Thailand for Entrepreneurs

ISSUES	SOLUTIONS	COMMERCIALLY VIABLE?
Pure fruit juice is difficult to find in Thailand. Currently, nearly everything has sugar and/or corn syrup added. Even a popular orange juice that says '100%' on the label has salt added. Three reasons Asians are loosing their naturally nice complexions and slim shapes is sugar, sugar and more sugar.	Pineapple, grape, orange, apple, plus many indigenous fruits make excellent refreshment. Fruit ices and dried 'fruit leather' would also be cool. A few roadside stalls already sell natural juice, but the potential for more activity is large. Carbonating juice would add another dimension.	Yes! In a country with abundant fresh fruits, it's a sin to not have ample natural fruit juice available.
Thai students study mightily to speak English but it's a hard row to hoe. Many educated Thai people can read passably well, but conversational English eludes them - in large part for fear of making mistakes.	For an English speaking foreigner, start an 'English Club' - a place where Thais can mix with native English speakers in an informal environment. Suggest; a cafe-type setting. Offshoots could be bicycling / hiking / climbing clubs.	Not necessarily a commercial venture, but a great way to assist and meet local folks.
Like other Asians, Thais see second hand things as low class. Though a person can find some used items for sale, such as vehicles and appliances, the potential for more is vast. Buying & selling 2nd hand items would help the environment by lessening trash disposal	Thrift stores and/or specialty-item outlets are needed. Similarly, garage & yard sales are never seen in Thailand but would be a great way for people to make and save money. Plus it would be advantageous for the Thai economy by weaning people away from feeling compelled to buy only retail.	Yes indeed! Big multi-item outlets or smaller specialty shops. The only resistance would be from angry retailers.
There are not many parks in Thailand and scant few geared for kids. In my city of Chiang Rai (population: 1/4 million) there's not one public park with playground equipment.	Though playground equipment is available for sale, it comes in one flavor: cheaply made, minimal sized iron tube type. Suggested add-on: Rent out roller blades and/or roller skates.	Yes. Especially cool would be to design & fabricate innovative kids' stuff from re-cycled material.
Black mildew that's visible on every building in Thailand. A mildewcide additive to paint is nowhere to be found.	Wood or ceramic moulding placed on top of wall edges that would divert some water away from (rather than down the side of) walls.	Yes! Plus a new paint additive that inhibits the growth of mildew could be patentable.
Unsightly electric/phone wires that line nearly every street & building. Linemen must have a Degree in Tanglology in order to string wire.	Thin walled PVC pipe could be split to cover running wire. Major entanglements could be disguised with plastic leaves/flowers.	Yes.
ISSUES, continued	SOLUTIONS, continued	COMMERCIALLY VIABLE?
Most farmers say they need to use toxic chemicals because of insect problems.	Beneficial insects, that prey upon harmful ones, can be bred and sold.	Yes, though expert guidance would be needed to get started.
Every day, tractors denude vast tracts of land. Grass seed is not available for sale in Thailand.	Thais will say 'nature will re-seed itself', which is true if you don't mind a large measure of prickly weeds in the mix.	Yes. Wild grass seed can be harvested by hand. A pillowcase can be filled in about 20 minutes. (est. Bt.300 retail value)
No hemp growing allowed in Thailand. The main reason: the Thai government is overly-influenced by its U.S. counterpart who continue to describe hemp as a drug. It's not.	Thai government authorities seem to pay little heed to (or not be cognizant of) the fact that hemp is successfully grown in many other countries worldwide; China and eastern Europe legally export large amounts worldwide.	See added details about how commercially viable this easy-to-grow crop could become if allowed to be grown.
Neither self motorized mobile homes nor hitched trailers are seen on Thai roads. Same story for simple haul trailers hitched behind cars or pick-ups. Don't know why.	Perhaps because some Thai drivers are erratic, and trailers would only exacerbate the problem. See Driving in Thailand section for more about Thai driving habits.	An entrepreneur could see about manufacturing and/or marketing travel trailers.
Alternative energy is not in its infancy here - it's not yet been born. How accessible, in Thailand, is research and educational material regarding solar heating & cooling? Where are the budding inventors & innovators?	Don't buy the tired excuse of "can't be done, it's all too expensive". Not true! If you can attach a garden hose to a pipe on a metal tank (a hot water heater core, for example), you can put together an alternative energy system.	Yes. Plus find a supplier of wind-up dynamo contraptions that can power fans, radios, music boxes, etc.
Unless I'm mistaken, there are only two types of nut trees grown in Thailand; cashew and coconut. For some reasons, there seem to be many more types of commercially grown nut trees in countries with cold climates.	For Thailand's semi-tropical climate, there are at least two other types of nut trees that would flourish: macadamia and brazil nut. At right are listed two advantages that commercially grown nuts have over fruits.	1. When dried, nuts are much less perishable, and 2. they command a higher price per kilo.
Real sandwiches are a rarity. Slim pieces of lily white bread covering a paper thin slice of something - does not a sandwich make.	In tourist towns, you may sometimes find an outlet outlets for decent bread - even passably good French bread. However, when talking sandwich, it's what's inside that counts	Anyone interested, can learn to make a real good sandwich. Hint: think THICK - so thick you can barely get your mouth around one side of it.
Pillows and other items stuffed with "down" are not available. Indeed, nearly all mattresses, pillows and stuffed furniture are made from plastic foam which emits debilitating formaldehyde gas.	If one searches diligently, however, one can find pillows stuffed with cotton wadding material, which is healthier. Wool (untreated by chemicals) or buckwheat hulls are also healthy as fillers.	There's a money making gig here, I can just feel it.
Virtually no bicycle paths in Thailand. Of the few miles that currently exist nationwide, none are motorcycle-free. A bike path could be tied-in with 'fun-runs', triathlons, and benefit/charity events.	Organize construction of a bike trail. Ok, it sounds outlandish - but not impossible for the right person. Get assistance from locals - especially bike clubs and college students. Donations, sponsors and matching-fund programs could be forthcoming.	Not a money-maker, but a great way to meet people and get the satisfaction of doing a good deed for the community.
ISSUES column	SOLUTIONS column	COMMERCIALLY VIABLE?

Suggestions for Business Start-Ups - of interest to entrepreneurs -

Suggestions for Business Start-Ups

- of interest to entrepreneurs -