Support Local Thai Businesses This Holiday Season

We’re supporting local Thai businesses this holiday season.

Thai businesses have been hit hard this year with the government response to covaids-19.

This is especially true of the hotel and hospitality industries. However, the knock-on effect has rippled throughout the wider economy and unfortunately, there appears to be no end in sight. There will be no high season this year.

On top of that, political change is brewing in Thailand with peaceful demonstrations in the capital and most major cities. We live in interesting times!

Unemployment in the kingdom has doubled this year, prices have risen and the average salary in Bangkok of 300 Baht (less than $10 USD) has stagnated or evaporated in many cases. In the provinces, workers have moved back home and get much less or are living a hand to mouth existence.

As part of our general ethos and lifestyle we do not support big box stores or online mega retailers if possible. These companies suck up local cash and transfer it to wealthy elites and shareholders at the expense of local communities.

The convenience of shopping at these stores or online doesn’t compare to having a happy, healthy and wealthy local community.

So, if you are shopping for Christmas gifts, birthday presents or just want to let someone know you’re thinking about them, we ask you to share a thought for those struggling local Thai businesses and show your support, however small.

Below we have curated a number of stores we like and/or in many cases have supported. We love the personalisation and the service they offer, something that you’ll never find in a generic big box store.

Tribal and Hipster

Tribal and Hipster create high quality, uniquely styled bags and accessories (like the my hat Cobain is modelling above). This family business support a number of families.

The North of Thailand has so many wonderful fabrics to choose from, made by so many skilled Thai people, who have been hand weaving and creating these textiles for many years.

The designers mix and match these fabrics and textiles to produce a wide range of handmade items.

They have been working closely with the Hill Tribe people to adapt the beautiful designs for use in the modern western world with extra pockets, magnetic clasps, credit card slots and more.

View the Tribal and Hipster online here.

Thai Organic Farm

Thai Organic Farm, is the place to find the best organic flowers, vegetables, flower seeds and more for every taste and occasion. They thoroughly check the quality of their seeds, working only with reliable suppliers so that you only receive the best quality product.

Browse the Thai Organic Farm online here.

Fruta Tropical

Fruta Tropical is tropical fruit seed store in Thailand. If you’re looking to Phoenix Eye fruit (Sterculia monosperma), Castor oil bean (Ricinus communis), or many other wonderful tropical plant and fruit trees, this could be your new favourite shop.

Check out Fruta Tropical online here.

Thai Country Trim

Thai Country Trim is a women’s cottage ministry designed to help rural Thai women with supplemental income. They produce an array or Christmas ornaments, child toys and even tuk-tuks for the tree.

Visit Thai Country Trim‘s online store here.

Ubon Phan

Ubon Phan produces handmade Thia products including Muay Thai boxing shorts, formal and traditional Thai silk dresses, bags, accessories and much more.

Find your perfect present at Ubon Phan‘s online store here.

Thailand Antique Shop

Thailand Antique Shop sells only genuine Buddhist statues such as Asia, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Tibet pattern etc. Most of the statues are licensed from the Thai government. All items have free shipping.

Check out the many precious items in the Thailand Antique Shop online here.

Thaluta Boho Wear

Thaluta Boho Wear a channel for evolving deeper consciousness, growth, kindness and love to all sentinel beings and the planet.

They share a deep passion for ideology; human rights, animals rights, environmental awareness – love to the earth.

Their clothes and accessories are as individual as you are and create items that scream out fun and creativity. Every product is made with heart, designed to bring a little bit of happiness and light to your daily life.

Most importantly, for each item sold they donate 10% of each order to help Thailand’s street cats.

Find Thaluta Boho Wear‘s online retail store here.

Anarchy Farm

We now have our own etsy store, Anarchy Farm.
Here we currently offer our bean to bar chocolate range of products to a wider audience and sell in US Dollars.

In addition we also offer traditional Thai wicker and bamboo products hand made here in Trat province, Thailand.

In the near future we will be adding seeds from the farm.

Find Anarchy Farm store here.

5 Ways to Support Local Thai Businesses that also Benefit You

Personalized Service – A small business owner is going to go the extra mile to make you happy.
Unique or personalized products. Small businesses carry unique products and services that you won’t find anywhere else.
Support the arts. Small businesses support creativity!
Enhances the local economy. Keeps money circulating in the local economy, not sucked out of it.
Good for your health. Buy fresh and seasonal foods from a local source you have a relationship with.

4 Other Ways to Support Local Thai Businesses

Fuel – We all have to fuel or vehicles. Why not use a local family run gas station instead of a big brand.
Coffee – Seek out a local coffee shop and avoid the branded chain stores.
Daily commodities – support your local mom and pop stores where possible to buy your soda, beer, bits and bobs instead of the corporate convenience stores.
Handy Man or woman – Got a job you’ve been meaning to do around the house or garden but never find the time? Why not find a local tradesman, gardener, sewing machinist, painter, decorator or cleaner?

How are you supporting your local community? Share your ideas in the comments below.

Be the Difference

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy hurriedly picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “young man, what are you doing?”
The boy replied, “throwing starfish back into the ocean. if i don’t throw them back, they’ll die”.
The man laughed to himself and said, “don’t you realise there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make any difference!”
After listening politely the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf.
than, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one”.