Unchalee Anantawat
Crazy People Are Crazy
What inspired your piece?
The diversity of the people here.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I like to walk down streets and sois that I’ve never been to. I’ll look at buildings and figure out shortcuts to different sois. I look for inspiration in new places and I think .
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love Bangkok because the laws are flexible—but I also hate that, too. People here are relaxed and not so serious, so living here enables you to be carefree. But, really, the flexibility of the law is also what’s holding our country back.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
It doesn’t affect me that much, but it allows me to freely produce work in a fitting environment. If I want to be some place surrounded by people I just have to head into town, or if I want to be somewhere quiet and secluded I can head to the suburbs.
Anmom
Hiding Away
What inspired your piece?
My inspiration comes from Khaosan Road. I wanted to play with the idea that there’s more to it than meets the eye. With Khaosan, people usually think of the bars, dirty shows and foreigners. But there are many hidden gems to be found: culture, good food and, yes, great tattoo parlors.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I don’t have a spot I go to, but if I feel stuck, I’ll stay home and sleep. My work relies on silence and lots of time with myself just thinking.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love that we have so many types of communities here, the people are diverse and there’s lots of culture. It’s a chaotic yet beautiful city, where taxis won’t take passengers and people are always rushing to go places. But there are also places that are quiet and serene, like the suburbs. I hate places that are crowded and where people are always in a rush like the BTS and Siam.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
It helps me get in contact with more customers and because I live in the suburbs and live somewhere quiet, in a way it helps me produce work more easily.
P7
Horizon BK P7
What inspired your piece?
I used lots of colors to represent the people here. I was born in Bangkok, so I wanted to use these colors to represent our lives in Bangkok from past to present. Different colors represent all the characters Bangkok has to offer, plus to me Bangkok is like a splash of color to Asia itself.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
It all starts in my head. I can work anywhere and I don’t have places I go to look for inspiration. Everything comes from the inside.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the random things, like the fact that there are places for us to go skateboarding, ride bicycles or go see a Thai boxing match at the ring. I’m also a fan of dessert stores—yep, I love cakes. I don’t really hate anything in particular about Bangkok, but if I had to name something, it would be all the protest mobs that cause trouble to so many people.
How does living here affect your work?
There’s no effect, really, because for me making a work of art comes naturally. I can work anywhere and still produce the same thing. What allows me to produce my work is my inner thoughts and ideas, not the environment. Art can be made anywhere.
Anuwat Khaomanit
Untitled
What inspired your piece?
The picture depicts the people of Bangkok in different situations as we see them on the streets and any random thing they might do as part of their routine.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I do like to think about my work in front of the computer or at my workplace, but if I’m really stuck, I go to parks or places with lots of green space where it’s quiet.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the people here because it’s so diverse; we have so many types of people and from so many countries. I hate the traffic here; it’s so bad you can never get used to it.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
Living here makes it easier for me to produce my work because all the resources I need are here. I can’t imagine having to work from the suburbs; it would be too much for me.
Tripuck Supawattana
กรุงเทพเมืองหลากหลาย (Krung-Thep-Muang-Lhak-Lhai)
What inspired your piece?
Our urban lifestyle, which is chaotic, confusing and full of social inequalities. It sounds negative but it’s also a charm of Bangkok. We see all sorts of mindboggling things here: high-rise buildings next to shophouses, the rich in the same places as the poor. Bangkok is unique, one of the few places that has everything.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I like to go to places with lots of people like Chinatown, Sanam Luang and Siam. You find everyone from the rich, the poor, the workers and the homeless. The juxtaposition of random subjects is amazing.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
It’s a love-hate relationship; I love this city for its diversity but also hate it. Just like most things, diversity has a positive effect on you but sometimes it’s just too much. Often times I feel like being in a place that is quiet where people live their lives in simplicity rather than racing at such a fast pace.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
Sometimes it’s in an indirect way, like the shitty transportation and traffic, which in turn affect your mood to work. But then again, we’re a capital city and everything you need to feel inspired is here. Where I am plays an important part in my work. If I were somewhere else without much going on, my work would reflect that.
Pomm Jitpratuk,
Because You Are Here
What inspired your piece?
I want to show the idea that we love Bangkok because our families and friends are here, and that without our loved ones it would be meaningless.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I don’t have a place I go to get inspired, when it happens it just does, no matter where I am. You just have to keep an open mind, learn to observe and, who knows, things might ignite.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love HM the King, that’s the only thing I love about Thailand, because without him and his sacrifices, we’d all be doomed. What I hate most are the bad living conditions. We’ve got the resources, we just don’t use them efficiently. I don’t mind the traffic or the heat, but years have passed and lots of things haven’t improved one bit. It feels like we’re always being pushed around. Choices are limited and there isn’t much of a cultural center.
How much does living here affect your work?
It gives me so many different angles to choose from due to the diversity of people here. A city is bound to affect who you are, which in turn affects how I portray people through my work.
Oat Monthien
The Road
What inspired your piece?
The piece is titled “The Road” and is inspired by my fascination with the variety of creatures that walk Bangkok’s roads. I vividly remember that every morning when I was going to my high school in Ladprao, I would notice something new and interesting. From a lost farang or a crazy taxi driver to the tranquil monks, each had their own unique story yet blended together as cohesive, buzzing traffic, all sharing the same road. This sums up the amazingness of Bangkok for me.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired or motivated?
My local talad-nut (weekly market) or just staring at the traffic jam at night from a crossover bridge.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the surreal vibe. It’s one of the very few cities in the world where you feel anything is possible. I also love the fascinating blend of cultures, all in one place! It’s overwhelming at times, but you could live here all your life yet still learn something new every day. What I really hate, though, is that there’s no respect for your peace of mind as you travel on the MRT or BTS. Loud repetitive commercials drive me mad—no, I don’t want to be white, thank you very much!
How does living here influence your art?
I grew up in Don Mueang, so the markets, temple fairs, trains and slums have provided me with endless stories and a lively color palette to illustrate them.
Rukkit Kuanhwate
HEARTBK
What inspired your piece?
I wanted to focus on animals. We’re a city that is not so green or ecological, so I wanted to play with that idea and focus on nature to give people something that they lack in real life.
What are your favorite spots to get inspired?
The TCDC and libraries in general. I love looking at old books, not necessarily just stuff about graphics and arts.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love Bangkok’s contradictions: lots of things here don’t really go together, like expensive, fancy places located down dark sois. What I hate are the conflicts between people, especially those who speak out violently or disrupt the lives of others. Some people are so narrow-minded; they don’t know how to listen.
How does living here influence your art?
It definitely plays a part in my growth as an artist, in the sense that I get more jobs here. But I have to admit that I’m more inspired working in other provinces that are more liberating in terms of surroundings and ambience. Bangkok is very confined and it does sometimes get difficult to produce something new.
Pairoj Teeraprapa
นารีผล ’๕๖ (Na-ree-pol ‘56)
What inspired your piece?
The idea of using Thai arts to make this country more beautiful. I feel that people are too excited about modernization, especially the newer generations. I want to display Thai arts, as seen in temples, in a more modern medium. Everything will be communicated through the use of Thai fonts newly designed just for this purpose. I feel that people can identify with this.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
Anywhere as long as it’s quiet. Anywhere from the woods, a waterfall or even on an airplane, whenever it feels right I’ll start sketching.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the fact that Bangkok, being the capital city, gets the best of all Thai arts, which is very inspirational. I feel like there’s always more to learn and observe about Thai arts. I hate Bangkok for the big gap between the rich and the poor—it’s sad that there’s not much empathy for those in need.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
It’s harder for your career as an artist to start here since people don’t appreciate Thai arts. Most established Thai artists are famous due to displaying their work abroad or to foreigners. In Bangkok, Thai artists blend together, no one really gets credit for their work and they don’t stand out from the crowd. Here, people don’t pay for individuality and quality in each artwork—they pay for quantity.
Somyot Kumsang 
กรุงเทพ (Krung-Thep)
What inspired your piece?
I was inspired by traditional Thai art. I am Thai and quite conservative, to be honest. I value the beauty of traditional Thai arts such as sculptures seen at temples because it’s our roots. I feel like we might not be able to compete with others on certain things, but when it comes to art we’re up there.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I like to go to temples and avoid malls in particular. Temples offer you shelter and cool your heart down, but malls take away your money and only cool down your body.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love museums and temples. I’m pretty traditional in my way of life, so these two places keep me focused. I hate the traffic; we lose precious time to it.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
For me, it doesn’t matter where I live, I feel like the place I live in is only partly reflected in my work. In the end, though, my work will always reflect my Thai roots.
Kathy MacLeod
MBK
What inspired your piece?
I’ve been planning a series of drawings of different places around Bangkok—bustling areas where lots of different narratives and social circles come together. I chose to start with MBK because there’s no place where more wacky characters congregate. And everyone is on their own mission. Also, if you look at all the things that are sold in MBK—all the souvenirs and T-shirts with rude sayings and fake luxury brands—it paints a very unique portrait of Bangkok as seen through a tourist’s eyes. The city to them is represented by a pirated Iron Man DVD and a shirt with an elephant on it.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I like going to the TCDC to work. I like how quiet it is (no blasting of popsanova music, here), and the big windows bring in the best natural light along with a great view of Bangkok. It feels like everyone around you is working diligently on something creative.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the people. Bangkok pulls a lot of interesting characters into its orbit and I’m lucky to call some of them my best friends. I’m lucky to have found an amazing creative community here, without whom Bangkok would be totally intolerable. As for the people I don’t “love” exactly, like sexpats, I still love that they exist, because it’s what makes this place hilarious and full of good stories. What I dislike most about Bangkok is the endless construction of new malls. I find myself in a mall at least three times a week and I hate myself for it.
Advertisement
Uniqlo crew neck t-shirt, B390. 3/F, CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-264-5555. BTS Siam/Chidlom.
Playhound pants, B2,590. 3/F, Siam Center, Rama 1 Rd., 02-658-1000. BTS Siam.
Massimo Dutti colored trouser, B2,550. 1/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9935. BTS Siam.
Zara t-shirt, B490. 1/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9935. BTS Siam.
Him&Her office two-tone shirt, B2,200. Order online at www.symbolsofstyle.com
To Be Young jeans t-shirt, B790. Order online at www.menocean.com
Advertisement
In wet conditions: 
Noise: 
Comfort:
Treadwear:
Price: From B3,550 for 15” wheels
In wet conditions:
Noise: 
Comfort:
Treadwear:
Price: From B3,300 for 15” wheels
In wet conditions:
Noise:
Comfort:
Treadwear:
Price: From B3,000 for 15” wheels
In wet conditions:
Noise:
Comfort:
Treadwear:
Price: From B2,590 for 15” wheels
In wet conditions:
Noise:
Comfort:
Treadwear:
Price: From B3,800 for 15” wheels
Bridgestone & Michelin. 146/5-7 Cockpit K. Charoen Tire,
Sukhumvit Soi 71, 02-391-1001. BTS Phrakanong.
Dunlop & Hankook. 433/29 B-Quik, Chan Rd., 02-675-2614-5.
Nitto. Hai Charoen Tire, 138 Suthisanwinichai Rd., 02-277-8211.
Advertisement
FEATURES: Auto OTA (over-the-air programming which automatically updates new channels or changes) and 145 True channels including 23 HD channels.
TOP CHANNELS: HBO HD, Fox, Star Movies HD, Nat Geo HD, History Channel, True Sport HD and MTV, EUFA Champions League, Calcio Serie A and Spanish La Liga.
PRICE: B2,000 with installation B2,155 monthly fee.
FEATURES: Supports 66 True channels, 65 PSI channels and free TV up to 900 channels from Thaicom 5 (Thai communications satellite) with no monthly fee.
TOP CHANNELS: Fox, Travel Channel, Star Soccer, T-Sports, Cartoon Club, True Music, Nation Channel, Home and Food Channel.
PRICE: B3,500 with installation.
FEATURES: Full HD 1080p supporting Dolby Digital 5.1 sound system, PVR, playbox, auto OTA, 11 free HD channels and 120 channels from Thaicom 5 with no monthly fee.
TOP CHANNELS: World Movies HD, Aniplus HD (cartoons), Film Plus HD, Sport 1 HD, Motor Sports HD and Fashion One HD.
PRICE: B4,900 with installation
FEATURES: Auto OTA, 142 channels from Thaicom 5 including 31 HD channels.
TOP CHANNELS: Fox Action Movie HD, Fox, Star Sports, Nat Geo Wild HD and All English Premier League games.
PRICE: B1,800 with installation and monthly fee from B599 for 24 months with one year free
FEATURES: Full HD 1080p supporting Dolby Digital 5.1 sound system, PVR (personal video recorder) onto harddisk, auto OTA, can play external media files (mp3, wmv, jpg, png, avi, mpg, mp4), four free GMM channels, HD channels and about 300 channels from Thaicom 5 with no monthly fee.
TOP CHANNELS: GMM Theatre (movies and series), Nat Geo Wild HD, GMM Sport Two HD, Euro Sport HD.
PRICE: B4,700 with installation
FEATURES: Auto OTA, about 300 channels from Thaicom 5 satellite and RS Satellite channels with no monthly fee.
TOP CHANNELS: Nation Channels, Cartoon Club, MTV Sea, Sky World, Movie Max and Sun Channel (Spanish La Liga, motors and movies).
PRICE: B2,990 with installation
Advertisement
Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 8-inch (1,280x800 pixels) 1.8GHz Atom Z2760 Dual-core processor on Windows 8, 2GB ram, 32GB and 2MP camera.
Highlights: Can be paired with a Bluetooth keyboard dock and comes with a free Office license (Word, Powerpoint, Excel).
Price: B12,900
Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 10.6-inch (1,366x768 pixels) Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3, Windows RT, 2GB ram, 32GB memory with micro SD and 720 pixel camera.
Highlights: The NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor which supports heavy-duty gaming and the sleek design featuring a Vapor Magnesium casing and a built-in kickstand. The multi-task function allows two apps to run at the same time, and there’s also a free Office license.
Price: From B16,500
Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 8-inch (1,280x800 pixels) 1.6GHz Quad-core processor on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, 2GB ram, 16GB memory with micro SD up to 64GB and 5MP camera.
Highlights: The most powerful processor of the bunch, with practical functions like handwriting recognition (turns your handwriting into typed words), Air-View (lets you preview content by using the S pen) and Multi-Window function (splits the screen in two for multitasking).
Price: B15,200
Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 9.7-inch (2,048x1,536 pixels) Dual-core A6X with Quad-core graphics, IOS 6, 1GB ram, memory from 16GB and 5MP camera.
Highlights: Noticeably clearer retina display, smooth A6X chip performance, good quality 5MP camera and practical built-in applications like Keynote, Facetime and Newsstand. And, of course, you still can’t beat the App Store’s selection.
Price: B16,500
Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 7-inch (1,280x800 pixels) NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core 1.2GHz, Android 4.1, 1GB Ram, 16GB and 1.2MP camera.
Highlights: Good gaming NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, long battery life of up to 9 hours and a pretty accurate virtual keyboard.
Price: Price TBA
Advertisement
Ardent Capital (ardentcap.com) bills itself as “a leading digital venture builder, incubator and investor in Southeast Asia.” It has its offices here in Bangkok, from where it nurtures more than half a dozen tech companies, most of them involved in online commerce—“selling real stuff,” as Dr. Adrian Vanzyl, Ardent’s CEO, puts it. The company is all about bringing together experienced entrepreneurs with local talent to help successfully launch their startups. Dr. Vanzyl co-founded the company with three Americans and two Brits. Here, he explains the challenges and rewards of building tech startups in Thailand.
There seems to be a kind of tech boom in Bangkok of late. What’s driving it?
There definitely is. We have 70 open positions right now. It’s been driven by the rise of consumer spending in the middle class. Then there’s internet penetration, which has improved, and in the last 18 months, smartphones have overtaken regular mobile phones. 3G has been important, too, as well as people getting comfortable with using credit cards online.
There’s always been talk of Bangkok being made into an IT hub. And people used to just laugh.
It is a great place. Bangkok is a much more interesting city to launch a digital e-commerce business than, say, Singapore. For example, we’ve got a new startup, Petloft.com, selling products for pets. Well if you launch this company in Singapore, you’ve proven you can start a company in a city with great internet penetration, highly-trained programmers, where everyone speaks English and where the postal system works. Anyone can do that. So if a competing brand from the USA shows up, they won’t buy your company, they’ll just start their own. Now if you start this company in Thailand, you’ll show you can work in another language, that you can set up your own distribution network—we have warehouses, motorcycle delivery guys—and work with local staff. If that foreign company shows up, do you think they’ll buy your company or start their own? They’ll much rather buy yours. And then, if you’ve been successful here, it means you can go on and do it all over again in Vietnam and Indonesia when the time is right.
But aren’t our programmers, well, not very good?
The big challenge is definitely finding talent. But the raw intellect is there. All you need to do is train them up. That’s why we try to mentor people, to participate in events, to go to talks. We want to act as role models and boot strap an eco-system. Once you’ve trained people, they can go and train people, too. Also, Thailand is a great place to do business in the region. There’s a lot less red tape to register a company than anywhere else, you don’t have to pay anyone off, foreign ownership is allowed, you can get an office easily, the traffic is not as bad as some other places...
Still, there must be challenges?
Well, English language is a huge problem. You need to be able to articulate your vision in English. And then it’s difficult to create a culture of risk taking. Most startups fail, after all. But there is a strong work ethic with the staff here, and a greater gender parity. Our staff is 50/50 men and women. You just wouldn’t see that in a typical tech startup in the US.
Venture capitalists fund new businesses, most often those focusing on innovation and new technology. The VC Group is one such company, keen on investing in embedded devices, cloud infrastructures, and software as a service. We speak to Chairman Dr. Jay Jootar on the growth of venture capital firms in the city, Thai IT talent and how Thailand is becoming the new Silicon Valley.
Is there talent in the Thai IT crowd?
We definitely have many capable world-class tech talents. I’ve found many brilliant new graduates as well as experienced engineers that work for world-class companies. What we need are more tech entrepreneurs who turn technology into business. But it takes time and patience to groom someone to become a tech entrepreneur—you need to master many diverse skills besides technological know-how.
Can we compete against neighboring countries like Singapore?
I don’t see Singapore as a competitor at all. On the other hand, there is a natural symbiotic relationship between Thailand and Singapore. Thailand is a good place to live and work, having so many things to enjoy: food, beach, people and nightlife. Meanwhile, Singapore is a good place to do business because of its excellent legal and business infrastructure. I see many people having operations in both countries to take advantage of the best of both worlds.
What type of company is most worth investing in?
Investment is like wine. People have different tastes. For me, I am passionate about solutions that help businesses function better. Therefore, I focus on embedded devices that will replace PCs in the future, as well as cloud infrastructure and enterprise software. Other people might have a passion for e-commerce, or education solutions, or payment systems. There are profits to be made in every field. The starting point for anyone interested in tech startups, be it investor or entrepreneur, should be the passion, what you try to build for the world. Making money is a constraint to be met, a means to an end, not the end in itself.
What lies ahead for venture capital in Thailand?
I believe the pioneers in Thailand venture capital are likely to be corporate, not financial institutions. We see that each of the big three telcos [True, AIS and Dtac] has its own startup investment initiatives. I also learn of companies in other industries like book publishing, construction materials, petroleum and chemicals who also invest in tech startups, albeit in a more low-profile fashion. In a way, this is no different from Silicon Valley, which was kicked off by the investment of a camera company in a semiconductor company, the predecessor of Intel Corporation, one of the Valley’s enduring success cases. I believe we will see similar stories here in Thailand as well.
The ideal “coworking space” is a well-designed office where, for a fee, anyone can get a desk, a meeting room, and work alongside other creative, technology-driven people. We spoke to Amarit Charoenphan, co-founder of Hubba Coworking Space, an elegant compound with a garden where he is kickstarting the trend in Bangkok.
Are coworking spaces the new office?
Coworking spaces will not only be the new office. It’s the new way of life for Gen Y onwards. With talent, internet and Wi-Fi, we can work anywhere in the world, make a decent amount of money and enjoy the company of like-minded people. People have seen images of the Google and Facebook offices online and are no longer willing to be treated as robots living in tiny cubicles with smelly AC, waiting in lines for the elevator, traffic in the parking lot and on the expressway and crappy office furniture. We want to go to work inspired, motivated and happy. A democratic, vibrant coworking space culture will unleash the latent creative energies of Thais and usher a new movement where people can work, be location-independent and be happy. It will change how companies treat and retain employees, encouraging more of a talent economy. People will be more motivated to do their work and more ideas will come flooding. Lastly, it will usher an entrepreneurial revolution in Thailand, where more people will be brave enough to be a freelancer or launch a start-up.
Is it good business?
It is profitable but it takes time. It takes a bit of investment setting up and slowly members will come in, try the space out and, if it clicks with them, stay for a while. Globally, most spaces break even within six months to two years.
How efficient is it?
Work gets done, big time! The co-motivation effect of seeing awesome people wholly focused at work drives you to work very hard. People here are actually very hard working, they only hangout when there’s an event or when taking a break. This is because the best, most motivated and hard-working people are here. They may have traveled quite a bit and have paid money to work here. Nobody would be here if it didn’t help them be more productive, profitable, and ultimately more successful than working at home or in some coffee shop.
Does Bangkok need more coworking spaces?
We don’t need just coworking spaces, we need a movement towards a more collaborative economy and an entrepreneurial revolution. Coworking spaces are essentially just the container, the focal point, where communities are formed and nurtured, where events, workshops and courses are held to help people build networks, teams and upskill themselves alongside a massive pool of awesome people who may become cofounders, partners, investors, clients, and mentors. In Singapore, there are now 20+ coworking spaces. In London alone, there are more than 80 spaces. Bangkok is equally as big and people are equally as entrepreneurial and hungry.
What can we expect from Hubba this year?
We’re planning to build five spaces in total through partnerships. We are relentlessly pursuing our mission to be Thailand’s start-up ecosystem builder: to build the biggest coworking space network in Thailand, the biggest start-up education institution in Thailand and help create the next regional or global Thai startup.
19 Soi Ekkamai 4, 02-714-3388. Passes are B265 for one day, B4,650 for 30 days, B36,500 for a year. Open daily 9am-10pm.
One of the city’s newest coworking spaces, Launchpad, offers more than just the chance to work out of home. According to co-founder, Vincent Sethiwan, it’s all about connections, too. Here, he discusses how the right community can change the way you work and even relieve stress.
Are coworking spaces catching on with Thais?
Yes, we get an equal mix of Thais and international members. I think this is because of how we portray ourselves to be an international space; a well-mixed community that is passionate about what they are working on.
What do people like about Launchpad?
They like the ambience and the community. Our space is very open and you can work in any way you want. This freedom allows people to be more creative and focused on what they are working on.
Is it a profitable business?
Not yet. However the space offers my team a really nice place to work alongside a really great crowd of people with similar mindsets who are all willing to help each other out. This is something that money cannot buy.
Does it actually boost productivity?
Yes, it does work very well indeed. Work gets done, more ideas get validated, there are more job referrals and, most importantly, it’s more fun. It is efficient as well as effective in building connections with people.
Who is suited to this kind of space?
It’s up to you whether you like it or not. For me, I really like it because it is a perfect blend between privacy and open communication. And as a startup, it really helps take away a lot of the stress and build confidence.
1/F, Sethiwan Tower, Sathorn Rd., 02-266-6222. B220 per day, B6,000 per month.
Started off as a hobby between nine friends, Catmint, a women-focused lifestyle website has been steadily gaining popularity for its edgy content and spot-on reviews. Here, we talk to co-founder Chayapa Boonmana on running an online platform and how content engagement can take you to the top.
Can content generate revenue?
We don’t sell any products so we make money from banner ads. The trick is to explore topics that other websites haven’t really gone into depth about, or find ways to make a typical article fun by using aids like videos. We’ve done an article about finding a hotel in Hong Kong on a B1,000 budget—if you search, you’ll find that we’re the number one result for that on Google. Such article ideas, along with our big blog following, brings lots of traffic to our site, which is why lots of brands choose to advertise with us. Brands now want websites with original content.
How do you stand out?
The originality of our content as well as our style—we don’t use big words and we’re not too dry. We also give our readers videos and tutorials with a touch of humor.
What’s your editorial line?
We ask ourselves whether it’s something we would be interested in using or buying; it has to be relatable to us. All of us here specialize in different areas: beauty, real estate, fashion, etc. We post about 2-3 new stories every day and, because we don’t sell products, this content is everything.
What’s trending right now?
For now it’s a diet trend from the US called the Dukan Diet. I can say that we’re the only Thai website to have covered this diet in depth.
How could our blogging scene improve?
Abroad, lots of people support bloggers and websites that do fashion and lifestyle tips. Here in Thailand, though, people are more focused on the actual products.
Launched in 2012, Symbols of Style (SOS, www.symbolsofstyle.com) has become a familiar name for Thailand’s savvy shoppers, fusing meticulous fashion insights with an online shop that continues to introduce bold labels to urbanites. Here we speak to Natcharee Srirojchanapong, managing director of SOS, about people’s trust in online retail, how service is key and why brand selection can’t be compromised.
How do you choose which brands to sell on SOS?
First, it comes down to the style and design of the product; it has to be bold, chic and edgy. Second is the quality and third is the brand’s ability to produce the product in big enough quantities that they won’t run out.
What do people like most about your website?
People love our fashion shoots and fashion stories. As for products, IT gadgets and imported fashion products priced from B1,000-4,000 are quite a hit. We’re also launching a home décor section, too, with products like lamps, work tables and other things that aren’t too hard to ship here. It should be interesting.
Are people still scared of shopping online in Thailand?
Some are OK, while others still have many doubts. I think the important thing is that we need to educate people. The launch of more online shopping platforms will increase trust, but many people are still shaky when it comes to using their credit card without having the items in their hand. At SOS, we offer credit card payment as well as bank transfer, counter service and cash-on-delivery.
What’s the most vital thing behind the success of SOS?
Service is key since people can’t see our products in person. We don’t know exactly what they’re looking for; some people have bought the wrong product and try to return it after already using it. Some clients understand but some don’t. Dealing with local brands is also very important to us. We sell lots of local brands but the problem is some don’t have the production power of international brands, so their products run out. Some brands don’t inform us when this happens, which creates a problem with our listings.
What can we expect from SOS next?
We’re launching an application for the Android as well as new sections on the website like dining, décor and travel packages. We’re also doing a pop-up store at K-Village until the end of June with free prizes and gift vouchers.
What: Monthly internet and mobile networking training group focusing on technology, startups, web and mobile business opportunities.
Sign up: www.meetup.com/WebMobThailand
What: With six events so far (the last one on May 25th), this is another meetup to watch, if and when they schedule the next one.
Sign up: momobkk.com
What: A monthly meeting aimed at helping members launch, invest in and connect to different tech communities with a focus on tech startups and recruitment support.
Sign up: www.meetup.com/Bangkok-TechMeetups
What: Another networking group of entrepreneurs, investors and developers in startups that get together monthly to share ideas and connect.
Sign up: www.meetup.com/bkk-startup
Next meeting Jul 23, 9am at True Café Digital Gateway (Siam Square, Rama 1 Rd., BTS Siam).
What: Held at least four times a year, the event is intended to give young designers and entrepreneurs a platform to present their ideas in marketing, IT and design in the format of 20 slides of 20 seconds each.
Sign up: [email protected]
Next meeting Aug 21, 6:30pm at LaunchPad (Sethiwan Tower, Pan Rd., 02-266-6222. BTS Surasak).
Advertisement
Looking to get a new suit made? Jin Vondervic is a reasonably priced tailoring service that delivers straight to your door. The shop keeps up-to-date with the latest styles from the runway, from minimal, dandy formals to casual-looking suits and tailored pants. A full suit (jacket, pants and shirt) starts from B4,700, which includes out-of-store body measurement service and a one-time fix on the tailoring. You’ll get your order within seven days, and for those in a rush, it’s an extra 20% charge for three-day delivery.
Order online at www.facebook.com/jinvondervic, 089-891-8139.
Sitapisha:Sitapisha does understated women’s day and work wear with playful details that accentuate the female curves while showing some skin. Think cropped tops in pastel and basic tones with details like bare shoulders, ruffless and textured bottoms. The emphasis here is on high-waisted shorts and skin-baring tops that keep to a minimal yet sassy style through the use of light fabrics like satin. Tops start from B990 and shorts from B1,390.
Order online at www.facebook.com/Sitapisha, 081-904-1313.
Finalist of the 8GG Magazine New Born Search 5 competition, Sasi does women’s wear with an emphasis on three principles: clean, colorful and feminine. You can expect a vibrant and sweet color palette on designs that don’t show off too much skin, but feature hidden details, like open back dresses, cropped tops and dresses and skirts with side cuttings. Think pieces like textured jumpsuits, light dresses in vibrant tones and short-length dresses in candy colors. We like the combination of simple designs in bold tones with the subtle sexy details. Prices for tops and dresses start from B2,000.
Order online at www.facebook.com/bysasithailand, 088-482-8828.
Wood Dock:Wood Dock has guys’ fashion needs covered from head to toe. The shop stocks urban men’s apparel—shirts, t-shirts, pants, belts and shoes, you name it, all designed by the owner. Think products like plain-colored shirts, colorful chinos in tones like scarlet and mustard, preppy canvas belts and shoes in tones like navy and grey. We particularly like their printed t-shirts with trippy prints. Shirt from B790, chinos for B990, shoes from B1,800 and t-shirts for BTK.
Order online at www.facebook.com/pages/WOOD-DOCK/343795512372434, 086-002-5661.
Started by two friends, a copy writer and a designer, Sheep does unisex eyewear, t-shirts and accessories. Quickly gaining popularity on Facebook thanks to its retro eyewear with nice details—and reasonable price tags—products here are updated fast with new collections of sunglasses and spectacles released on a tk basis. Accessories like iPhone cases, hats and t-shirts are also available in themes like the current “Anti-Tee” that sees plain-colored tees with bold slogans starting with “Anti.” Accessories and eye wear start from B490 and t-shirts are B290.
Order online at www.facebook.com/sheepstudiobkk
Advertisement
What is chiropractic?
It is a health profession focusing on the recovery of dysfunction in joints, spine and muscles. It is different from orthopedic because chiropractic tries not to focus on the use of medicine or surgery, but rather on biomechanical recovery and body manipulation.
Is it a painful procedure?
It isn’t as painful as most people think. Physical therapists use chiropractic a lot because there isn’t much risk; on the contrary it is very efficient. Procedures usually involve manual maneuvers like massages to adjust dysfunctional parts of the body and to rehabilitate muscles.
Which demographic is most likely to see a chiropractor?
Our patients are mostly in the 35 to 65 age group as the symptoms of these problems can take years to develop. Due to their working lifestyle, most people have problems with their back, spine and joints but tend to overlook them until it reaches a point where surgery is needed. 70% of our patients suffer from problems with their intervertebral discs due to their bad posture.
Why not use medicine or surgery?
We’re not against medicine or surgery but will only use it when nothing else works because we believe in biomechanical treatments including body alignment, body stability, joint status and its effect on the nervous system. Recovery from within is the best solution. Here, we mix chiropractic with orthopedic, rehabilitation and sports medicine.
How long does it usually take for a patient to be completely recovered?
It depends on each case, but usually from a couple of weeks up to half a year.
How can we prevent these types of dysfunctions?
People unconsciously do the wrong thing for their body, like sitting with bad posture, overloading their spine through exercise. The easiest way is to be mindful of your posture, do exercises that increase your flexibility and don’t wait it out if you can feel pain—80% of back problems comes from leaving treatment late.
Chiro Health Bangkok, 2/F The 9th Tower (behind Central Grand Rama 9), Rama 9 Rd., 02-643-2104. MRT Rama 9.
Advertisement
