Fresh-Cut Orchid Business

[simon43]

Does anyone have experience of growing and selling fresh-cut orchids? I'm toying with 'value-adds' for my small hotel businesses in Phuket. This is not a 'crazy' idea as it sounds...

One of my hotels is located in a rural (rubber-trees) location, within 5 minutes of Phuket International Airport. Every day, dozens of tour buses bring travellers (particularly Asians) to the airport for their outward-bound flight. These tour buses always arrive at the airport many hours before the flight, (in case of traffic jams etc). To keep their passengers 'busy', they typically take them to nearby traditional Thai massage shops to pass the time.

Many of those passengers are Chinese, Japanese and Korean ladies, many of whom would also be interested to relax in a shady, quiet location with refreshments, and be able to wander around looking at beautiful orchids growing in natural surroundings, and to purchase said orchids to take home with them. CITES/export rules mean that we would have to de-root the orchids, but because we are right next to the airport means that the 'shelf-life' of the cut orchid would be at a maximum when compared to buying cut orchids from a more distance location.

Orchids grow in profusion at this hotel, and there is plenty of adjacent land to use to grow cutlivated orchids.

Actually, I personally know 0% about growing orchids, but it is the combination of our location near to the airport, location in a natural, humid and rural environment, and almost unlimited availability of potential customers that has got me thinking....

I have never bought the boxed, cut orchids at the airport. Does anyone know the typical cost?

Thanks for advice

Simon

[onthemoon]

There used to be orchids shop in every international airport in Thailand. That's not the case any more. You might want to check out why.

[simon43]

I previously checked about the export regulations for cut orchids, and the import regulations for the same in major countries, such as the UK, USA, Australia etc. Cut orchids brought in as personal items (hand-carried) are absolutely fine, and do not require any CITES documents or certificate from the supplier.

Orchids with roots are a different matter, but it's still possible to import these if they are flask-grown in agar nutrient.

Simon

[bifftastic]

I've never bought the cut variety, but my wife buys quite a few that have roots (so that they can continue to grow in our garden) from the market in our local town.

They cost ฿150 each and come with the hanging basket/holder thing with wires to hang them up. Similar items sell in London for about £15

Might give you an idea of pricing

[webworldly]

I think it is great that simon43 shared, in such a "stream of consciousness" style, the thought process that led to his premise. For me as a reader, these are the (too rare) gems that create the most value for this particular sub-forum.

What if you start with an already established business - "massages for early arriving passengers" - and then enhance it with your particular abundant resource - Orchids?

1. Could there be a niche massage style that includes gently brushing the skin with orchids ("orchid tickle therapy" or "orchid skin sensitization therapy")?
2. Or some sort of "Five Sense Orchid Therapy" that would include the sight (orchid filled massage room), smell (orchid filled massage room), sound (?), touch (orchid skin sensitization...i.e. tickle), and taste (this is an interesting one https://www.google.com/search?q=edible+orchids )?

I don't know how helpful those ideas might be, but if nothing else, maybe they will help you continue your creative thinking about how to convert your resources into opportunities.

CHEERS!

D

[TravelerEastWest]

You need to cure the orchids - basically diffreent temperatures and humidity - go visit the Bangkok flower coop they export large numbers of orchids.