Helping out the in-laws local shop to improve trade

[ryanhull]

One has to question the op motives. Just showing he is big man on campus.

Who builds a $50,000 home in a neighborhood of shanty town shacks? For one it has no resale value-villagers cant aford to buy it and no sane farang would.....hahahaha. The farang wants a no resale value home of his own..............hahaha.

Also is it wise to flaunt ones wealth in villages where murdering people of means is not uncommon. I say butt out. Helping is when they came to you for advice.

It was not 50,000 dollars, can I ask you where did you get that figure from please? also i built it on my wifes land as we have a 9 month old son so felt it would be wiser to build a small house rather than rent and leave him nothing behind, also, as we rented for the best part of 3 years the rent alone in that time amounted to not far off the cost of my house. Sure my wife could technically run off with my house and car, not that she ever would and if she did, I would not care from the monitary value providing my son has a roof over his head which is most important to me, and anyway I simply know she would not do that but I am not stupid to the stories that happen with falangs in Thailand.

If you read my post you would note I built it for my son incase I die not to show off or 'showing im the bigman' as you put it. Also, I do not want to resell it as it will eventually be my sons house and possibly his family`s when he is older so your comment on resale value is irrelevant. Do you read anything, or can you even read? if you have nothing good to say, then I suggest you stop coming up with your own jibberish and sod off back to your stool becuase one day you`ll end up getting a slap which would probably knock the 1 iq you have in your bone head out of your ears.

I am the same as you some times on TV you get some real stupid things on here and this is one of them who cares about some shop in a thai village they never ever work and are a waste of time and money I have seen it were I come from 2 shops make money then you will see 10 more shops go up and they all fail .

The op is 31 years old and living in thailand not understand some man on here most have to much money from back home or just stupid.

To be in a place like thailand at 31 years old .

And not trying to make very good money back home .

Dont really get your post, but I will try and 'answer' your retarded questions... I am 31 yes, I live in Thailand yes, I also have a house in London and Hull in the UK and part own a 8 year old successfull company in London which I worked very hard to get it to how it is today, although I am not rich I have enough money to take care of my family and my UK family too. I do not need to be in my London office as it is ran by someone else with staff,.... is it necessary for me to have to give my personal life/details out into a public forum when merely asking a question on a completely different topic? does every one assume they already know your lifes ins and outs, what you have paid and what you have?

----

it seems so with some of you, 99% of you lot are good guys, but the 1% really have your head up your own rectum which is a great shame. The majority of you lads are sound and give great advice which I greatly appreciate, why is it things get so personal and off topic on here so quickly? I have recived some great replies and various great pm`s, yet you always get the off few numb nutts who has to stick there negative beak in... guess thats life. To those who gave me good positive replies thanks alot, to those who want to sit and try to be-little my and my life go and give yourself a slap before someone else does... one day you might find in life that being nice and positive makes you feel good inside as opposed to being a negative person jumping to your own conclusions. Everyones story in life is different and everyone deserves respect...

Cheers all

[Nomyai]

Its fine to provide for your sons fuuture but why shackle him to the village? Do you think a fine bkk hi-so thai chinese girl (his wife) would want to live in the village?

Boys and girls want to get out of the village!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steven100]

How much does a slurpee machine cost ?

Just wondering how many you have to sell to pay for the machine ?

Just wondering how many you have to sell to pay for the machine ?

2,000,000 ..........

hahaha.... just joking !!

Your best market may be at lunch time .........

as mentioned earlier ...an ice machine ( self serve ) + hot coffee, ice coffee, frappe + mochas, + the BBQ foods ..... simple chicken, pork, squid, satay sticks on the BBQ.

Buy the ice drink machine, get a BBQ grill ( black coal type ) do the front of the shop up with new colored lights and red flashing light ....

[ryanhull]

Its fine to provide for your sons fuuture but why shackle him to the village? Do you think a fine bkk hi-so thai chinese girl (his wife) would want to live in the village?

Boys and girls want to get out of the village!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not shackling him per say, if he chooses to go off to bangkok, or even to the UK great, but the way I see it is he will always have somewhere to go back to he can call home if he wants, surrounded by his family. I very much doubt when he gets older he will want to stay here, and who knows we may end up taking him to the UK or bangkok etc yet again its good peice of mind for me more than anything if I die he has atleast somewhere to stay if need be, hope that makes sense, cheers

[Daffy D]

Its fine to provide for your sons fuuture but why shackle him to the village? Do you think a fine bkk hi-so thai chinese girl (his wife) would want to live in the village?

Boys and girls want to get out of the village!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's called HOME

[Opl]

Hello,

Sell the same products but add your personal touch, then, prices can be different, and the profit comes from your ideas :

It's simple, for isntance with candies :

- buy ,

but sell ------:

Edited October 27, 2015 by Opl

[ryanhull]

Thanks alot, genious idea... these are exacly the sort of helpful replies I was after, without the digs at me and my personal life and spot on to the point of good ideas, cheers mate your a star

[NeverSure]

Ryan, I'd jump in with all four feet and try to shut that other place down.

As for buy 10 get one free, the owners just have to sign it to avoid fakes and I think it's a good idea. All of the large American hair cut franchises that I know of do that, for instance. The annual rebate idea sucks due to bookkeeping, and gratification takes too long.

I would have daily or weekly sales on certain items. I'd have a chalkboard out front advertising them. "Beer, 20% off today." Retail businesses have what they call "loss leaders." They advertise a sale price that loses them a bit of money but it gets people in. Once in it becomes a habit and they usually buy other things that make a profit. It's a traffic builder. It's cheap and available advertising.

If you lower prices overall to try to beat the competition, once you've beaten them it's hard to get prices back up. Not so with temporary sales.

I'd get a Slurpee method and an iced coffee method as those are high profit items, and would draw people.

I'd improve my stock until I had what people would actually buy. Stores value shelf space and calculate sales per square foot of shelf. If a certain item is taking up shelf space but isn't a good seller it gets replaced with something else. Put the low sellers out front on a 1/2 price rack and try something else. Keep every square foot of shelf space moving or make changes. This is also how you learn what sells.

Yes, put some money into it, get that chalkboard and have continuous sales, increase stock as people have mentioned, get rid of things that don't move and add things that do. Add high profit items. In the restaurant biz, pizza has one of the lowest percentage of sales price food costs of all meals. I don't know if it would sell.

I'd seriously like to be right there with you. We'd kick some serious tail. I love this stuff.

Cheers.

Edited October 27, 2015 by NeverSure

[georgemandm]

One has to question the op motives. Just showing he is big man on campus.

Who builds a $50,000 home in a neighborhood of shanty town shacks? For one it has no resale value-villagers cant aford to buy it and no sane farang would.....hahahaha. The farang wants a no resale value home of his own..............hahaha.

Also is it wise to flaunt ones wealth in villages where murdering people of means is not uncommon. I say butt out. Helping is when they came to you for advice.

It was not 50,000 dollars, can I ask you where did you get that figure from please? also i built it on my wifes land as we have a 9 month old son so felt it would be wiser to build a small house rather than rent and leave him nothing behind, also, as we rented for the best part of 3 years the rent alone in that time amounted to not far off the cost of my house. Sure my wife could technically run off with my house and car, not that she ever would and if she did, I would not care from the monitary value providing my son has a roof over his head which is most important to me, and anyway I simply know she would not do that but I am not stupid to the stories that happen with falangs in Thailand.

If you read my post you would note I built it for my son incase I die not to show off or 'showing im the bigman' as you put it. Also, I do not want to resell it as it will eventually be my sons house and possibly his family`s when he is older so your comment on resale value is irrelevant. Do you read anything, or can you even read? if you have nothing good to say, then I suggest you stop coming up with your own jibberish and sod off back to your stool becuase one day you`ll end up getting a slap which would probably knock the 1 iq you have in your bone head out of your ears.

I am the same as you some times on TV you get some real stupid things on here and this is one of them who cares about some shop in a thai village they never ever work and are a waste of time and money I have seen it were I come from 2 shops make money then you will see 10 more shops go up and they all fail .

The op is 31 years old and living in thailand not understand some man on here most have to much money from back home or just stupid.

To be in a place like thailand at 31 years old .

And not trying to make very good money back home .

Dont really get your post, but I will try and 'answer' your retarded questions... I am 31 yes, I live in Thailand yes, I also have a house in London and Hull in the UK and part own a 8 year old successfull company in London which I worked very hard to get it to how it is today, although I am not rich I have enough money to take care of my family and my UK family too. I do not need to be in my London office as it is ran by someone else with staff,.... is it necessary for me to have to give my personal life/details out into a public forum when merely asking a question on a completely different topic? does every one assume they already know your lifes ins and outs, what you have paid and what you have?

----

it seems so with some of you, 99% of you lot are good guys, but the 1% really have your head up your own rectum which is a great shame. The majority of you lads are sound and give great advice which I greatly appreciate, why is it things get so personal and off topic on here so quickly? I have recived some great replies and various great pm`s, yet you always get the off few numb nutts who has to stick there negative beak in... guess thats life. To those who gave me good positive replies thanks alot, to those who want to sit and try to be-little my and my life go and give yourself a slap before someone else does... one day you might find in life that being nice and positive makes you feel good inside as opposed to being a negative person jumping to your own conclusions. Everyones story in life is different and everyone deserves respect...

Cheers all

Ok thanks but for me I still not understand why you would what to live in a thai village in the middle of no were and bring up your son were his life would be much better of back in England .

But like a thai would say up to You .

I was just wondering why a man of your age would come here and do what he is doing not having a go at you at all just wandering .

The best thing you can do for your in laws is as members have said before give them some ever month because shops like that never ever work unless you have a big ones and sell things at little profits that is how I have seen it work around my part of the thai villages I live in .

Hop it works for you

[GarryP]

If there is a small temple in the village, perhaps stock cheap candles, incense sticks, etc. which can then be used at the temple. Stuff for the local farmers (I assume you are in a farming community) such as batteries for those lamps they have on their heads when frog hunting, dirt cheap tobacco and reed for rolling your own, rice whiskey sold by the glass for the early morning hit before heading out to the fields, needles, pins, netting twine, etc.

Edited October 27, 2015 by GarryP

[Nomyai]

Hello,

Sell the same products but add your personal touch, then, prices can be different, and the profit comes from your ideas :

It's simple, for isntance with candies :

- buy ,

but sell ------:

These would go over well as present for your favorite girl who works clutching pole or under mind - numbing bright NEON.

[BKKdreaming]

Hi

are they open 7 days and long hours ?

how is Internet service there ? Maybe put in a couple desktop computers ?

and how many people are in the village ? are there enough people with extra pocket money to spend on "extras" ,

I think you are trying to do the right thing , but like someone else said let your wife take credit so the ideas are coming from a Thai ,

Good Luck ,

[ryanhull]

Ryan, I'd jump in with all four feet and try to shut that other place down.

As for buy 10 get one free, the owners just have to sign it to avoid fakes and I think it's a good idea. All of the large American hair cut franchises that I know of do that, for instance. The annual rebate idea sucks due to bookkeeping, and gratification takes too long.

I would have daily or weekly sales on certain items. I'd have a chalkboard out front advertising them. "Beer, 20% off today." Retail businesses have what they call "loss leaders." They advertise a sale price that loses them a bit of money but it gets people in. Once in it becomes a habit and they usually buy other things that make a profit. It's a traffic builder. It's cheap and available advertising.

If you lower prices overall to try to beat the competition, once you've beaten them it's hard to get prices back up. Not so with temporary sales.

I'd get a Slurpee method and an iced coffee method as those are high profit items, and would draw people.

I'd improve my stock until I had what people would actually buy. Stores value shelf space and calculate sales per square foot of shelf. If a certain item is taking up shelf space but isn't a good seller it gets replaced with something else. Put the low sellers out front on a 1/2 price rack and try something else. Keep every square foot of shelf space moving or make changes. This is also how you learn what sells.

Yes, put some money into it, get that chalkboard and have continuous sales, increase stock as people have mentioned, get rid of things that don't move and add things that do. Add high profit items. In the restaurant biz, pizza has one of the lowest percentage of sales price food costs of all meals. I don't know if it would sell.

I'd seriously like to be right there with you. We'd kick some serious tail. I love this stuff.

Cheers.

Thanks alot mate, great advise and a great reply which will definitly be considered, appreciated

Ok thanks but for me I still not understand why you would what to live in a thai village in the middle of no were and bring up your son were his life would be much better of back in England .

But like a thai would say up to You .

I was just wondering why a man of your age would come here and do what he is doing not having a go at you at all just wandering .

The best thing you can do for your in laws is as members have said before give them some ever month because shops like that never ever work unless you have a big ones and sell things at little profits that is how I have seen it work around my part of the thai villages I live in .

Hop it works for you

I lived in bangkok for over a year, and I prefer the village life, I have a car... if I want to go into the city its a 20 minute drive so whats the big deal, I love opening my door in the morning and looking out on beutiful fields and taking my dogs to run free, I love the fact my 9 month son is surrounded by his aunties, uncles, gran perants and plus they love it too as does the wife. When my son gets older we may take him to the UK but for now he is doing just great here and tbh I dont get why this post is moving onto my personal life with all due respect and why you feel the need to put your views on someones life you know nothing about? also as for your other comment, I do occsionally bung the in-laws a bit of cash as I do with my perants from the UK, but again its off topic and not something I really wanted to discus on this thread. But thanks.

If there is a small temple in the village, perhaps stock cheap candles, incense sticks, etc. which can then be used at the temple. Stuff for the local farmers (I assume you are in a farming community) such as batteries for those lamps they have on their heads when frog hunting, dirt cheap tobacco and reed for rolling your own, rice whiskey sold by the glass for the early morning hit before heading out to the fields, needles, pins, netting twine, etc.

There is a temple actually and its gone from being small to quite grand, so probably a good idea, thanks alot.

[anotheruser]

when i was traveling through the north it seemed like a big factor in running these micro businesesses outside their homes was the consumption of alcohol and gossiping.

if they are too lazy/dumb to have figured out "make ice coffee/get a slurpee machine" on their own then you should probably just mind your own business.

what they have now, 2-3 cutomers a day at their mini-mart isn't a business. it's not a hobby. it's nothing.

i would stay out of it.

Firstly my in-laws are not dumb, if you read my original post, I said if you have anything negative to say move on numpty <deleted>. Secondly it is not a hobby, it once was a big earner, yes it is also something for them to socialise but they are very old, when you are so old you stuggle to walk and your knee`s are giving in does that make you lazy?

Buy them a 7/11 franchise. That should put any shop near them out of business. In all seriousness if they don't care about their business why should you? You are going to have nothing but frustration doing all the work for people that didn't care about their business in the first place.

At what point in my thread did I say they do not care about their business? they do care, they are just old and with them being old they are struggling to come up with new ideas and new products to get the business back to how it was, and why would anyone buy a 7/11 franchaice in a small village?

-----

I have read and appreciate all the other posts, and sincere appreciate the ideas and advive which I am mulling over in the spair time I have. I think this post is also helping others in simular situations which is great and I think what forums especially TV is all about. Appreciated. To the slug butts who have nothing better than negative things to say, keep supping your changs and complaining about the price of cheese.

Cheers all

I was obviously kidding about the 7/11. Although they do pop up in small villages all the time.

[malt25]

"anyway trying to cut this story short," Thanks for not giving us the LONG version.

[BrainLife]

Maybe a hot water cooker for the instant noodles thingies and maybe even hot coffee/chocolate or so.

and indeed stick with the Makro, I buy water there 12x0.60liter bottles for 45baht

Homemade slush puppies for the kids. Just needs some ice and sala-concentrate or other juice, maybe milk or whatever.

Edited October 28, 2015 by BrainLife

[gerrytraveller]

Hi.. i am involved in a small cafe that initially i tried to set up at minimal cost. Blender for slurpee 300- 400 baht.

The round oven can be used for multi things ..bbq..big things..bbq small kebabs etc.. and we even made cakes for private consumption...cost 1000bht Makro.

[nithisa78]

Give then 4000 baht every month and be done,you will just keep throwing money into this venture believe me i speak from experience.

I get your point but, given I made one move to go to makro and buy new stock and already sales are improving I do not feel as though I should just give in just yet if you get me?

If the shop once made good money, good money to them probably being 1000bhat per day sales, I am convinved it can be done again... now like I say the only reason the other locals go to the other store is for the 1% yearly loyalty scheme and lack of selection, so I will attempt the 2% monthly scheme, get even more variation of stock and if that does not help I will throw the towerl in, just wondering if you guys might have any more ideas to throw into the pot?

Cheers

Your idea is sound. Give the people a reason to shop at mum and dad's. What else is there. That's how we choose one from the other, everywhere in the world.

[AlQaholic]

someone will hate you for meddling in the village affairs.....

[Nomyai]

someone will hate you for meddling in the village affairs.....

It will be war. Do you think the competitor will do nothing?

I still say stay out of dodge. Let the villagers handle their own affairs. When you get right down to it foreigners havent added any value to the village.

They build a house for momma n poppa and all the hangers on-how has that helped the villagers, They still dont have income.

You want to really help run for grand poobah in the next election...............hahahaha.

Its also possible in-laws mindset has changed. They know they will be taken care of by rich farang. Business make money or no make money-who cares.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Nomyai

[callaway]

So you are 31 years old and retired in the middle of Nakhon Nowhere brainstorming how to raise the in-laws tiny store back to it's heyday of ~300b/day profit?

And they are running a mini-mart with 2-3 customers a day? So like, what 20 baht a day profit?

Is this a serious topic?

I will get the negative numpty out the way first,.... no I am not living in Nakhon I live near Roi Et, and I am not retired I part own a successful London company. 300 bhat a day profit to my in-laws is not bad going when you consider that per month and the low living costs they have... plus it is not just about the money it gives them something to do and a sense of well being which I am sure any elderly person really wants... like I said in my post, nothing positive to say then do not bother saying anything at all because you`ll just get it back from me mate x10, kindest regards

Agree in improving product selection is a key, wouldn't implement a 2% rewards system the other shop my match or better it then you get a war on your hands, perhaps over a certain spend a low cost freeby is thrown in, better to run sales/discount on products like sweets and snacks changing products weekly.

Most Thais don't put much effort into there shop front, a modern or funkiesh place will always attract customers, this is where i would start first with improved product line, and a few discounted sweets or snacks, just up grading the place and say a couple of tables and chairs outside under some shade to freshen it up to make it more appealing and spot to nibble or drink what they just brought included some potted plants in this area.

Anymore and it becomes a money drain, it got along fine before and it can in the future the inlaws just want something to do.

By the way do your market research, in this case hardly worth paying someone to do it, listen to the wife and friends there is only so much sales available in that village, typical Thai is if someones making money other will appear up the road then an other then an other, you risk a 3rd operator if both of the shops look like there going well, work towards a turn over your happy with but be mindful of your inlaws do they want to be run off there feet with higher turn over and reduced margins?

Thanks mate, I think the freebie is a good idea, i think the in-laws just want some customers as they are bored you see aside from looking after my son occasionally heh

Ryan, good job young fella. You obviously understand the folks have to have some self worth. Its not about the money for them. Its the self worth and social interaction. They should be proud to have the only "farang" in family in the village. Especially one with good heart. One thing I will tell you is do not get visually involved too much because the jealousy card will be played by the other shop. The talk will be that farang have big money already so not need family work. The villagers will play that card along with the jealous racial card. Be aware of that for your in laws sake. I have "been there done that". All I suggest is try not to do it all overnight. Take time and maybe the "farang money" card will not come into play. Good luck and keep up the positive attitude.

[MobileContent]

Top revenues in our villages are alcohol, gasoline and mobile top up.

Your in-laws should sell beer and lao khao at a good price and sell it for a small discount but this could be big volume per day. One little glass shot is 10 Baht but of course they are not permitted to drink.

If they are very good in making Somtam and it tastes better as the others in the village that could be a money earner as well. We have 6 shops in our village and they all somehow seem to be surviving.

[BB1955]

If you can do it help them by all means ....

[MobileContent]

So you are 31 years old and retired in the middle of Nakhon Nowhere brainstorming how to raise the in-laws tiny store back to it's heyday of ~300b/day profit?

And they are running a mini-mart with 2-3 customers a day? So like, what 20 baht a day profit?

Is this a serious topic?

I will get the negative numpty out the way first,.... no I am not living in Nakhon I live near Roi Et, and I am not retired I part own a successful London company. 300 bhat a day profit to my in-laws is not bad going when you consider that per month and the low living costs they have... plus it is not just about the money it gives them something to do and a sense of well being which I am sure any elderly person really wants... like I said in my post, nothing positive to say then do not bother saying anything at all because you`ll just get it back from me mate x10, kindest regards

Agree in improving product selection is a key, wouldn't implement a 2% rewards system the other shop my match or better it then you get a war on your hands, perhaps over a certain spend a low cost freeby is thrown in, better to run sales/discount on products like sweets and snacks changing products weekly.

Most Thais don't put much effort into there shop front, a modern or funkiesh place will always attract customers, this is where i would start first with improved product line, and a few discounted sweets or snacks, just up grading the place and say a couple of tables and chairs outside under some shade to freshen it up to make it more appealing and spot to nibble or drink what they just brought included some potted plants in this area.

Anymore and it becomes a money drain, it got along fine before and it can in the future the inlaws just want something to do.

By the way do your market research, in this case hardly worth paying someone to do it, listen to the wife and friends there is only so much sales available in that village, typical Thai is if someones making money other will appear up the road then an other then an other, you risk a 3rd operator if both of the shops look like there going well, work towards a turn over your happy with but be mindful of your inlaws do they want to be run off there feet with higher turn over and reduced margins?

Thanks mate, I think the freebie is a good idea, i think the in-laws just want some customers as they are bored you see aside from looking after my son occasionally heh

Ryan, good job young fella. You obviously understand the folks have to have some self worth. Its not about the money for them. Its the self worth and social interaction. They should be proud to have the only "farang" in family in the village. Especially one with good heart. One thing I will tell you is do not get visually involved too much because the jealousy card will be played by the other shop. The talk will be that farang have big money already so not need family work. The villagers will play that card along with the jealous racial card. Be aware of that for your in laws sake. I have "been there done that". All I suggest is try not to do it all overnight. Take time and maybe the "farang money" card will not come into play. Good luck and keep up the positive attitude.

Exactly what my wife said as she would never open a shop as the villagers wouldn't buy anything from her because of jealousy and why give them business if they have farang already.

[Benmart]

Check out Kiva.org. it's a non-profit that manages micro-loans worldwide. A hand up, and not a hand out.

[MobileContent]

One has to question the op motives. Just showing he is big man on campus.

Who builds a $50,000 home in a neighborhood of shanty town shacks? For one it has no resale value-villagers cant aford to buy it and no sane farang would.....hahahaha. The farang wants a no resale value home of his own..............hahaha.

Also is it wise to flaunt ones wealth in villages where murdering people of means is not uncommon. I say butt out. Helping is when they came to you for advice.

It was not 50,000 dollars, can I ask you where did you get that figure from please? also i built it on my wifes land as we have a 9 month old son so felt it would be wiser to build a small house rather than rent and leave him nothing behind, also, as we rented for the best part of 3 years the rent alone in that time amounted to not far off the cost of my house. Sure my wife could technically run off with my house and car, not that she ever would and if she did, I would not care from the monitary value providing my son has a roof over his head which is most important to me, and anyway I simply know she would not do that but I am not stupid to the stories that happen with falangs in Thailand.

If you read my post you would note I built it for my son incase I die not to show off or 'showing im the bigman' as you put it. Also, I do not want to resell it as it will eventually be my sons house and possibly his family`s when he is older so your comment on resale value is irrelevant. Do you read anything, or can you even read? if you have nothing good to say, then I suggest you stop coming up with your own jibberish and sod off back to your stool becuase one day you`ll end up getting a slap which would probably knock the 1 iq you have in your bone head out of your ears.

I am the same as you some times on TV you get some real stupid things on here and this is one of them who cares about some shop in a thai village they never ever work and are a waste of time and money I have seen it were I come from 2 shops make money then you will see 10 more shops go up and they all fail .

The op is 31 years old and living in thailand not understand some man on here most have to much money from back home or just stupid.

To be in a place like thailand at 31 years old .

And not trying to make very good money back home .

Dont really get your post, but I will try and 'answer' your retarded questions... I am 31 yes, I live in Thailand yes, I also have a house in London and Hull in the UK and part own a 8 year old successfull company in London which I worked very hard to get it to how it is today, although I am not rich I have enough money to take care of my family and my UK family too. I do not need to be in my London office as it is ran by someone else with staff,.... is it necessary for me to have to give my personal life/details out into a public forum when merely asking a question on a completely different topic? does every one assume they already know your lifes ins and outs, what you have paid and what you have?

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it seems so with some of you, 99% of you lot are good guys, but the 1% really have your head up your own rectum which is a great shame. The majority of you lads are sound and give great advice which I greatly appreciate, why is it things get so personal and off topic on here so quickly? I have recived some great replies and various great pm`s, yet you always get the off few numb nutts who has to stick there negative beak in... guess thats life. To those who gave me good positive replies thanks alot, to those who want to sit and try to be-little my and my life go and give yourself a slap before someone else does... one day you might find in life that being nice and positive makes you feel good inside as opposed to being a negative person jumping to your own conclusions. Everyones story in life is different and everyone deserves respect...

Cheers all

+1 Well said.

What would be interesting to me to know is since when did the business go down? After you build your house and settled in the village. As for me to stand to your points. You build a house for your wife and jid in the first place and I did exactly the same and my kid is now almost 3 year old.

[Can samui]

If it is more for the social interaction then maybe free coffee or whatever the folks like to drink there. Serve it in real mugs or cups so they have to stick around to drink it. Give mom and pop some chat time with the neighbors and maybe a sale or two to go with it.

[Shiver]

Before I say anything, bear in mind I am not Thai, so what follows may not be applicable:

There are two local village shops I pass frequently when visiting a friend, but I only ever go to one of them. I like their attitude and they always aim to please (the other has a husband/wife fighting all the time and I don't want to be around that), by which I mean I wouldn't compete on price, but I would compete on service quality.

Other suggestions like a slurpy, shop facelift might be useful too. Pizza could be a good one but moving enough to always have fresh stock may be a complication. Lao Kaao shots are another option (maybe with M150).

Edited October 28, 2015 by Shiver

[Toknarok]

Remember, although almost all Mom 'n Pop shops do it, selling of single cigarettes and shots of lao khao is illegal.

[BKKdreaming]

and do not let the family and others "eat the profits"

everyone needs to pay even if its for your lunch

Also do not get it too big and busy that is too much for them . do one thing at a time and see how it goes......