Franchise plan builds on growth momentum

Kronghatai, who called the business Cyber2fix, to establish 10 franchisee-run outlets in 2018.
“I founded my business in 2000 when I resigned from my job and spent our savings of Bt20,000 to import used notebooks and computers for sale through online channels, as I believed that online was the new way to build a business with a low cost base and enable direct sales to the customers who need our products,” Kronghatai said in an interview with The Nation recently.
Kronghatai said that after her initial success in importing the first batch of used notebook products for sale in the online marketplace, she ordered additional batches of products and made enough of a profit to open her first shop for used notebooks and computers at Pantip Plaza within two years of starting out.
She then started to expand her business to add imports of accessories for notebooks, personal computers and mobile phones - particularly batteries from China - and distributed the products through her shop at Pantip Plaza and online with the opening of her Cyber Batt website.
Average of monthly sales of Bt50,000 eventually became Bt500,000. Last year the company reported total revenue of Bt15 million and has been enjoying double-digit growth a year.
Meanwhile, Kronghatai became aware that customers were also wanting a repair and maintenance service for their notebooks, computers and mobile phones. This prompted her to expand her investment and open the company’s first Cyber2fix store at Town In Town two years ago.
The centre provides services for IT products such as repairs to the main board of notebooks and for items such as batteries.
 Success from this operation inspired Kronghatai to set up the franchise system, targeted at young people who want to start a business and can benefit from having an investment budget of only Bt50,000 to do so. “We will provide them with training on how to do the maintenance and repairs of notebooks, mobile phones and PCs,” Kronghatai said.
“We also will supply them with accessories with import prices for our franchisees, and also support them in repairing and fixings their customers’ IT products.”
Kronghatai, 43, said she began the preparatory work for setting up the franchise system this year, and aims to fulfil her goal of having 10 franchisee-run branches open nationwide next year.
“My ambition is to open up opportunities for the young generation to own a business, and can support them because we are still growing over the long term,” she said.