I have a Thai friend I want to help. He is graduating collage with a 4 year degree in Marketing. He thinks he would like to open up a pet shop. Is this reasonable? The Pet market here in America is big business. Are there enough Thais with disposable income to spend money on pets. I only see soi dogs when I visit Thailand. I never see any pampered pooches. I want to help him if I can but don't want to throw money down a endless pit. Thanks in advance for any advise..

I don't know if you are referring to Bangkok or Pattaya.  In Pattaya, I feel there is a REAL need for an upscale pet shop.  There are lots of "down market" ones, and I hate buying food there, cause you don't know how old it is, it's not air conditioned, and they don't always have a wide selection.  There is also a need in Pattaya for an upscale dog/cat groomer.  There are lots of down market ones, again, but I've yet to find one that really looked like you didn't have to worry or supervise too much.  I would think a pet shop, with a groomer, upscale, marketed to farangs might do well, that had easy access with easy parking.  I think there are lots of people with pets here, most seem to take very good care.  You don't often see them, as they are usually in air conditioning inside.  



I'm quite certain in Bangkok something like this, upscale, already exists, but my HUNCH is that there are enough people to support this.  Remember, you are competing mostly against pet departments in Carrefour, Tesco and BIG C., but I find their selections to be NOT that great.  There is a lack of big dog toys for big dogs, big dog bones, dried pig ears, etc., and especially sold in packages of more than one item.  

no-one brings them down to street level.

I always see pet vendors with some very nice pure breed dogs at different night markets in BKK and Pattaya, so there is a definate market for high end pets.  It often seem to me that the poodle is the Thai national dog of choice for house pets and companions. I have seen numerious poodles from Chang Rai, to BKK, to the beach at Jomtien.



I would think that a high end pet store in the right neighorhood could do quite well. The poodles I see are always well groomed, so your friend might think about adding dog grooming to his new pet venue.



 

 

 

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I never see any pampered pooches.

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For a certain kind of Thai lady - the pooch is de rigeur. The business idea sounds like a disaster waiting to happen - you need to know the market! How about starting with an online store? and seeing how it goes?



 

Edited by: Dr Anne Thrope at: 28/10/05 2:21 pm

In general, trying to compete against the Thais isn't a great idea.  They will always work longer hours, harder, and sell cheaper than the farang.  But I think this guy is Thai, so maybe he's willing to work more than a bunch of lazy-ass farangs, like GERMANS who are used to a 34 hour "work" week, and about 7 weeks paid "vacation" per year.  The Thais are willing to work 7 days a week, 18 hours a day, and no vacation.  Ever.



 

Edited by: ricky90069 at: 28/10/05 8:35 pm

I am just thinking of options for him. He is a nice guy and it would make me happy to see him have a good future. Thanks for the comments about the Pet trade in Thailand.

"The Thais are willing to work 7 days a week, 18 hours a day, no vacation. Ever."



Are you taking liberty again with this statement?  It is wildly over stating your case.



No Thai I know, works 7 days a week. A 10 hour day is more the norm and they all get vacations. Even bar boys get a day off, usually twice a month. They only work about 5 hours a day.

And if they are on the job 10 hours a day, they log a few hours watching the tv out of the 10.



 

Gone Fishing is on your IGNORE list.