Feb. 6--Home Office Builder Center (HOBC), a local home office builder, has expanded its business line to offer home spa building and consultancy services to tap small and medium-sized investors.
Chokpornchai Tangcharoenchaiyawarit, the company's operations director, said that although the current economic environment might seem unfavourable, new investors could still benefit from lower interest rates and investing in a home spa business was a promising option.
"This is not a good time for office workers or small investors to save their money in the bank. It is an opportune time for SMEs to emerge," he said.
Spa operators, he said, have good knowledge about the products offered to their customers but what they lack is physical knowledge of the business such as finding a good location.
HOBC's home spa service offers customers advice on locations for the market that customers require. It offers both standard and tailor-made home spa designs as well as financial plans. Its customers are also offered business loans by Bank of Ayudhya.
"We will do the research for the customers about the potential of the business as well as provide business consultancy on whether they can afford to pay back loans or whether the return is worth the investment," Mr Chokpornchai said.
"It's better than renting a building as you will lose a lot of money on renovating the place to make it suitable."
Hathairus Monaiyapong, HOBC's managing director, said the company expected to earn 50 million baht this year for its overall business, up from 20 million last year. It aims to build five to six home spa units this year.
In the 50-billion-baht homebuilding market, home offices account for 10 billion baht. "There's still plenty of room to expand," Ms Hathairus said.
Andrew Jacka, president of the Thai Spa Association, said the home spa business would help attract more local customers as the country could no longer rely on foreign customers who are sensitive to domestic political problems.
The company also plans to introduce home dental building service in the middle of this year as part of its plan to further tap niche markets.
