The company has garnered a solid reputation as Phuket’s water experts, specialising in water systems installation and servicing; water infrastructure, plumbing, pumps, filtration, wastewater, decorative ponds and swimming pools.
What made you think of starting a business in Phuket?
I opened ESP in 1991 in Bangkok and initially did business all over Thailand including in Phuket. After the Asian economic crisis in 1997, my business activities in Phuket did not stagnate as they had in Bangkok, so I decided to move to Phuket and open an ESP branch office here.
What was your initial investment?
Well, more than it should have been for sure, there of course was some spinning of the wheels. And then during the Asian financial crisis [of 1997] there were some additional re-engineering costs.
On a scale of 1 for “not at all” to 10 for “absolutely”, how has your business developed compared with your initial expectations?
I would say about a seven. This of course took many more years to reach a comfortable level than initially expected.
What was easiest to do in developing your business?
Being an American Amenity Company, not having to have proxies or major Thai shareholders to deal with.
What was most difficult?
Staff training, and the idea of “100 per cent correct the first time” as our goal. Service expectations for Western customers, compared with the realities of capabilities within the Thai labour force.
What do you love/hate
most about what you do?
The only problems I have had have been working with customers who have tried to be their own project
managers when they were not capable or trained to do so. Either that, or customers who had no project manager, which leads to problems.
I have learned that lesson, and am well enough established that I don’t have to make
that mistake again.
How is business right now?
Fine, we have enough service clients to basically pay for all expenses which was a goal when coming to Phuket.
Have you been affected by increasing competition?
How do you counter that?
About 30 per cent of my work is from customers who tried the competition first, so we have to go in and mop up their work. This is sad for the customer, but unfortunately it happens every day in Phuket.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs starting up in Phuket?
Never start a cash business, unless you want to be a slave to your cash register. Expect to spin your wheels at first.
Remember your business training, and be ready for
unconventional business
styles all around you.