Markets In Thailand

[bonobo]

I went to Chatuchak Market yesterday, and it hit me that we really have good choices for markets here in Thailand.  I am very well-travelled, and I have seen a lot of markets. Some are excellent, such as the Pike Place Market in Seattle, the Mercado de la Merced in Mexico City,  or the Mercato Coperto in Modena.  But many are really nothing more than repositories of cheap Chinese knick-knacks or kitschy tourist souveniers.

When I have customers coming from the US, they invarably want to go shopping, so I take them to the Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Yes, there are some cheap things there, but there is also some nice quality, and the prices are reasonable.  You can take in a puppet show or sit in the beer garden and listen to music as a break between shopping.

For fruit or veggies, I can go to the Klong Toei Market. OK, this one is a little crowded and dirty (sandals are not a good choice for walking around there), and I haven't made the jump to getting meat there, but the quality and freshness of the fruits and vegetables are quite good, and the prices are good as well.

I have a side business of exporting OTOP silk form Buriram, but one of my customers in the USA wanted some of the batik typically available at Chatuchak, so I went there to pick some up on Saturday. I took the opportunity after getting the batik to walk around, and I was impressed with the variety, quality, and cost of the offerings. I ended up buying quite a few items to myself, and as soon as I get my new house and have more room, I plan on going back to get more things to furnish and decorate the place.

Yes, I have seen nicer markets, and many good western food markets have a better selection of locally grown, organic, and/or international foods. But comparatively speaking, Thailand's markets really are pretty good.

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[dannyman]

Ling chopping !

[Svenn]

I have a side business of exporting OTOP silk form Buriram, but one of my customers in the USA wanted some of the batik typically available at Chatuchak, so I went there to pick some up on Saturday. I took the opportunity after getting the batik to walk around, and I was impressed with the variety, quality, and cost of the offerings. I ended up buying quite a few items to myself, and as soon as I get my new house and have more room, I plan on going back to get more things to furnish and decorate the place.

btw, are these rumors one hears about of buying cloth in Thailand and making a thousand$ or so off a suitcase-full really true?

[bonobo]

I have a side business of exporting OTOP silk form Buriram, but one of my customers in the USA wanted some of the batik typically available at Chatuchak, so I went there to pick some up on Saturday. I took the opportunity after getting the batik to walk around, and I was impressed with the variety, quality, and cost of the offerings. I ended up buying quite a few items to myself, and as soon as I get my new house and have more room, I plan on going back to get more things to furnish and decorate the place.

btw, are these rumors one hears about of buying cloth in Thailand and making a thousand$ or so off a suitcase-full really true?

Yes, it is very possible, with a big IF.  If you have a ready customer, you can easily buy several hundred of the cheap silk pieces (designated R3) or a hundred or more of the better silk pieces, carry it as luggage, pay no duty in the US, at least (no duty owed on silk if below $2,000 in value), and deliver to your customer for your $1000 profit.

However, you really need to have the customer first unless you are prepared to spend time at flea markets yourself or pound the pavement looking for stores who want the product.  I will make about $500 on this small batik silk transaction, but I got this customer after paying big $'s to have a booth at a New York fashion show.

[jetpilot123]

I would like to know about the market on Ratchada Rd,apparently is only held on a Saturday starting about 8:00pm and running till late,with many ols wares,antiques etc..any info would be appreciated.

[AmeriThai]

I have a side business of exporting OTOP silk form Buriram, but one of my customers in the USA wanted some of the batik typically available at Chatuchak, so I went there to pick some up on Saturday. I took the opportunity after getting the batik to walk around, and I was impressed with the variety, quality, and cost of the offerings. I ended up buying quite a few items to myself, and as soon as I get my new house and have more room, I plan on going back to get more things to furnish and decorate the place.

btw, are these rumors one hears about of buying cloth in Thailand and making a thousand$ or so off a suitcase-full really true?

Yes, it is very possible, with a big IF.  If you have a ready customer, you can easily buy several hundred of the cheap silk pieces (designated R3) or a hundred or more of the better silk pieces, carry it as luggage, pay no duty in the US, at least (no duty owed on silk if below $2,000 in value), and deliver to your customer for your $1000 profit.

However, you really need to have the customer first unless you are prepared to spend time at flea markets yourself or pound the pavement looking for stores who want the product.  I will make about $500 on this small batik silk transaction, but I got this customer after paying big $'s to have a booth at a New York fashion show.

Same is true for Benjarong porcelain, although fewer pieces than fabric. Still, we've been able to make enough recoup cost of the porcelain, pay for airfare and a good chunk of expenses in Thailand. But as you said, it's very important to have customers first, or know your market very well. In our case, our best sales came from repeat buyers who usually buy a large number of what we bring back. We also let them know well in advance so we can be sure of the sales on return. The drawback to porcelain is weight and they're fragile. But where we buy them, the goods are very well packed to minimize damage from rough handling during travel.

[sassienie]

We save a least a third on our shopping bill by using the excellent local markets here in Chiang Mai.

Unfortunately the big supermarkets such as Tesco Lotus, Big C, Careforre and Makros seem to be spreading all over this city.

This is bad for the area as a major threat to the market traders and once in they hype up prices, hence our cost of living increases.

There is major opposition by local traders from all over Chiang Mai, but sadly there seems no way of stopping the expansion of these major chain stores.

Those wonderful local Thai markets may well soon be a thing of the past.