Living in Thailand for almost 4 years now makes me appreciate the things that are “totally Thai” and yes, there are many of them. Being totally immersed by living here is one way to get to know what Thais offer and again, repeating what I said earlier, there are a lot of them. This is just a brief list of the products and brands that everyone should be familiar because … it’s Thai.
711
Before you bombard the comments down with negative things, allow me to defend why 711 is part of this list. I know 711 originally is a Japanese brand but hear me out. 711 is a big company that sells just everything your local grocery store does and even more. For Thais, 711 is a staple. It does not just sell your’ ready to go meals from international corporations but also includes start up products from locals which equals the audience reach and sets competition for everyone, making these 711 stores a hub for small-time quality products. 711 is so big in Thailand that most of the products that are sold are already from Thai companies, making multimillion corporations more creative in innovating new products.
Jaspal/CC Double O/Lyn Around/Chaps
HM, Uniqlo, Levis and Zara are definitely given a run for their money. Even if they are popular and cheap brands, Thais as a people, love their own and the Jaspal-CC Double O-Lyn-Chaps line up definitely makes the first mentioned brands innovative of what the consumers wants. Jaspal makes stylish work clothes and some formal wear. CC-Double O creates casual wear for men. Lyn Around makes shoes and some semi-formal wear for ladies and Chaps is casual wear for men and women. Remember, these local brands know how Thai people and Asians think and their branding says it all; they make these products adapt to its audience, not the audience adapting to the products. Get what I mean?
Central Group of Companies
Thailand has been dubbed as “Asia’s Shopping Hub” and it truly is your one-stop shop. Just in downtown Bangkok, street fashion wear inspired by Japanese and Korean fashion can be seen anywhere and one mall is making a big splash with that. When you speak of a complete shopping experience, a Central Mall is near you. There are hundreds of this mall in the entire Kingdom and it is not just for food and clothes but also for everyone’s diverse lifestyle. Bowling alleys, movie theatres, events place are just a few to mention when you speak of a complete Thai brand. Central Mall also includes Central Embassy which is a high-class mall for the rich and wealthy.
Sukosol Properties
This brand or company rings a bell for the rich and upper class citizens of the Kingdom as they produce high-quality and high-standard services which ranges from food and beverage, to hotels and hospitality and all the way to music as this brand started out in 1939, and until today, is trusted by many customers here and around the world. Sukosol Group operates Siam Hotel and Resorts; a big name and pioneer in the hospitality division.
Café Amazon
Starbucks will never get away with a stiff competition in the name of Café Amazon. Part of the PTT Company which operates one of the biggest public company in Thailand, Café Amazon boasts of producing coffee that is harvested by local coffee farmers and if you feel fancy having a dose of international coffee beans, just feel free to do so. Amazon’s coffee is no Starbucks baby as their frappuccino are strong. Non coffee drinkers will definitely try to skip this one or request a milder shot of their coffee.
Hope this list comes in handy as you try to discover what Thailand has to offer in terms of competition to other international brands and who know, they might be as big as their competing brands in the future, right?
Delon Serino 