Entrepreneur sees businesses provide jobs for Krabi folk

She hopes to increase the paint centre’s capacity from 150 cars per month to 250 cars a month within three years. However, she told The Nation she would have to wait and see how the economy and Dragon Auto Paint Centre’s budget make that ambition possible.
Thayika earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University in 1992 and started her working life in an export business owned by her sister. Five years later, she decided to return to Krabi province when the financial crisis slashed the value of the baht, directly affecting the export business.
Using Bt1 million of her savings, she tried her hand at shrimp farming and in the rubber and palm-oil trades, but these businesses did not succeed.
Then she decided to open a Thai-Western restaurant in Krabi, a popular tourist destination, and this business did better, generate income averaging Bt600,000 a month.
Finally her older brother, who owned an auto-painting business, decided to pull out of it and asked Thayika if she was interested in taking it over.
“I was interested in the auto-painting centre because it had more potential to generate sustainable income than the restaurant, whose revenue depended on the tourist season,” she said, explaining why she accepted her brother’s offer.
Thayika decided to sell her restaurant business and spend up to Bt20 million to renovate Dragon Auto Paint Centre and invest in new machinery four years ago. Half of the investment budget came from her savings, as the rest from a loan.
At the same time, Thayika also opened the Blue Dragon Cabaret Show in Krabi when one of her staff, who had experience working at a similar show, suggested that she get into this business.
The cabaret’s income varies according to the tourist seasons. High season generates up to Bt700,000 per month, but during low season this business sees net losses of Bt200,000-Bt300,000 a month.
“We invested in the cabaret show because we wanted to encourage our staff to be entrepreneurs. This also created more jobs for local people,” she said.
Four years after the two enterprises were founded, Thayika’s businesses generate sustainable income averaging Bt1.5 million a month. They also employ 50 local people.
“I also plan to boost our auto-painting capacity to maintain my business growth at an average of 10 per cent a year and to create more jobs. This is my dream, to become a true entrepreneur and also create more jobs for the people of my home province,” she said.