Helping out the in-laws local shop to improve trade

[GarryP]

Many of these shops work on tick/slate too. So maybe you want to consider allowing purchases on monthly credit.

[1FinickyOne]

They obviously like keeping store and there are surely many new things you can try - - as a former retailer, keep trying different things… even if 9/10 are just break even and you get rid of the product at cost - the 1/10 might really make it worth their while. I live in a small village too and there are tons of little home front businesses. The soup places and little restaurants can do very well. I am not sure what else is in your village and I understand that they are probably too old to do soup but maybe another family member might try and kick them back some of the profit. There is likely a world of new products to try…

I am not big on the cash back junk and all the bookkeeping sounds like a nightmare but if that is what is working to take away business, give 1% back at time of purchase.

Good luck and good for you helping out.

[NoshowJones]

Thais love those 'icy' drinks. Buy yourself a decent blender which can crush ice cubes and you then top up with different flavoured syrups. Not really the right time of year at present as it's going to get cooler, but come Feb. they'll sell like hot cakes.

Yes, and then the other shop will do the exact same, and probably cheaper. One earlier poster claimed "a war on your hands".

Possibly, if their business starts losing a bit of business because of a Farang, maybe starting with reporting you for not having a work permit,

I think that you would need one even if you tell them you are not making any money out of this.

[NoshowJones]

My wifes sister bought a small fan oven (the round glass one with the fan in the lid) and has started making small pizzas. She makes the bases in the morning then adds toppings and cooks them on demand. Just simple pizzas with tomatoe sauce (paste is hard to find), sausage, mushroom or something inexpensive but tasty, and cheese. I think they are 40 baht for a small one (49 in town) and are selling quickly, especially amongst the younger ones.

If you do something that is successful, the opposition will just go and do the same.

[elliottm]

My first advice would be to be VERY careful.

Any kind business, paid or unpaid, requires a Work Permit.

You can look on here for the requirements although I'm pretty sure retail is excluded from allowed industries.

Hope this helps and good luck to the in-laws .

[PattayaPhom]

Thais love to gamble and those little boards with numbers on that give prizes always seem a popular thing here...not sure about licening if it is classified as gambling?

[realenglish1]

if you want to emulate 7-11 there are similar tactics you can do. Strong indoor lighting is important . Drinks cooled to a certain temperature.

Cheap fast food is important. Get a slushy machine It works wonders with the kids They love it .

And always and I mean always make change for large bills.

Some tips that work

[NoshowJones]

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

and why would anyone buy a 7/11 franchaice in a small village? Maybe they would if a main road runs through it.

[callaway]

A hand up, and not a hand out.

Think aboot this. OP pretty much gave a handout to wife and baby, yet want old parents to work hard for their measly money.

<deleted>

They guy builds a house for his wife and child. Exactly what any man anywhere does. He helps hi in laws with some products for their shop with new lines to sell. He is helpling them and they are the ones who want to do the shop. I think the only one that does not get it is you. I detect a huge amomount of jealousy. Maybe your hovel rental room, that the thais moved out of because too rundown, is all you can afford. Some of us actually have a little bit more than a measly pension. Now be a good lad and back down to your favourite bar stool. Its happy hour now. Cannot miss that hey.

[Ricardo]

I've known local-businesses to run an occasional raffle, free-entry for each actual customer, as a way of attracting customers to return from the newer busier place. Cost is a book of tickets plus an unwanted soft-toy or other prize !

But any such promotion is likely to get copied, IME in Thailand.

The OP's relatives appear to be running a hobby-job, rather than a real commercial enterprise, perhaps support them by sometimes doing their purchasing from Makro for them, but only if he's already going ? Otherwise they're on a hiding-to-nothing, B1 mark-up on a bottle of water is ridiculous, given the overheads.

Perhaps the new competitor really is more efficient, or perhaps they don't actually know all their own costs, and will take a while to learn that they're under-pricing & running at-a-loss ? Time will tell.

[Vandadavid]

Know exactly what Thais buy

Stock it at best price possible

Sell other innovative items hot coals, fresh eggs etc

Mama can cook maybe do PAPAYA Always a winner

Have a BBQ setup sell

[jaaaason]

Be careful of immigration. A friend of mine was helping his wife in her small restaurant,just setting up the tables and immigration gave him a hard time for working without a work permit and threatened to take him in...I was not there but that is the story he told.If the other shop owners found out there may be a way for them to get you in trouble.....

[Nomyai]

A hand up, and not a hand out.

Think aboot this. OP pretty much gave a handout to wife and baby, yet want old parents to work hard for their measly money.

I swear i dont get these rich farangs. Seems they think they god almighty.

They guy builds a house for his wife and child. Exactly what any man anywhere does. He helps hi in laws with some products for their shop with new lines to sell. He is helpling them and they are the ones who want to do the shop. I think the only one that does not get it is you. I detect a huge amomount of jealousy. Maybe your hovel rental room, that the thais moved out of because too rundown, is all you can afford. Some of us actually have a little bit more than a measly pension. Now be a good lad and back down to your favourite bar stool. Its happy hour now. Cannot miss that hey.

NET NET NET.............has all the millions of dollars spent by farangs on depreciting assets or just plain junk over the years helped them any?

Education is helping. Giving things encourages laziness and contempt towards the giver.

do you get where im coming from. Just let them be and try to fit in!

[farangmick]

Op, an interesting post, and some good replies. Some rather nasty ones, but it wouldn't be TV without them. I fully agree that it is better to give the in laws something to get out of bed for, rather than just bunging them an allowance.

The only thing I can come up with, is to put a board up with numbered squares 1-100. Each has a numbered ticket on it. Behind some of them is a prize. The majority need only be small, with one or two larger ones to tempt punters. From what I know of up country Thais, 4 x 5 baht snacks, or a 25 baht bottle of nam pla for a 10 baht ticket would make someone quite happy. Maybe a 100 baht jackpot. Be generous and give 70% back in prizes to keep people coming back.

Just an idea, for what it's worth.

[whaleboneman]

Many good ideas in this topic. However, I think your in-laws are probably too old for most of them. I think your best idea is what you've already done. Take them both to Makro and fill the buggy with as much variety as possible. A shop with a huge selection will do best and if its nonperishables, the cost isn't important. They are old so keep it simple.

And good on you for helping them out.

[Nomyai]

Many good ideas in this topic. However, I think your in-laws are probably too old for most of them. I think your best idea is what you've already done. Take them both to Makro and fill the buggy with as much variety as possible. A shop with a huge selection will do best and if its nonperishables, the cost isn't important. They are old so keep it simple.

And good on you for helping them out.

Maybe the in laws arent that old. OP 31 wife 20. inlaws 35......hahaha.

We all know how this will end. OP will be HELPING wife, son, mom and pops!

Could it be OP doesnt want to HELP the in-laws. Wants them to fend for themselves.

$300 x12=$3600 a year. if in laws live 30 mores years that $3600 x30 years= $108,000.

There -i did the math! add village infalation that a whopping $150k.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Nomyai

[Nomyai]

Many good ideas in this topic. However, I think your in-laws are probably too old for most of them. I think your best idea is what you've already done. Take them both to Makro and fill the buggy with as much variety as possible. A shop with a huge selection will do best and if its nonperishables, the cost isn't important. They are old so keep it simple.

And good on you for helping them out.

Since when is cost not important to a business? Does Steve Jabbs or Nike know that?

I think ive figured what irks me about helping the family business threads. Its more i dont want my hard earned money going to a bunch of you know.....................you fill in the blanks.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Nomyai

[Craig krup]

i) Small shops survived in deprived communities because they offered "breakage". The central principle of retail, the reason why shops exist at all, is because people can't afford to buy wholesale and wouldn't be able to store it if they did. Laotians in Nong Khai buy two trolleys full of multi-pack noodles, and I doubt they're eating them all. At 4 baht a packet they can buy them retail and sell them on. Imagine what you could do at wholesale prices.

ii) Small towns in Europe also always had a bakers because making bread is a pain in the ar*e in small amounts, and larger ovens are much more efficient than smaller ovens, which is an efficiency which is passed on in better prices.

iii) Most small businesses - and especially in Thailand - are chronically under-capitalised.

iv) A technological advantage, especially anything that has a bit of mystery about it, couple with expense, can be very useful.

So i) if you've somewhere to store $500 worth of canned food, and so can get a ruinously low price per unit, start selling that at cost price as a first loss-leader. Lotus sells cans of sardines at 10 baht if you buy 10. If you go to a wholesaler and buy $500 worth what price do you get?

ii) If everyone is basically within walking distance is everyone rich enough to afford a rice cooker? Are there hot food outlets that sell rice from big and efficient rice cookers? Buying rice in big quantities and cooking it in a coffee-table sized rice cooker would just about allow you to give it away. "Buy anything for 20 baht and we'll give you 20 baht's worth of free cooked rice, 6-8pm". Yeah, "...20 baht's worth...". That is, 300g dry weight and cooked - 6 baht total! If you had a 30% mark up on the 20 baht item you'd break even, and they might buy something else.

iii + iv) Do people locally use pressure cookers? Yellow split peas, and pulses generally, seem to me to not feature as much as you'd think in Thai food. That's because they're a complete sod to cook without a pressure cooker, and they use a lot of fuel. A big pressure cooker and a bit of practice could (again) create two hours of hot food retail, and it would be something hard for people to do for themselves, and it might be hard to copy. A load of yellow split peas, garlic, tomatoes, bird chillies, stock - hey presto, bum-melting curry (and filling too) for 5 baht a portion.

[Seann]

Yeah if the OP is thirty then the "parents are too old" lines seem highly suspicious.

[ryanhull]

Thanks all for the replies, really appreciated... im going to stop replying to the negative people as they just really need to get out more and frankly are not worth my time.

I will reply individually to all replies this week just swamped atm busy busy... but seriously appreciated. Two numpty I would like to reply too quickly:

Maybe the in laws arent that old. OP 31 wife 20. inlaws 35......hahaha.

We all know how this will end. OP will be HELPING wife, son, mom and pops!

Could it be OP doesnt want to HELP the in-laws. Wants them to fend for themselves.

$300 x12=$3600 a year. if in laws live 30 mores years that $3600 x30 years= $108,000.

There -i did the math! add village infalation that a whopping $150k.

Where did you get that my wife is 20? or did you just pluck that from thin air? not that I want to give out this information on a public forum but to make you feel better I will, my wife is 27 ... moving on, which man on this earth who has a child should not 'HELPING' there family/son/in-laws/perants? are you saying you should not? 'Could it be the OP doesnt want to HELP the in-laws', no if you read my thread I WANT to help them get the shop back in business not only for a monitery value but as they are getting old and do not get out much it is good for them to socialise and they enjoy it... onto your maths, well.. what a load of jibberish... get a life numpty balls.

Nomyai, on 28 Oct 2015 - 04:56, said:

Think aboot this. OP pretty much gave a handout to wife and baby, yet want old parents to work hard for their measly money.

<deleted>

If you could read properly, not that I wanted to discus this and not that this has anything to do with this post, you`d see I do help out my in-laws occasionally as I do with my UK perants with money. And no, I do not want them to work hard for 'measly money' as you put it, I want them to earn some money whilst having a reason to get up in the morning and socialise as they start to get into older years. You really do not read before you comment do you? what a div.

----

As I say, anymore negative/abusive responded simply will not get a reply now as I feel its just wasting time bothering, I also feel the majority of you lot are giving me sound solid advise and more so positive realistic advise... I also hope this thread goes on to help others in the future.

Again will reply to all individually time permiting this week, thanks alot guys

Edited October 28, 2015 by ryanhull

[lilyblue]

My partner family run a similar set up. Main things I've observed in their successful defence from competitors:

Ice sells well but ice cream is a waste with intermittent power failures it goes to waste being dairy etc

Cold drinks and a blender super popular foskajes using ice and canned milk/coffee/soft drink they just sell the soft drink and charge 3 baht to make a shake - they don't do takeaway as plastic cups too dear

Kids get sent there to pick up stuff for folks and they keep small range of cheap candy in bags they can buy with the change type of candy kids like bought in bulk and sold in smaller quantities

Older kids and adults will buy snacks if they can smell and see them without going in. Maybe consider simply rearranging front.

These cheap ideas seem to be most of their trade as we'll as diplaying the winning lotto numbers locals come by to check them.

[Nomyai]

One cannot equate HELPING villagers with HELPING family in EU. In Thailand We all know HELP in-laws (of village variety) means supporting the old folks for life. ...........hahahahahaha........ You signed up for it so good luck. I just hate political korrectness!

People knowing you are there is a key. I see a farang in a shop i automatically dont shop there. I prefer to HELP the thais in thailand. Same for Arab, Indian, Kiwi, Nigerian, owned businesses.

I do deviate if product is good. I go to same internet shop in NANA, it s not thai run but is very good.

Edited October 29, 2015 by Nomyai

[tonray]

One cannot equate HELPING villagers with HELPING family in EU. In Thailand We all know HELP in-laws (of village variety) means supporting the old folks for life. ...........hahahahahaha........ You signed up for it so good luck. I just hate political korrectness!

People knowing you are there is a key. I see a farang in a shop i automatically dont shop there. I prefer to HELP the thais in thailand. Same for Arab, Indian, Kiwi, Nigerian, owned businesses.

I do deviate if product is good. I go to same internet shop in NANA, it s not thai run but is very good.

First you say helping support the old folks is laughable, then you say you prefer to help Thai businesses. ? sound a bit confused.

And why are you needing to go to a shop for your Internet ? In NANA no less....

Edited October 29, 2015 by tonray

[Nomyai]

op may try this.

Offer ma n pa $25,000 one time payment now. Nothing else ever. And then after ma n pa blow through the $25 k he could negotiate another deal..............hahahahahaha.

God bless a rich man HELPING poor thais. All the Help and isan is poor as its always been.

I use NANA internet shop because there isnt one near soi cowboy.....................hahahahahaha.

Edited October 29, 2015 by Nomyai

[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.

The OP has a wife and a child so why shouldn't he build a house. Thai villagers build houses too and they don't sell them but they life in it. Besides if the OP has the money to burn why not. He is 31 years old and his wife is 27 years which looks like a good match. Furthermore the way he writes he knows exactly what he wants.

All those talks that farangs got killed in the village is not very common and the chance a farang get killed by another farang due to a business interest is much higher. I have lived in our village for the past 5 years and have never been treated but to be honest a Honda Click was stolen but we had insurance for theft. Of course we have some dark forces here in our village but if a farang picks the correct woman, no gambling, drugs, lao khao and doesn't pick them from Nana, Cowboy, Pattaya etc chances could be good that the marriage last for a long time. I too build a house for around 850,000 Baht five years ago but if I would have rented a house the price would have also been already at 600,000 Baht. I am now considering buying another house possible in Udon Thani, Khon Kaen or Korat as I want to give my 3 year old boy a good education. If my wife ever decides to leave me, I have enough assets inside and outside of the country until I expire.

[MobileContent]

I use NANA internet shop because there isnt one near soi cowboy.....................hahahahahaha.

I never knew that their are still farangs using internet cafe's.

[Nomyai]

The OP has a wife and a child so why shouldn't he build a house. Thai villagers build houses too and they don't sell them but they life in it. Besides if the OP has the money to burn why not. He is 31 years old and his wife is 27 years which looks like a good match. Furthermore the way he writes he knows exactly what he wants.

The issue at hand is what going to happen to the in-laws should their business goes tits up.

Whats plan B?

Im with you i think op is making a mountain out of a molehill as he has lots of money to burn. No crime in supporting village in-laws....................hahahaha!

To the new off the boat guys:

Never ever build a house near the village in-laws. This should be self explanatory!

[totally thaied up]

Don't listen to the grumpy old men here. Just too much time in Nana Plaza would melt some ones head in....

As for the Computers, near our Village we had a small 3 computer internet set up but the BiB (police) came in and shut it down after complaints saying the kids were spending too much time playing voilent games on-line or that it took them away from school (wagging) too much. I would be careful about that.

As for my pool table idea, I had that looked into as well and had to scrap that idea as the BiB wanted a cut from the table due to it could be used for 'gambling' or the such. Really was just too much for me to try to put in and my partners mother said she wanted no trouble.

Anyway, just keeping it simple with Slurpies, Iced Coffee and keeping the school children happy after school. She runs a BBQ on Friday nights now and that seems to be working.

[thaiduncankk]

'Happy Hour', coinciding with school leaving time.

Tends to work with the adult population. The idea that people are saving money usually works, especially with a lot of Thais. Some will even buy products they would not buy normally because it is cheaper than the usual advertised price.

[MaeJoMTB]

Never get involved in a relatives or partners business.

Never build a house on family land in the boonies.

Never give or loan money to anyone, except for services rendered.

Never try to teach a Thai anything, unless you are employed as their teacher.

Four firm rules to live by in Thailand.

They have served me well.

Edited October 29, 2015 by MaeJoMTB