IrishIvan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Inspired by a previous post I thought I would start this thread about successful businesses. What are some of the businesses that really stand out for you? For me its Phuket Top Team and Tiger Muay Thai, they both have changed Chalong for the better. Jurapan in Chalong which started off as just a small little stationary shop and is now a gold mine. The Laguna complex. That guy is a dead set genius. He turned a little bamboo shack in the back of Nai Harn into one of the areas most successful Nightclubs. Siam Safari. Just seeing the amount of Land Rovers that are sitting on the side of the road amazes me. It must have cost a few million dollars to replace and upgrade all those vehicles. The Kata wave park. Now I thought that place would never make money. Its packed every day. Pier 42. The place was an eyesore and now its teaming. There is a few to start off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nedkellylives Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Aussie Bar, Katathani beach resort, aquarium, walkers inn Kho Lak, Phuket zoo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Old Croc Posted October 15, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted October 15, 2013 Tuk tuks, jet skis. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Croc Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Honda, Yamaha bikes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishIvan Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Aussie Bar, Katathani beach resort, aquarium, walkers inn Kho Lak, Phuket zoo Aussie bar is one that shines out. I remember when it was a pokey little joint. Now its hard to get a seat in there. They charge through the nose though. 110baht for a tiger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nedkellylives Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Aussie Bar, Katathani beach resort, aquarium, walkers inn Kho Lak, Phuket zoo Aussie bar is one that shines out. I remember when it was a pokey little joint. Now its hard to get a seat in there. They charge through the nose though. 110baht for a tiger its mainly Aussie tourists who go there and the price of a beer there is a lot cheaper than Australia The owner invested and upgraded right after the tusnami when no one else was interested and has done very well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nedkellylives Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Mainly Aussie tourists who go there and the price of a beer is a lot cheaper than Australia The owner invested and upgraded after the tusnami when no one else was interested and done very well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishIvan Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Aussie Bar, Katathani beach resort, aquarium, walkers inn Kho Lak, Phuket zooAussie bar is one that shines out. I remember when it was a pokey little joint. Now its hard to get a seat in there. They charge through the nose though. 110baht for a tiger its mainly Aussie tourists who go there and the price of a beer there is a lot cheaper than AustraliaThe owner invested and upgraded right after the tusnami when no one else was interested and has done very well It depends where you drink at in Australia. Its cheaper than pubs. But not cheaper than RSL or leagues clubs. You can still get a Schooner for $4.50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblegum Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Mr. Moo's restaurant; M&M pizza; La Foret spa; KFC and MacDonalds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginKata Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 FantaSea - many said that far too much money was invested in this project. Many said it would fail. Still going strong after quite a number if years. Simon Cabaret - must be once of the most successful businesses after all these years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansgruber Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 One thing I can assure you from a close source Kata surf house is busy but they don't cover costs, let alone make a profit. Rent is ridiculously high. They have a generator running the non stop and all that staff. Trust me. It's bleeding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginKata Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 One thing I can assure you from a close source Kata surf house is busy but they don't cover costs, let alone make a profit. Rent is ridiculously high. They have a generator running the non stop and all that staff. Trust me. It's bleeding. Got to agree with you Hans. Looked like a loss maker from the start. Although I thought the land was on a long term lease from Club Med to the Norwegian guy who had the restaurant. He tore down that restaurant and became a partner in the Surf House, at least what I heard. Can't believe they never paid for a large transformer, but opted for the 2 hired generators, fuel, and service costs. As you say - bleeding money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patongphil Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Headstart School - doing very nicely apparently. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N47HAN Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Actually i think theres a few amongst all the long term members here. Plenty of posters have had buisinesses here for a long time. So my choice goes to all of you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phuketsub Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Unless one has access to balance sheets, tax returns, etc., it all remains an exercise in presumption and speculation -- not a good starting point, analytically speaking. Anyway, such constraints have never been insurmountable obstacles in this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamKangMan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 What is the OP's criteria for judging "success?" Is it how long the business has kept the doors open, with the same own? Is it how many people go there? Is it how many baht it puts in the owner's pocket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginKata Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 What is the OP's criteria for judging "success?" Is it how long the business has kept the doors open, with the same own? Is it how many people go there? Is it how many baht it puts in the owner's pocket? I just assumed the first criteria, as that means citeria 2 & 3 must be positive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamKangMan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 What is the OP's criteria for judging "success?" Is it how long the business has kept the doors open, with the same own? Is it how many people go there? Is it how many baht it puts in the owner's pocket? I just assumed the first criteria, as that means citeria 2 & 3 must be positive. That's not always the case LIK. I know a couple of guys here who are quite wealthy in their home countries and have businesses. They have been in the same place for many years. They fully admit their businesses only break even, sometimes a little short in the month, sometimes a good month. When I've asked both of them, "Why don't you get rid of it?" Their answer was, "It's my hobbie." Makes you wonder how many are similar here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keestha Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 What is the OP's criteria for judging "success?" Is it how long the business has kept the doors open, with the same own? Is it how many people go there? Is it how many baht it puts in the owner's pocket? I just assumed the first criteria, as that means citeria 2 & 3 must be positive. No. The owner might have deep pockets, so that he can absorb losses for a long time. Or he might also have another source of income. Also he might be just about able to make both ends meet for 10+ years. Also sometimes farang business owners who are heading towards bankrupcy, manage to find a farang business partner who pumps new money into it, so that the doors can be kept open. Or the owner is a Thai lady with a German boyfriend, and when his money runs out and he goes home, she finds herself a Russian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Songhua Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 When did Expat Hotel start up? Mid 80's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamKangMan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 What is the OP's criteria for judging "success?" Is it how long the business has kept the doors open, with the same own? Is it how many people go there? Is it how many baht it puts in the owner's pocket? I just assumed the first criteria, as that means citeria 2 & 3 must be positive. No. The owner might have deep pockets, so that he can absorb losses for a long time. Or he might also have another source of income. Also he might be just about able to make both ends meet for 10+ years. Also sometimes farang business owners who are heading towards bankrupcy, manage to find a farang business partner who pumps new money into it, so that the doors can be kept open. Or the owner is a Thai lady with a German boyfriend, and when his money runs out and he goes home, she finds herself a Russian. Yes, this does happen. The farang thinks he's so lucky to hook up with a "Thai business women" who gets him to put in some capital to "expand" the business, or become a partners in the business. After he does, she whips up some domestic problems and breaks off the relationship, or, the money he puts in was what he couldn't afford to lose, and he goes home broke, and she looks for the next victim. The "business" is just her bait and the place stays open for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginKata Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 You seem to wandering off the Successful Business topic into a completely different area - business scams. Maybe better to keep on the OPs topic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishIvan Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 The Dara Hotel near central is one I never thought would have kicked a goal. It seems to be doing quite well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 The Dara Hotel near central is one I never thought would have kicked a goal. It seems to be doing quite well how did you come to that conclusion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamKangMan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Taipan Nightclub has been around for a while, with the same owner, and always has a crowd. Best thing that happened for Taipan, in recent times, where 500 baht bar fines in the Soi beer bars, and 1000 baht bar fines in the new Tiger Complex. Taipan suddenly got more busy, very quckly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishIvan Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 The Dara Hotel near central is one I never thought would have kicked a goal. It seems to be doing quite wellhow did you come to that conclusion?A friend of mine knows the owner and apparently he is going to build more.Its full of Thais all year round 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nedkellylives Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Aussie Bar, Katathani beach resort, aquarium, walkers inn Kho Lak, Phuket zooAussie bar is one that shines out. I remember when it was a pokey little joint. Now its hard to get a seat in there. They charge through the nose though. 110baht for a tiger its mainly Aussie tourists who go there and the price of a beer there is a lot cheaper than AustraliaThe owner invested and upgraded right after the tusnami when no one else was interested and has done very well It depends where you drink at in Australia. Its cheaper than pubs. But not cheaper than RSL or leagues clubs. You can still get a Schooner for $4.50. $4.50 aud is 130 baht Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishIvan Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 (edited) Aussie Bar, Katathani beach resort, aquarium, walkers inn Kho Lak, Phuket zooAussie bar is one that shines out. I remember when it was a pokey little joint. Now its hard to get a seat in there. They charge through the nose though. 110baht for a tiger its mainly Aussie tourists who go there and the price of a beer there is a lot cheaper than Australia The owner invested and upgraded right after the tusnami when no one else was interested and has done very well It depends where you drink at in Australia. Its cheaper than pubs. But not cheaper than RSL or leagues clubs. You can still get a Schooner for $4.50. $4.50 aud is 130 baht But a bottle of beer is 375 mils while a schooner is 425ml. Its a saving of about 40 cents Edited October 16, 2013 by IrishIvan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dararasmi Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 The Phuket Plastic Surgery Center Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alwyn Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 I was going to say the Alwyn Dixon School of Krav Maga but as I haven't opened yet I won't But the bars up at the view point behind Kata enroute to Naiharn have done amazingly well, I remember back in 2001 when it was the "Reggae Bar" and another little one, now there's a few thriving restaurants there!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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