What business are you missing in Macau?
Sometimes I think about what kind of business would I throw myself into in Macau to serve expats that would be profitable. I often go for these 4 options, but I'm sure there are some (many) more. What do you think? What would make your life easier?
1. Travel agency focused on expats (with real English and other Western languages speakers)
2. Mandarin & Cantonese school
3. Kindergarten/daycare for expats children
4. Pet grooming, day hotel, etc
Cheers
DrPoi
Dr. Poi, my vote is for you to open a multi-dimentional pet care centre. The existing pet shops are all local oriented and they have very limtied products and services. I will be your first customer if you open a proper pet hotel!!!
I really would love to see a shop dedicated to sell quality organic products, fruit and veggies especially. However, if you can get an excellent and caring veterinary over here, that would be most welcome too.
"Be the change you want to see"
I have heard that vets do not need to be licenced to practice in Macau. They fall into the same category as electricians, plumbers, hairdressers, etc. Does anyone know differently?
Mandarin & Cantonese school
it is a good idea but i know some friends found their language teachers through his native colleague, who introduce macau or mainland students to them as language teachers.
do you think it will be a challenge if you run a mandarin & cantoness school? and how will you deal with it?
BookaChino have canto classes that has been under way for a few weeks now..
we're starting a new class in Jan for anyone that is interested,
Mandarin will also start at a later date...
for info bookachino@gmail.com
I remember BookaChino a very nice cozy place in the town center? I think the women gave Vivian and I directions to a restaurant?
Good to hear they also have language classes.
Difficult decision, for what I see... Expats needs are not fully covered in Macau yet, but we don't really work for it to happen either!
DrPoi
For all the dog owners here, I was somewhere cnear Bank of China (Taipa Branch) today and I discovered this beautiful pet shop/hotel around the corner of a school. I believe the name of the shop is OneDogDay or something like that. They are still working on the interior but the shop will be open towards the end of December. They have decent boarding space as well as dog play area. The lady I spoke to couldn't tell me much but I suspect they will have some kind of doggie daycare also.
It is a huge pet shop by Macau standard. Check it out if you are in the neighborhood!
I've seen that too, i think it's called DogOneLife. They have the same shop in Causeway Bay in HK, where they offer grooming and membership and other dog-related activities. They also stock a huge variety of imported dog products. I'm looking forward to their opening to check out what's on offer.
See you there!
"Be the change you want to see"
The best guess would be to try any business that comes to your mind as being in demand from the expat part of population. They'll support you.
The problem is, you have to be prepared to do all that pretty much by your own self. Forget about hiring locals, you won't find any.
If you plan to hire foreigners, do it now, before the new labour law is in effect in January. Things don't seem to get easier.
Good luck
Do you know if that DogOneLife has a website?
And what will the new labour laws be in January?
Hi chrudd21ya!
Not sure about the DogOneLife website.
For the labour law, we are having a draft proposal discussed by the Legislative Assembly and the first reading should be out by the beginning of January.
As of today it looks a complete mess, but there is a number of legal experts working on it, so it should finally gain some shape.
We all expect to have some restrictions for foreigners working on "occasional" contracts, as it has been widely discussed loophole in existing law. LA is also talking about cutting down the "temporary contract" deals to just one with one renewal.
The rest of the law (in what concerns small business) is about streamlining of hiring and firing of locals and punishing the employers for non-payment of salaries.
The process of employing the foreigners is still covered with darkness.
I'll probably open a new topic on this forum once the draft of law is out.
Cheers!
www.dogonelife.com
The Macau site is not up yet but the Hong Kong and Taiwan sites are both in Chinese (the Japanese link is in Japanese)
Hopefully they will have English section for the Macau link in the future.
Bluepiggy:
"I really would love to see a shop dedicated to sell quality organic products, fruit and veggies especially"
no food but you have organic products (cosmetics mainly) at www.doubibou.com
otherwise I just recently saw recently some organic milk at San Miu so...
Dunkin Donuts.
I miss the coffees.
Am not a big fan of Starbucks' coffees.
Also would love to see some art workshops where the purpose is not to learn the skills, but to unwind.
http://www.icm.gov.mo/Links/indexE.asp
check out these links, if that's art you like, hope it help