Reader question: Opening tearoom with Belgian specialties in Thailand

Dear Andre

A number of Belgian beers are already imported into Thailand by: http://www.belbev.asia/ , you can possibly contact them.
As far as Westvleteren Trappist is concerned, Jan is 100% right, it is even difficult to get hold of in Belgium.
If You rent a property … keep in mind that the owner can throw You out at any time to use that location, for example. to build an apartment. (Something similar happened http://www.shakersphuket.com/ , also a Belgian.

He has to change his location and target group.

It certainly has a chance of success if he takes the Thai middle class as his target group and I would not look for them in touristic hotspots, but rather in the Bangkok metropolis.

Because Belgian beers are very popular with the middle class, the competition in home maid ice cream is huge. Coffee shops have to offer you really exceptional quality, because the better coffee shops serve the Italian top brands such as Illy.

I advise the OP to research the local market first, and to stay away from the Tourist Hot Spots, because they prefer to drink the cheaper Thai beers and also don't have the budget of the Thai middle class.

A Thai middle class who usually have a few European trips behind them, and eat less Thai food than some here think. Just look at the successful restaurants in shopping centers, there are very few Thai restaurants,

belgian special beers are imported by this company,

http://www.belbev.asia/

all the others are agents of this firm.

Someone like the OP should know this, if he doesn't already know this is not a good sign, with some Googling he would have known this in no time.

I honestly think he wants to reinvent hot water.

He must first do his homework, do a decent market research and draw up a business plan.

If you sit in the touristic side of pattaya, you pay way too high rent (which gets higher very regularly)

In addition, no one is talking about the many licenses you need to be able to sell these items and keep your business afloat. If you work yourself, you will need a work permit. You are also obliged to have a number of Thai people as staff.

You cannot arrange all of this yourself, so an expert (law firm) will have to be called in and because getting everything arranged can take a lot of time.

It is often better to take over something that has the right licenses and then expand it to your own idea and then don't forget the right license.

Inquire with a good Belgian in pattaya, who has been doing business for a long time

Dear,

Please think twice before doing that.
Thai laws, which sales area (ie which audience do you want to reach), how to supply, income taxes ... ??? Immigration and work permit??
Don't you think it's a little too rosy?
It is not so easy to survive in this oversupply here with quality products.
What prices are you going to charge… what is the competition for tourist.

regards

Georges

Dear man, You don't know what you're getting yourself into. First get to know the market and Thailand well. If you do persist, hire a lawyer as well and agree on his fee in advance.
When it comes to ice cream, I've seen many come and just as many go. Swenssen's was initially quite expensive. Normal prices for the west. It didn't get off the ground. They have adjusted their pricing policy and it is now running smoothly. A business where you rely exclusively on tourists has little chance of survival. I think you should leave an opening for the local people. If you have that, you succeeded. There are dozens of coffee shops in Pattaya where no cat goes. Overpriced and aimed solely at the tourist.
Imported products are highly valued by Thailand. They believe that this protects their market. (Wrong I think) So… if you want to survive, try with locally sourced products.
The question remains whether you will already receive a work permit. If she is Thai, that would be fine, but you yourself are not allowed to cooperate! INQUIRE FIRST.