these cheap hybrids but they aint Thai silk regardless of what they say (in the shops)

Admittedly there are a lot of things here that you could turnover for a profit (back home) but from friends in the business *wood products, shirts, ceramics etc.," they say that there are much cheaper places to buy than here in Thailand.

As for Thai food products these too are very popular outside the realm but don't forget you would be competing against people who have been exporting same for some time now.

dont be put off by the knockers if you fancy your chances ! as has been said DO YOUR HOMEWORK!! and remember some people expect unrealistic profits ,that is why they say it is not easy . good luck as for paying the same in thailand and m+s for a silk shirt ,thats <deleted> , some people are shopping in the wrong places !

Take note however that many of the shops selling quality handicrafts here in Chiang Mai actually have their goods manufactured in Vietnam, Cambodia or southern China where costs are lower and quality control much more efficient.