Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

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seasides
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Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by seasides »

Please PM if you know of any offer.

30-50 sqm.
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by Bristolian »

One of the most difficult and overcrowded markets you can choose. A recommendation from the forum will not do you much good.
You need personally to check the traffic (potential customers) competition, rental prices and potential for competition to set up in the next shop. The cost of market entry is minimal and unless you offer something they can not any success will quickly be followed /copied.

I'm not trying to sound negative but the position /location is paramount even when you are a major brand. There is no substitute for your own shoe leather.
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by seasides »

Very positive comment, thanks much!

Location, location, location.
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by NOKYAI »

Again it's difficult not to be negative, but the only business that has a faster turnaround than a bar is a coffee shop! The equipment is quite expensive, the competition fierce and the low season is very long. Have you considered a seasonal shop on a development, possibly Scandi? Then lock it up through the low season.
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by oakdale160 »

I remember talking to a guy whose coffee shop just never took off and he closed within a few months with a huge hole in his retirement savings. He opened early in the morning hoping to get the 'ex-pat on the way to work trade' He was amazed to hear that there are very very few expats who work here and that is not a Thai interest. And as for staff and their reliability, do you have a couple of hours?
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by seasides »

Wouldn't have thought about launching a "coffee shop" (of course it's no coffee shop, but can't spill all the beans here, can I...) in Hua Hin some time ago.

Now there seems to be a marketplace also during the low season, which was just dead some years ago.

May to October are still very slow, yet there is a growing Thai market that is looking for well-priced and good products. Add the growing number of retirees looking for something that they'll like yet does not exist yet in Hua Hin.

Hua Hin has become a more stable market, so I remain upbeat and keep on looking!
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by StevePIraq »

Instead of people saying you shouldn't do it, after all it is your decision to do or not, my suggestion would be to look at Market Village, Blueport or along the beach road. I think the only way you can find a location is to drive/walk around the location you desire and ask around. kho Takiab is also developing really quickly so this will become more and more popular
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by Khundon1975 »

Bristolian wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2017 7:08 pm One of the most difficult and overcrowded markets you can choose. A recommendation from the forum will not do you much good.
You need personally to check the traffic (potential customers) competition, rental prices and potential for competition to set up in the next shop. The cost of market entry is minimal and unless you offer something they can not any success will quickly be followed /copied.

I'm not trying to sound negative but the position /location is paramount even when you are a major brand. There is no substitute for your own shoe leather.
Bristolian, have to agree with you on location being important. However we never had
problems with seasonal visitor fluctuations as most of our clients were the BKK set that came to HH in their droves each week. Even more so as many have second homes here.
As far as I'm aware, they are still packed each week and many times have to turn customers away.
There are so many coffee shops in HH now and many go under after a year because they don't offer anything different to the one up the road.
Good Location and good coffee and cakes is a good start. Repeat customers are a must for surviving the quiet months.
Rental costs can be a big problem if you make the business a success, expect your landlord to wack up your rent!
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by seasides »

Would have found a location on the beach road, there where they seem to get serious about destroying the whole illegal beach front.

Talk is it will start after Songkran.

Will it really happen?

It's mostly tourists there, hardly local Thai traffic. Also not too many people during the day.

Thinking about it. Would be perfect if there'll be a beach front to walk and relax...
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by Khundon1975 »

Seasides


I think if it ever comes off, rents in that area will be sky high. Better to look elsewhere.

We paid Baht 30k per month and they still do as far as I'm aware. That was for a 4 bed house and the garden where the business is.
That also included access to the beach, a gardener, security guard at night, electric and internet.

The family have since taken on 2 more 4 bed houses in the same compound and have started 2 more food businesses there.

Doubt the rents on that area of the sea front will be as low as that.

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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by seasides »

Khundon1975 wrote: Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:27 pm
Bristolian wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2017 7:08 pm One of the most difficult and overcrowded markets you can choose. A recommendation from the forum will not do you much good.
You need personally to check the traffic (potential customers) competition, rental prices and potential for competition to set up in the next shop. The cost of market entry is minimal and unless you offer something they can not any success will quickly be followed /copied.

I'm not trying to sound negative but the position /location is paramount even when you are a major brand. There is no substitute for your own shoe leather.
Bristolian, have to agree with you on location being important. However we never had
problems with seasonal visitor fluctuations as most of our clients were the BKK set that came to HH in their droves each week. Even more so as many have second homes here.
As far as I'm aware, they are still packed each week and many times have to turn customers away.
There are so many coffee shops in HH now and many go under after a year because they don't offer anything different to the one up the road.
Good Location and good coffee and cakes is a good start. Repeat customers are a must for surviving the quiet months.
Rental costs can be a big problem if you make the business a success, expect your landlord to wack up your rent!
Khundon1975, may I ask what shop you're talking when mentioning "we never had problems with seasonal visitor fluctuations"?
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by Homer »

Khundon1975 wrote: Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:27 pm ... However we never had problems with seasonal visitor fluctuations as most of our clients were the BKK set that came to HH in their droves each week.

... As far as I'm aware, they are still packed each week and many times have to turn customers away.

... Good Location and good coffee and cakes is a good start.
Never HAD problems with visitor fluctuations? How many years ago was that?

By 'each week' you mean packed on the weekends? Anyplace that does such good business either has easy access or excellent coffee. If it's the latter, count me in. What are the names and locations of these shops?

Good cakes? Almost every place I've had coffee here that started with good cakes switched to something with a long shelf life that tasted like it. The exceptions that are still operating were Starbucks (visitors from the US insist) and Dream. I expect the others with strong business would have good cakes, but, again, what are the names and locations?
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by Khundon1975 »

Homer, we got the place in 1999 and left it to my wife's family in 2004. We had too many customers from pretty much day one. We decided that as we didn't need the money we would give the business to my wife's family, which we did in 2004. As I said, we were very busy Fri-Tue with good trade the other days of the week. We had large garden which customers used and access to the beach.
The cakes are made fresh each day and we did a very good takeaway trade as well.
Great parking on street so no problem there.
As to the name, well as you can read, go back through my posts, you will find it. Location is on North end of Naebkehardt Road.
Personally, having read most of your posts over the years I would not have wanted you as a customer. :naughty:
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by dtaai-maai »

Khundon1975 wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2017 5:51 pm Personally, having read most of your posts over the years I would not have wanted you as a customer. :naughty:
That one caught me by surprise! A genuine 'laugh out loud' moment!
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Re: Wanted: Hua Hin prime location for coffee shop

Post by Khundon1975 »

DM could not resist it. 😈

As this is the classifieds section I'm not going to try to get free advertising by naming the business , if they want to that is up to them to contact the forum and sign up to a package with Lev.
From what I know they don't need to advertise
as I said before they are always busy. We never even had a sign outside. We worked on the theory that if you could find us you were welcome to come in.
I often read on forums negative posts on starting a business in Hua Hin, personally, we found it very easy back in 1999 but I expect that since the huge growth in HH over the years things are more difficult.
As for the few detractors who never seem to succeed in anything I say this. Give up trying, you haven't got what it takes.
I hope seasides finds what he wants, but reading one of his cryptic posts, I get the feeling a coffee shop is not what he is after, I could be wrong!
That's all I have to say on this subject. 🙏
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