The demise of small shops

[Nereus]

I think that this is worth a thread of its own, rather than tack it onto the current thread concerning staff.

For the last few years we have seen the rapid increase in "superstores", not just "supermarkets". Many of these stores are directed at the building and construction industry, stocking products that were just not available even as little as 6 or 8 years ago.
When I first came here over 25 years ago it used to drive me to distraction trying to find something as simple as a good hammer, never mind a power tool. I remember buying a paint roller, but had to go to another shop to buy the tray to put the paint in!

But ALL of those little shops were supporting at least one family, very often from Grandma and Grandpa down to the grand kids, all living together in the one shop house. And they all knew exactly what was stocked in the shop, and if they did not have it would tell you where you could find it.

Where are all these families going now, and what are they doing?
I have a Thai friend that has such a business in the provincial city of Phrae. He at one time lived in Australia, in fact had PR there. He came back when his Father passed away to help his Mother run the business. There are many similar shops in the city and they had some Government contracts that provided a steady base of business.

I went to see him before Songkhran and he told me things were getting very tight. The main reason being that "Global" had recently opened a branch on the outskirts of the city. I went and had a look in this place and it is HUGE. The Thai Watsudo building would easily fit inside of it! Not only is it huge, but they stock a lot more than just building materials. Electrical consumer goods, white goods, the list seems to be endless.

I was up there again earlier this week and there is another HUGE building being constructed with a "Home Pro" sign on it! And that is just one city, I am sure there are many more examples, even without looking at the food supermarkets.

Where does it all lead?

[dtaai-maai]

For the last few years we have seen the rapid increase in "superstores", not just "supermarkets". Many of these stores are directed at the building and construction industry, stocking products that were just not available even as little as 6 or 8 years ago.
When I first came here over 25 years ago it used to drive me to distraction trying to find something as simple as a good hammer, never mind a power tool. I remember buying a paint roller, but had to go to another shop to buy the tray to put the paint in!

But ALL of those little shops were supporting at least one family, very often from Grandma and Grandpa down to the grand kids, all living together in the one shop house. And they all knew exactly what was stocked in the shop, and if they did not have it would tell you where you could find it.

Rewind 40-45 years and you could be describing the village in East Sussex where my father ran the village store. There was a Post Office and a baker too. Not for long, sadly.

It's called progress, and there's an inevitability about it that is all very sad.

[Dr Mike]

There was a great radio show years ago--Prairie Home Companion. In it there was a fictitious country store that sold everything. Its slogan was--If we don't have it, you probably don't need it.

[Nereus]

It's called progress, and there's an inevitability about it that is all very sad.

To me, "progress" is something that benefits everybody, and is a gradual thing. What is happening here is a different animal all together. The sudden expansion of multi national chains that completely and rapidly change a way of life, is not the same thing.

[dtaai-maai]

My point is not what it's called, but that it happens everywhere. I'm not sure where you come from, but surely you've noticed?

[Dannie Boy]

It's called progress, and there's an inevitability about it that is all very sad.

To me, "progress" is something that benefits everybody, and is a gradual thing. What is happening here is a different animal all together. The sudden expansion of multi national chains that completely and rapidly change a way of life, is not the same thing.

I don't disagree with you Nereus, although the only difference between now and say 50 years ago in the UK is the pace of change being so much quicker. But other than that, it's the same change that I remember as a lad where there was a huge choice of general grocers, green grocers, butchers, bakers, and all manner of shops but then came along Jack Cohen and his like and changed everything and for me, not as a benefit. Ok in some respect things have improved regarding the wide choice of foods available, but at a cost and definitely to the demise of the family run business.

I still use a few of these here in HH and Cha Am, but alas the attraction of getting most of what you want from somewhere like Macro or Thai Watsadu does win a lot of the time.

[Bristolian]

I agree that the pace of change is much faster in emerging markets, such as Thailand. But you can see this in all elements of the country’s growth. The growth in the middle classes is creating a demand for designer goods, cars, international dining, 2nd homes etc etc.

In my business area (the printing industry) Thailand is rapidly changing from a “Mom & Pop” shop market to a consolidated industry with many international players taking an increasing percentage of the total print volume. The Mom & Pop printing shops that supported individual families are all but gone. Those that remain make a very modest income and the younger generation have no interest in taking over these ailing concerns.

The changes that we are seeing in Thailand and other SE Asian economies are at a pace that has seldom been experienced before. Whole generations of technology are skipped.

When I came to Thailand in 2000 I was able to see and enjoy one of the last remaining truly Asian countries. Even in 2000 it was clear that the pace of change and desire for a modern country would ensure that Thailand would change rapidly.

I agree with DM that it’s very sad but inevitable

[usual suspect]

What about paying for the product in your trolly/basket..??
If (like myself) you only use cash..then your corner shop/local store is ideal..BUT..
.. So,so many folk around the world have forgotten what notes/coins are..it's all done by card/plastic in their little world..& the stores that cater for them are the super-sized ones..the ones with the larger sized trolly, seen as you've brought Mr Visa out for an 'airing'..!

[dtaai-maai]

the only difference between now and say 50 years ago in the UK is the pace of change being so much quicker.

I don't know how closely connected you were to small businesses or small communities 50 years ago, but I promise you it all happened pretty bloody quickly. Within a decade thousands of butchers, bakers, etc. across the country were put out of business. I've been here a decade already, and to be honest, I don't see very much difference. Maybe that's because small businesses here tend not to be specialised or related to a skill.

[STEVE G]

The sudden expansion of multi national chains that completely and rapidly change a way of life, is not the same thing.

The rate of change is shocking, I left Hua Hin in January and on the nearest bit of main road to our house in Hin Lek Fai there was a local shop and a small market, Mon Mai and there was the shell of a building that was apparently going to be a 7/11.
On returning in mid-April, the 7/11 was open, someone else had managed to complete and open a largish Family Mart about a hundred meters away, the local shop has closed and apparently a Tesco's is now going to be built between the two!

[Gregjam]

I wonder if things will change here the same way they did in Europe. It seems illogical that all the 7-11's and family marts can survive given how close they are to the next one and with various local shops in between which will undercut them by a baht or two. Like others who have also been here since the late eighties the expansion has been and continues to be amazing. Perhaps the running costs here for a small family owned shop are so low they can compete against the likes of family mart etc. Just take a look at the Pala U road from the railway to the little Big C. In such a short stretch of road beginning with G and Deung supermarket you have a couple of 7-11's, Tesco Lotus and many other smaller shops none of which seem to change much. I am sure they would not have survived in Europe.
Difficult to say what will happen here but until HH stops expanding and the population serving the newcomers earn a lot more than they do at the moment, mobility will be primarily by motorcycle and they will use the cheap local shops. Already it has been commented that Big C is more expensive and all of the air con shops are marginally more expensive than mom and pop stores. The hardware stores out of town cannot offer the experience or service you get at The well stocked shop near the Tesco Lotus (I know it as Thawon but am not sure as it is now two shops).
I am sure this time next year we will be discussing the same theme and will the shops mentioned still be there.

[Arlo]

There was a great radio show years ago--Prairie Home Companion. In it there was a fictitious country store that sold everything. Its slogan was--If we don't have it, you probably don't need it.

That radio show is still going. Its usually on National Public Radio stations on Saturday in the states. Great show. They also made a movie about it some years back with the same name.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Prairie_Home_Companion

[johnnyk]

Samesame in France, villages with shops and services having the life sucked out of them when hypermarches set up in the nearest larger town. Convenience, free parking, lower prices but staff with no real personal involvement beyond punching the clock. In HH I enjoy taking my small needs to several family-owned shops particularly one hardware store up Pala-U road that is like a treasure trove with all kinds of stuff in a seemingly chaotic space yet the ever-helpful owner always knows where to find the widget I need. I bought a pvc connector 2" by mistake, took it back to exchange for 1.75" and he wanted to refund me 5 baht for the smaller size! Never heard him use the standard Home Pro reply, "Mai luu". And his staff aren't standing around fiddling with their phones, either.

[Khundon1975]

I loved those little hardware shops behind the morning market. In 1999, my wife let me out on my own to go shopping for tools and other assorted hardware items. She wanted to come with me but I gave her that old line "a man has to do, what a man has to do"

One withering look later and armed with my list in English, I entered each shop in turn, each one an aladdin's cave, each shopkeeper eager to help.

With sign language and a few laughs, I always managed, with their help, to find what I wanted. Cash only of course.

Try that with the orange clad idiots in Home Pro.

It's not just Thailand, here in the UK, those family run shops and pubs are being forced to close, thanks to the multi nationals.

[lomuamart]

In my working days, I used to look after a fortnightly, controlled circulation magazine that went to "corner shops" in the UK. We used to have a circulation of some 52,000.
Just out of interest, I occasionally look at the company's website and see that the circulation had now dwindled to some 43,000 and I'm pretty sure that that figure is bolstered by adding on convenience store (7-11s et al).
The ones that survive are the ones that diversify in terms of product range - especially when they get a licence to sell booze. The product range is limited and what there is, is expensive but people still have a need for top up shopping.
However, the big players such as Tesco and M&S are moving into the town centres and opening smaller units to bypass planning regulations. It's another nail in the coffin of the corner shop.
The same pattern is happening here in Thailand.
Geeze, I don't have a car or motorbike. I'm on shanks pony and if the Mom and Pop store on the main road closes down, I'll have to walk about a 0.5 km to get to the nearest booze shop.
Maybe that will keep me a bit fitter?
And where do the proprietors go? Well, I guess they die out and the children don't want to take over.