Chiang Mai Businesses Closing Or For Sale

[getgoin]

I just took a quick look at Thai Visa Classified on business for sell in Chiang Mai. Counted over 40 bar/restaurants for sell.

Most of them at ridiculous prices, i bet. nearly all for sale 'cos they aint working, and all looking for a mug, straight off the plane.

Well these business owners in CMai must be hating this thread right now. As the mug's off the plane (As you state) are looking at this thread right now. Some fallen for the place or women or whatever and looking to setup shop.

Now this thread alone may make many rethink again.

This is assuming that these business owners read this forum and newbies looking to buy a business in Chiang Mai believe what is said here and/or read this forum.

This particular market is a great time to buy a business but might not be the best time to sell. However, just because business is down or slow does not necessarily mean that a good business with solid assets and a history of doing a good trade would sell for a bargain price. As far as the large inventory of budget bar/restaurants/businesses in general goes, there is always a lot of them on the market. Right now there just happens to be a few good deals for better businesses included in the inventory and it gives the appearance of having more than the average amount of businesses for sale. The real sign of a bad economy is the closing of doors and just giving up the location. There is some of this happening.

The real problem in Chiang Mai is that these small budget business are able to open at all. It would be virtually impossible to buy a business, get a liquor license and open a restaurant/bar/cafe in the US for as little as 350,000 Baht. This dilutes the pool and while I am all for free enterprise what it does is that it does not give the small joint a chance to do enough business to exist. They continually trade hands from one expat to the next wishing to extend their stay in Thailand for one reason or another. Given the fact that there are also an abundance of Thai owned cafes/bar/restaurants in this same category and catering to almost the same demographic there is just not enough nor will there ever be enough of this business to go around. A Thai owned coffee shop or cafe might be good for them but will probably not be enough for the foreigner and his/her entourage.

As far as the foreign budget business buyers go, it is never a good time to buy, at least not to make a living. If you are buying to keep someone busy /something to do/hobby you would be better off buying some Viagra and/or donating the money to the next Thaivisa party.

For the young investor an idea would be to organize the next cool swingers party held around the pool at some obscure hotel where young budget business entrepreneurs sit around sipping warm large Cheers beer and talking business ideas and how to fund them and watch the old expats swoop in with their Heineken and wads of cash earned in their own country during a lifetime of hard work and take home the cute girls.

So basically, those looking for a good business, now is a good time to buy. Those looking for something else, don't waste your money.

[uptheos]

Often 'a good business' (especially in the service industry) is down to the hard work and particular personality of the owner.

It doesn't follow, that if someone buys a good business it is going to stay that way......it could go downhill very fast.

[kalbo123]

Tuskers a good business?

Is that the place where the cheap tv members hangout?

[DavidOxon]

Tuskers a good business?

Is that the place where the cheap tv members hangout?

Chas and Rachel are great people, as are their staff, (Gai in particular)

and offer a breadth of fun and entertainment not available anywhere else in CM!

Where is your justification for accusing their clientle of being cheap TV members?

Have you never 'sufffered' at the hands of their very generous hospitality?

David

[MESmith]

Tuskers a good business?

Is that the place where the cheap tv members hangout?

Chas and Rachel are great people, as are their staff, (Gai in particular)

and offer a breadth of fun and entertainment not available anywhere else in CM!

Where is your justification for accusing their clientle of being cheap TV members?

Have you never 'sufffered' at the hands of their very generous hospitality?

David

I've never been to tuskers, never met the owners, got nothing against or for them, but do know the location.  I do wonder whether it's one of those businesses that has been well built up successfully by the owners,  but that success wont necessarily transfer to the new owner.  Just my thoughts.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Exactly; new owner is like starting from scratch, he just gains a little convenience in not having to decorate and buy a fridge and things. Another downside is the parking situation. Up-sides there are too.. proximity to Spicy for example.

[leininger]

As an owner of a small business here in Chiang Mai, I will offer this advice, for what it is worth, to anyone considering buying or opening a business here. Do not consider this unless you have a more than adequate income from other sources, such as retirement pension. I say more than adequate because though what you earn may be sufficient today, it may not be if the exchange rate keeps getting worse for western money. My business is in an area which is almost entirely middle and upper income Thais, so consequently these are majority of my customers. I think this is reason business is still pretty good. My wife and I make a profit, but I must point out that while it is profitable, the business would not support my current standard of living without my retirement pension. While I understand the idea of starting a business to give wife something to do, my motive for this investment was to allow wife to survive comfortably after I am dead. I tried to get life insurance and was denied for health reasons, so the best I can do is to provide her with opportunity to support herself. One of the reasons I made this decision is she is a very smart and capable business woman, and whatever success the shop has attained is mostly her doing, not mine.

To summarize this, my advice before opening a business would be the following:

1-Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose, and take into consideration the worst case scenario for the exchange rate.

2-If possible, try to get business which depends at least partially on Thai customers

3-If you are establishing business for wife or g/f, make sure she is capable of running business, unless you plan on managing it yourself.

4-If at all possible, do not rely on business as your only or even primary source of income.

Good luck

[StevieH]

Tuskers a good business?

Is that the place where the cheap tv members hangout?

as someone who drinks regularly in tuskers i have rarely seen a sign of these lesser-spotted 'cheap tv members' you refer to. how does one recognise one so i know what i'm looking for? i've a space on the wall for another head at the moment right next to the 'nosey gobshite dirty old man sexpat' i bagged a year or so ago.

[OriginalPoster]

I've never been to tuskers, never met the owners, got nothing against or for them, but do know the location. I do wonder whether it's one of those businesses that has been well built up successfully by the owners, but that success wont necessarily transfer to the new owner. Just my thoughts.

I've seen a couple of examples of that recently with smaller bar/restaurants that changed hands. Basic scenario was that each place had about half dozen regulars customers that you could count on to spend 600 to 1000 baht per day on food & drink and maybe twice that many that drop in for one drink per day, and business attributable to those regulars was what made the difference between the joint being profitable rather than not profitable. Those regulars seemed to be attracted to the place as much by comradery with the owner as by the quality of the food & drink Then a new owner comes and 3/4 of those regulars wind up being lost. That not only creates a revenue gap due to the directly lost business but it also makes the place appear to be empty, discouraging passersby from stopping in. It seems people generally are hesitant to stop into an emplty place unless they are already a regular, so when regulars start to vanish the problems can really snowball.

Edited September 8, 2010 by OriginalPoster

[uptheos]

I've never been to tuskers, never met the owners, got nothing against or for them, but do know the location. I do wonder whether it's one of those businesses that has been well built up successfully by the owners, but that success wont necessarily transfer to the new owner. Just my thoughts.

I've seen a couple of examples of that recently with smaller bar/restaurants that changed hands. Basic scenario was that each place had about half dozen regulars customers that you could count on to spend 600 to 1000 baht per day on food & drink and maybe twice that many that drop in for one drink per day, and business attributable to those regulars was what made the difference between the joint being profitable rather than not profitable. Those regulars seemed to be attracted to the place as much by comradery with the owner as by the quality of the food & drink Then a new owner comes and 3/4 of those regulars wind up being lost. That not only creates a revenue gap due to the directly lost business but it also makes the place appear to be empty, discouraging passersby from stopping in. It seems people generally are hesitant to stop into an emplty place unless they are already a regular, so when regulars start to vanish the problems can really snowball.

I think this is particularly true of a restaurant.

Empty restaurants usually give off the vibes that the food's lousy and empty bars are usually a sign of being both overpriced and no atmosphere.

[elektrified]

I've never been to tuskers, never met the owners, got nothing against or for them, but do know the location. I do wonder whether it's one of those businesses that has been well built up successfully by the owners, but that success wont necessarily transfer to the new owner. Just my thoughts.

I've seen a couple of examples of that recently with smaller bar/restaurants that changed hands. Basic scenario was that each place had about half dozen regulars customers that you could count on to spend 600 to 1000 baht per day on food & drink and maybe twice that many that drop in for one drink per day, and business attributable to those regulars was what made the difference between the joint being profitable rather than not profitable. Those regulars seemed to be attracted to the place as much by comradery with the owner as by the quality of the food & drink Then a new owner comes and 3/4 of those regulars wind up being lost. That not only creates a revenue gap due to the directly lost business but it also makes the place appear to be empty, discouraging passersby from stopping in. It seems people generally are hesitant to stop into an emplty place unless they are already a regular, so when regulars start to vanish the problems can really snowball.

I think this is particularly true of a restaurant.

Empty restaurants usually give off the vibes that the food's lousy and empty bars are usually a sign of being both overpriced and no atmosphere.

I agree. It's the same anywhere in the world.

[anonymouse]

Tuskers a good business?

Is that the place where the cheap tv members hangout?

:jerk: :jerk:

There's a 1001 cheaper bars than Tuskers to drink at in CM. Personally on the rare occasion that I go there, [most of my time these days is spent in Doi Saket or the UK] It's the friendly : hosts and staff and the quality of the clientle that frequent the place not the price of beer that draws me.

[sticklee]

As an owner of a small business here in Chiang Mai, I will offer this advice, for what it is worth, to anyone considering buying or opening a business here. Do not consider this unless you have a more than adequate income from other sources, such as retirement pension. I say more than adequate because though what you earn may be sufficient today, it may not be if the exchange rate keeps getting worse for western money. My business is in an area which is almost entirely middle and upper income Thais, so consequently these are majority of my customers. I think this is reason business is still pretty good. My wife and I make a profit, but I must point out that while it is profitable, the business would not support my current standard of living without my retirement pension. While I understand the idea of starting a business to give wife something to do, my motive for this investment was to allow wife to survive comfortably after I am dead. I tried to get life insurance and was denied for health reasons, so the best I can do is to provide her with opportunity to support herself. One of the reasons I made this decision is she is a very smart and capable business woman, and whatever success the shop has attained is mostly her doing, not mine.

To summarize this, my advice before opening a business would be the following:

1-Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose, and take into consideration the worst case scenario for the exchange rate.

2-If possible, try to get business which depends at least partially on Thai customers

3-If you are establishing business for wife or g/f, make sure she is capable of running business, unless you plan on managing it yourself.

4-If at all possible, do not rely on business as your only or even primary source of income.

Good luck

I couldn't agree more than with your point #2. Anyone who relies principally on tourist/farang for there patronage is surely, at some point, going to feel some economic stress. We live in Thailand and disregarding the general populace in formulating your business plan is not demonstrating any business savvy. The past few months has seen numerous tales of woe about business downturn and what product or service are these business providing and to whom? There is a commonality. So take a look around, where do Thais spend their money? 7-11 is a non stop money making machine and the majority of the Thai businesses around last year will still be here next year. There are lots of Thais wandering around Airport Plaza, many with purchaces in hand, and not a lot of empty storefronts. The large and growing Thai middle class has disposable income and wants to enjoy the feeling of spending some. So go out and get a piece of that action for yourself instead of professing doom and gloom.

[DavidOxon]

As an owner of a small business here in Chiang Mai, I will offer this advice, for what it is worth, to anyone considering buying or opening a business here. Do not consider this unless you have a more than adequate income from other sources, such as retirement pension. I say more than adequate because though what you earn may be sufficient today, it may not be if the exchange rate keeps getting worse for western money. My business is in an area which is almost entirely middle and upper income Thais, so consequently these are majority of my customers. I think this is reason business is still pretty good. My wife and I make a profit, but I must point out that while it is profitable, the business would not support my current standard of living without my retirement pension. While I understand the idea of starting a business to give wife something to do, my motive for this investment was to allow wife to survive comfortably after I am dead. I tried to get life insurance and was denied for health reasons, so the best I can do is to provide her with opportunity to support herself. One of the reasons I made this decision is she is a very smart and capable business woman, and whatever success the shop has attained is mostly her doing, not mine.

To summarize this, my advice before opening a business would be the following:

1-Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose, and take into consideration the worst case scenario for the exchange rate.

2-If possible, try to get business which depends at least partially on Thai customers

3-If you are establishing business for wife or g/f, make sure she is capable of running business, unless you plan on managing it yourself.

4-If at all possible, do not rely on business as your only or even primary source of income.

Good luck

I couldn't agree more than with your point #2. Anyone who relies principally on tourist/farang for there patronage is surely, at some point, going to feel some economic stress. We live in Thailand and disregarding the general populace in formulating your business plan is not demonstrating any business savvy. The past few months has seen numerous tales of woe about business downturn and what product or service are these business providing and to whom? There is a commonality. So take a look around, where do Thais spend their money? 7-11 is a non stop money making machine and the majority of the Thai businesses around last year will still be here next year. There are lots of Thais wandering around Airport Plaza, many with purchaces in hand, and not a lot of empty storefronts. The large and growing Thai middle class has disposable income and wants to enjoy the feeling of spending some. So go out and get a piece of that action for yourself instead of professing doom and gloom.

My Thai brother in law and wife opened a bar last year. 100% Thai clientele, good location food etc, lasted about 6 months. So... not only farang operations face a challenge here in CM

David

[cm das]

The restaurant/bar business is a tough racket anywhere, no matter who your target customers are. But leininger's point #2 is still a very good one. No matter how omnipresent we foreigners seem to be in Chiang Mai & despite delusions of grandeur regarding our spending power, we are a very small slice of the pie here. Add in uncertainties with foreign exchange rates, tourist numbers, etc. & it seems to me that opening a foreigner-oriented business here is a recipe for trouble. Of course there are exceptions to the rule.

[uptheos]

As an owner of a small business here in Chiang Mai, I will offer this advice, for what it is worth, to anyone considering buying or opening a business here. Do not consider this unless you have a more than adequate income from other sources, such as retirement pension. I say more than adequate because though what you earn may be sufficient today, it may not be if the exchange rate keeps getting worse for western money. My business is in an area which is almost entirely middle and upper income Thais, so consequently these are majority of my customers. I think this is reason business is still pretty good. My wife and I make a profit, but I must point out that while it is profitable, the business would not support my current standard of living without my retirement pension. While I understand the idea of starting a business to give wife something to do, my motive for this investment was to allow wife to survive comfortably after I am dead. I tried to get life insurance and was denied for health reasons, so the best I can do is to provide her with opportunity to support herself. One of the reasons I made this decision is she is a very smart and capable business woman, and whatever success the shop has attained is mostly her doing, not mine.

To summarize this, my advice before opening a business would be the following:

1-Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose, and take into consideration the worst case scenario for the exchange rate.

2-If possible, try to get business which depends at least partially on Thai customers

3-If you are establishing business for wife or g/f, make sure she is capable of running business, unless you plan on managing it yourself.

4-If at all possible, do not rely on business as your only or even primary source of income.

Good luck

I couldn't agree more than with your point #2. Anyone who relies principally on tourist/farang for there patronage is surely, at some point, going to feel some economic stress. We live in Thailand and disregarding the general populace in formulating your business plan is not demonstrating any business savvy. The past few months has seen numerous tales of woe about business downturn and what product or service are these business providing and to whom? There is a commonality. So take a look around, where do Thais spend their money? 7-11 is a non stop money making machine and the majority of the Thai businesses around last year will still be here next year. There are lots of Thais wandering around Airport Plaza, many with purchaces in hand, and not a lot of empty storefronts. The large and growing Thai middle class has disposable income and wants to enjoy the feeling of spending some. So go out and get a piece of that action for yourself instead of professing doom and gloom.

This is true and unfortunate.

Where I live is a 7/11 quite close to me and a few doors along is a ma and pa shop that's been there for ages.....you know the type, lit by a 20 watt bulb. However, they are lovely people and I always buy whatever's on my list from there and if they don't have it I just pop into 7/11 a couple of shops along. There are three farang customers that do the same thing, but I very rarely see any Thai's in there and 7/11 is always very busy with Thai's willing to pay the higher price.....strange

[gotlost]

As an owner of a small business here in Chiang Mai, I will offer this advice, for what it is worth, to anyone considering buying or opening a business here. Do not consider this unless you have a more than adequate income from other sources, such as retirement pension. I say more than adequate because though what you earn may be sufficient today, it may not be if the exchange rate keeps getting worse for western money. My business is in an area which is almost entirely middle and upper income Thais, so consequently these are majority of my customers. I think this is reason business is still pretty good. My wife and I make a profit, but I must point out that while it is profitable, the business would not support my current standard of living without my retirement pension. While I understand the idea of starting a business to give wife something to do, my motive for this investment was to allow wife to survive comfortably after I am dead. I tried to get life insurance and was denied for health reasons, so the best I can do is to provide her with opportunity to support herself. One of the reasons I made this decision is she is a very smart and capable business woman, and whatever success the shop has attained is mostly her doing, not mine.

To summarize this, my advice before opening a business would be the following:

1-Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose, and take into consideration the worst case scenario for the exchange rate.

2-If possible, try to get business which depends at least partially on Thai customers

3-If you are establishing business for wife or g/f, make sure she is capable of running business, unless you plan on managing it yourself.

4-If at all possible, do not rely on business as your only or even primary source of income.

Good luck

I couldn't agree more than with your point #2. Anyone who relies principally on tourist/farang for there patronage is surely, at some point, going to feel some economic stress. We live in Thailand and disregarding the general populace in formulating your business plan is not demonstrating any business savvy. The past few months has seen numerous tales of woe about business downturn and what product or service are these business providing and to whom? There is a commonality. So take a look around, where do Thais spend their money? 7-11 is a non stop money making machine and the majority of the Thai businesses around last year will still be here next year. There are lots of Thais wandering around Airport Plaza, many with purchaces in hand, and not a lot of empty storefronts. The large and growing Thai middle class has disposable income and wants to enjoy the feeling of spending some. So go out and get a piece of that action for yourself instead of professing doom and gloom.

This is true and unfortunate.

Where I live is a 7/11 quite close to me and a few doors along is a ma and pa shop that's been there for ages.....you know the type, lit by a 20 watt bulb. However, they are lovely people and I always buy whatever's on my list from there and if they don't have it I just pop into 7/11 a couple of shops along. There are three farang customers that do the same thing, but I very rarely see any Thai's in there and 7/11 is always very busy with Thai's willing to pay the higher price.....strange

Not to strange if you look at it from a Thais view point. They look at 7/11 as an up market store and as a symbol of success. That's one reason they have over 3000 stores 7/11 in Thailand. On Mun Mueang alone both sides of the moat. I can thank of 6 and a new one being built.

[marioumberto]

i see in thailand, mostly in chiang mai you can make the best business, with the agriculture... the best business sale meat or other one for eath. (grow up pics or chickens or fish or frogs) tousends of thai eath every day..,.. for me is never a problem the political situation in thailand or no touriste. have a lot of people wanth eath... i never make a investment in a bar or in a restaurant....

[uptheos]

As an owner of a small business here in Chiang Mai, I will offer this advice, for what it is worth, to anyone considering buying or opening a business here. Do not consider this unless you have a more than adequate income from other sources, such as retirement pension. I say more than adequate because though what you earn may be sufficient today, it may not be if the exchange rate keeps getting worse for western money. My business is in an area which is almost entirely middle and upper income Thais, so consequently these are majority of my customers. I think this is reason business is still pretty good. My wife and I make a profit, but I must point out that while it is profitable, the business would not support my current standard of living without my retirement pension. While I understand the idea of starting a business to give wife something to do, my motive for this investment was to allow wife to survive comfortably after I am dead. I tried to get life insurance and was denied for health reasons, so the best I can do is to provide her with opportunity to support herself. One of the reasons I made this decision is she is a very smart and capable business woman, and whatever success the shop has attained is mostly her doing, not mine.

To summarize this, my advice before opening a business would be the following:

1-Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose, and take into consideration the worst case scenario for the exchange rate.

2-If possible, try to get business which depends at least partially on Thai customers

3-If you are establishing business for wife or g/f, make sure she is capable of running business, unless you plan on managing it yourself.

4-If at all possible, do not rely on business as your only or even primary source of income.

Good luck

I couldn't agree more than with your point #2. Anyone who relies principally on tourist/farang for there patronage is surely, at some point, going to feel some economic stress. We live in Thailand and disregarding the general populace in formulating your business plan is not demonstrating any business savvy. The past few months has seen numerous tales of woe about business downturn and what product or service are these business providing and to whom? There is a commonality. So take a look around, where do Thais spend their money? 7-11 is a non stop money making machine and the majority of the Thai businesses around last year will still be here next year. There are lots of Thais wandering around Airport Plaza, many with purchaces in hand, and not a lot of empty storefronts. The large and growing Thai middle class has disposable income and wants to enjoy the feeling of spending some. So go out and get a piece of that action for yourself instead of professing doom and gloom.

This is true and unfortunate.

Where I live is a 7/11 quite close to me and a few doors along is a ma and pa shop that's been there for ages.....you know the type, lit by a 20 watt bulb. However, they are lovely people and I always buy whatever's on my list from there and if they don't have it I just pop into 7/11 a couple of shops along. There are three farang customers that do the same thing, but I very rarely see any Thai's in there and 7/11 is always very busy with Thai's willing to pay the higher price.....strange

Not to strange if you look at it from a Thais view point. They look at 7/11 as an up market store and as a symbol of success. That's one reason they have over 3000 stores 7/11 in Thailand. On Mun Mueang alone both sides of the moat. I can thank of 6 and a new one being built.

You are absolutely right of course, but I still think it's a pity. The Ma and Pa stores survive by charging a baht over the cash and carry price, which for me is a good deal if they do the carrying. Once these stores have closed down, everyone will be at the mercy of 7/11 and their ever increasing prices - that's why I will support them wherever I can.

Thai restaurants will survive or fail on their merit. There are hundreds of small restaurants (and stalls) that are a real bargain still. You can always find them as they are usually packed with people. I would much rather eat 3 meals at a Thai restaurant, than eat one at a farang restaurant for the same price, no matter how much they jazz up their menu, i.e. "served on a bed of top quality jasmin rice"......yeah sure, they get their veggies and rice from the same low cost places as the Thai's do.....I know a few Thai workers who go to the markets early morning for farang restaurants.

Don't be fooled into believing that farang restaurants buy all their stuff at Rimping!

Edited September 9, 2010 by uptheos

[elektrified]

As an owner of a small business here in Chiang Mai, I will offer this advice, for what it is worth, to anyone considering buying or opening a business here. Do not consider this unless you have a more than adequate income from other sources, such as retirement pension. I say more than adequate because though what you earn may be sufficient today, it may not be if the exchange rate keeps getting worse for western money. My business is in an area which is almost entirely middle and upper income Thais, so consequently these are majority of my customers. I think this is reason business is still pretty good. My wife and I make a profit, but I must point out that while it is profitable, the business would not support my current standard of living without my retirement pension. While I understand the idea of starting a business to give wife something to do, my motive for this investment was to allow wife to survive comfortably after I am dead. I tried to get life insurance and was denied for health reasons, so the best I can do is to provide her with opportunity to support herself. One of the reasons I made this decision is she is a very smart and capable business woman, and whatever success the shop has attained is mostly her doing, not mine.

To summarize this, my advice before opening a business would be the following:

1-Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose, and take into consideration the worst case scenario for the exchange rate.

2-If possible, try to get business which depends at least partially on Thai customers

3-If you are establishing business for wife or g/f, make sure she is capable of running business, unless you plan on managing it yourself.

4-If at all possible, do not rely on business as your only or even primary source of income.

Good luck

I couldn't agree more than with your point #2. Anyone who relies principally on tourist/farang for there patronage is surely, at some point, going to feel some economic stress. We live in Thailand and disregarding the general populace in formulating your business plan is not demonstrating any business savvy. The past few months has seen numerous tales of woe about business downturn and what product or service are these business providing and to whom? There is a commonality. So take a look around, where do Thais spend their money? 7-11 is a non stop money making machine and the majority of the Thai businesses around last year will still be here next year. There are lots of Thais wandering around Airport Plaza, many with purchaces in hand, and not a lot of empty storefronts. The large and growing Thai middle class has disposable income and wants to enjoy the feeling of spending some. So go out and get a piece of that action for yourself instead of professing doom and gloom.

This is true and unfortunate.

Where I live is a 7/11 quite close to me and a few doors along is a ma and pa shop that's been there for ages.....you know the type, lit by a 20 watt bulb. However, they are lovely people and I always buy whatever's on my list from there and if they don't have it I just pop into 7/11 a couple of shops along. There are three farang customers that do the same thing, but I very rarely see any Thai's in there and 7/11 is always very busy with Thai's willing to pay the higher price.....strange

Not to strange if you look at it from a Thais view point. They look at 7/11 as an up market store and as a symbol of success. That's one reason they have over 3000 stores 7/11 in Thailand. On Mun Mueang alone both sides of the moat. I can thank of 6 and a new one being built.

This is true. I remember when I first came to C.M. and was seeing a girl at the time who always told me her dream was "to own a 7-11". She was from a very wealthy family in Hang Dong and was well-funded by her father. At the time I could not understand this mentality at all; it didn't make sense. Three years later, it all makes very much sense to me. 7-11's here are a non-stop money making machine.

Where I come from in California I would only ever go to 7-11 when I wanted to buy beer (at stupid prices) between midnight and 2:00 A.M. when the liquor stores and grocery stores had already closed. I would never think of actually "shopping" there or eating one of their 6 hour old stale hot dogs. They were usually dirty places with panhandlers, thieves, and scam artists out front.

There is one very nice 7-11 on Khao San Road in BKK that has its own bakery and and comfortable little cafe where you can sit and drink freshly brewed espresso and eat bakery goods. It also has about 30 varieties of local and imported bottled water to choose from!

[Pikey]

Anyone know how we can get on the 7-11 Gravy Train?

I've heard a couple of conflicting rumours - franchises are only 500,000THB and all CM 7-11s are owned by the same family that's behind Rimping.

Can anyone separate truth from fiction as over the years, whilst driving about, I've said to Mrs Pikey "that'd be a good place for a 7-11" and sure enough, one has sprouted up and although to the western eye, the market seems to be saturated, particularly in the city, this is obviously not the case.

Cheers,

Pikey.

[ThaiPauly]

Anyone know how we can get on the 7-11 Gravy Train?

I've heard a couple of conflicting rumours - franchises are only 500,000THB and all CM 7-11s are owned by the same family that's behind Rimping.

Can anyone separate truth from fiction as over the years, whilst driving about, I've said to Mrs Pikey "that'd be a good place for a 7-11" and sure enough, one has sprouted up and although to the western eye, the market seems to be saturated, particularly in the city, this is obviously not the case.

Cheers,

Pikey.

There is a thread running on owning a 7-11 in the SME Forum, (subforum of the business forum)

Plenty of info there, and plenty to put you off as well. They can make a lot of money, especially for CP,the company that owns them all, not necessarily for the franchisee

[gotlost]

All you want to know. 1.5 million minimum investment and Rimping is not evolved.

http://www.7eleven.co.th/

http://www.7eleven.co.th/corp/franching_how_to_be_a_franchise.php

Edited September 9, 2010 by gotlost

[Pikey]

Thanks for the info guys!

Cheers,

Pikey.

[F4UCorsair]

Fish spas!! How damned stupid are they? They should never have been in business in the first place, being gimmicky and not much else.

[elektrified]

In the U.S. (or at least in California) 7-11's are all owned by Indians. The ones who wear the turbans. Every single one of them...

Edited September 9, 2010 by elektrified

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

7-11 wiki

interesting reading. There are almost 13,000 7-11's in Japan. If Thailand came up to to the Japan level of 7-11 per capita then they are currently only about halfway to saturation by my quick and dirty calculations.

[uptheos]

Fish spas!! How damned stupid are they? They should never have been in business in the first place, being gimmicky and not much else.

It was fun to look at the stupid farangs using them though and the look on the faces of the Thai's watching in disbelief.

No wonder they think we have money to throw away.

[gotlost]

Check this out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7-Eleven

Owned by GP in Thailand with over 5,500 outlets and internationally including the US owned by Seven & I Holdings Co. Japan. 7-11 has more outlets than McD's.

[november222]

Anyone know how we can get on the 7-11 Gravy Train?

I've heard a couple of conflicting rumours - franchises are only 500,000THB and all CM 7-11s are owned by the same family that's behind Rimping.

Can anyone separate truth from fiction as over the years, whilst driving about, I've said to Mrs Pikey "that'd be a good place for a 7-11" and sure enough, one has sprouted up and although to the western eye, the market seems to be saturated, particularly in the city, this is obviously not the case.

Cheers,

Pikey.

hi pikey your bike business must be doing well if youve got a few quid to invest. nice one, good to hear of a success story.

any chance of a short-term loan. pm me if u can help.