Farang businesses in Chiang Mai

[Countryman]

I suppose the first Farangs to come to do business in Chiang Mai,

would have been the teak traders,and later by fortune hunters.

So what has changed into days world,suppose most Farangs doing

business in Chiang Mai today would be in the Catering ,Export of

Handicrafts,Bookshops,Wholesale food suppler,Tours?,suppose

the biggest Farang owned company would be Tesco,also in the

food business, so it seems a very narrow range of business that

Farangs choose to engage in ,in Chiang Mai,is this because of

restrictions,I would have thought that a business that could supply

Thais as well as Farangs would have a much better chance of

succeeding.

Like I said most Farang business are in catering, some are doing

alright,a few doing very well, and so many more try and fail,so what

would your ideas be for a business that could do well here? (not

catering too many now).and what Farang run businesses do you

know that are not in the narrow category stated,who has thought

outside the box.?

The word Farang does not bother me at all,its a Thai name for

any white person from the West (French were the first to be called

this i believe), and now NZ and OZ, what would a coloured chap from

the UK or U.S. be called? still Farang.

relax Countryman

[Thighlander]

A cotton sheet business could do well. BTW, Tesco-Lotus is likely 49% British owned, same for Esso Thailand (except American), or Royal Dutch Shell. They are technically joint ventures.

A favorite pastime of the Thais is to shoot themselves in the feet......very rigid work permit restrictions, very high rent in good locations, and it is often increased dramatically once they know you're doing well, which is rare. Try selling Timeshares....you will only lose your dignity, but I have my doubts about the legitimacy of their work permits, too.

[NancyL]

It's been my observation that the foreigners who run successful businesses here when they develop a business that appeals to Thai people, not just other foreigners. Looks at the clientele at The Duke's and Riverside -- it's the Thai customers that make the difference between a business just getting by vs. flourishing.

[Puwa]

Countryman, you love the cow and the goat and the fish. You can make lightning, but first you have to have that intention.

[eyecatcher]

If I can pass on one simple piece of advice that was given to me before i took the plunge it was

"don't rely on tourists and choose your location carefully"

I took that advice on board and have never looked back. I had no business experience whatsoever to call upon.

[scottishjohn]

Countryman, you love the cow and the goat and the fish. You can make lightning, but first you have to have that intention.

Eh!

[quidnunc]

Countryman, you love the cow and the goat and the fish. You can make lightning, but first you have to have that intention.

Eh!

If you subsititute "panda" for "cow", "chimp" for "goat", and "shrimp" for "fish", I think you'll see that it makes absolutely no difference.

[Chiengmaijoe]

If I can pass on one simple piece of advice that was given to me before i took the plunge it was

"don't rely on tourists and choose your location carefully"

I took that advice on board and have never looked back. I had no business experience whatsoever to call upon.

It's good to see that you've done well, but the advice you were given would depend on the type of business. Plenty of businesses do well from tourists despite the fact that they are totally dependant on them and plenty of businesses don't need a good location.

One thing to bear in mind is that if you don't speak Thai then plenty of business options will be that bit more difficult. That factor alone will limit your options considerably.

[Puwa]

Countryman, you love the cow and the goat and the fish. You can make lightning, but first you have to have that intention.

Eh!

If you subsititute "panda" for "cow", "chimp" for "goat", and "shrimp" for "fish", I think you'll see that it makes absolutely no difference.

You have turned me, Sadu Baba.

[Countryman]

Don t you ever watch movies, its a line from Countryman,great film,great soundtrack, you learn a little something everyday on ThaiVisa relax countryman

Countryman, you love the cow and the goat and the fish. You can make lightning, but first you have to have that intention.

Eh!

[wolf5370]

A cotton sheet business could do well. BTW, Tesco-Lotus is likely 49% British owned, same for Esso Thailand (except American), or Royal Dutch Shell. They are technically joint ventures.

A favorite pastime of the Thais is to shoot themselves in the feet......very rigid work permit restrictions, very high rent in good locations, and it is often increased dramatically once they know you're doing well, which is rare. Try selling Timeshares....you will only lose your dignity, but I have my doubts about the legitimacy of their work permits, too.

As I understand it - from years back - that Tesco bought out the Lotus interest decade or so ago - and is wholly British owned (BOT approved due to mass employment etc). I agree with the rest of what you say though.

[scottishjohn]

Don t you ever watch movies, its a line from Countryman,great film,great soundtrack, you learn a little something everyday on ThaiVisa relax countryman

Countryman, you love the cow and the goat and the fish. You can make lightning, but first you have to have that intention.

Eh!

It may well be a quote from a film but:-

a) What does it mean?

What is the relevance to this thread?

[PJcm]

A cotton sheet business could do well. BTW, Tesco-Lotus is likely 49% British owned, same for Esso Thailand (except American), or Royal Dutch Shell. They are technically joint ventures.

A favorite pastime of the Thais is to shoot themselves in the feet......very rigid work permit restrictions, very high rent in good locations, and it is often increased dramatically once they know you're doing well, which is rare. Try selling Timeshares....you will only lose your dignity, but I have my doubts about the legitimacy of their work permits, too.

Esso Thailand is 100 percent American owned under the Treaty of Amnity, Royal Dutch shell is the American Subsidiary and 100 per cent owned by Americans. They are not joint ventures only Americans can own 100% and don't need a Thai partner.

[Thighlander]

Seems odd that Esso is only sold on the SET. Royal Dutch Shell is a British Company, and one of the top five holdings of EWU...the United Kingdom ETF (along with HSBC, BP, GSK, and British American Tobacco).

[quidnunc]

Seems odd that Esso is only sold on the SET. Royal Dutch Shell is a British Company, and one of the top five holdings of EWU...the United Kingdom ETF (along with HSBC, BP, GSK, and British American Tobacco).

Actually, Royal Dutch Shell is an British/Dutch company.

[THAIJAMES]

My moto has always been:

Don't take work away from Thais or compete with them.

Give Thais a job

Sell products or services produced in Thailand overseas or to international organizations.

You will get more money and avoid the pitfalls of having to deal with Thai businesses

You will also avoid Thais getting back at you or getting in your way.

[Mapguy]

It's been my observation that the foreigners who run successful businesses here when they develop a business that appeals to Thai people, not just other foreigners. Looks at the clientele at The Duke's and Riverside -- it's the Thai customers that make the difference between a business just getting by vs. flourishing.

Very good general observation. Take restaurants, for example. Last time I spoke to Dave, he said that something like 70-80% of his business is Thai.

[Puwa]

My question about The Duke's has always been why the sign in Thai reads "The Duck's."

[scottishjohn]

Countryman, you love the cow and the goat and the fish. You can make lightning, but first you have to have that intention.

Eh!

If you subsititute "panda" for "cow", "chimp" for "goat", and "shrimp" for "fish", I think you'll see that it makes absolutely no difference.

You have turned me, Sadu Baba.

Does this mean that you understand and can explain the above doggerel?

[scottishjohn]

My question about The Duke's has always been why the sign in Thai reads "The Duck's."

Who gives a 'Duck'.

Are you just showing off that you can read Thai?

[Puwa]

It seems to be raining ducks and doggerels. In reply to your first, since you really seem to want to know, I saw that we have a new member whose name and avatar refer to a cult classic film. [You are forgiven for you ignorance of Portugese B movies from the early 1980s. You might slake your insatiable interest in this matter at IMDB.com] This was my way of welcoming him acknowledging his excellent taste. He seemed happy enough, while you, for some reason, don't.

To your second, yes, and in addition to showing off on TV, a pastime that gives me no end of pleasure and satisfaction, I pointed out the Duck simply to add one more footnote to the copious collection of posts, opinions, stories, anecdotes, reviews, rivalries, flame wars, advances, retreats, and daily news bulletins about this restaurant (whose burgers and pizza I also enjoy). 50 years from now, when scholars pore over these archives, this little tidbit might be the key to unlocking some greater mystery, one never knows.

Roll on, John (oops, there I go again). I mean, lighten up, Francis. I understand, your heart's in the highlands.

[expatbrat]

I am working on a business that has never been seen before in Thailand, but unfortunately can not tell you what it is. As far as I am aware Farang means foreigner, could be wrong though. better than the Cantonese word for us, which is white devil or gweilo.

[Ulysses G.]

I am working on a business that has never been seen before in Thailand

If it works, everybody and his brother will copy you. If it doesn't, you should be OK.

[Thighlander]

It's been my observation that the foreigners who run successful businesses here when they develop a business that appeals to Thai people, not just other foreigners. Looks at the clientele at The Duke's and Riverside -- it's the Thai customers that make the difference between a business just getting by vs. flourishing.

Very good general observation. Take restaurants, for example. Last time I spoke to Dave, he said that something like 70-80% of his business is Thai.

Well, that explains the service charge.

[dru2]

I am working on a business that has never been seen before in Thailand, but unfortunately can not tell you what it is. As far as I am aware Farang means foreigner, could be wrong though. better than the Cantonese word for us, which is white devil or gweilo.

Not foreigner - white, Caucasian Westerner.