Business. People often think that the word "business" means a factory or a company. However, business actually means activities including labour, purchasing and sales. Therefore, business is something that is already in the community. It is close to us. Many people make a living from selling. Even though many are not considered sales people, selling is part of their daily life. Farmers sell lychee to the sales people from factories. Hill Tribe people sell jewelry to tourists. All of these are businesses. To differentiate between companies and factories and the type of businesses described above, they are called "community business". Community businesses are small businesses, which use small amounts of funds and simple technologies, and where people in the community can be the owners, by working as a group to provide power in sales. This provides more benefits to the people involved than working as labour does.
When thinking of community businesses for Hill Tribe people, existing main and alternative occupations should be considered as a base. From this base, add methods and techniques which will not confuse the Hill Tribe people, to turn it into a simple business, so that there are higher standards. Point out the good and bad points of the business.
An important reason in developing community business with Hill Tribe people is to prepare the Hill Tribe people for globalization, whereby the trend is to associate economics with everything. This trend affects all communities, including Hill Tribe communities. Therefore Hill Tribe people should know, and prepare themselves to convert somethings which may be a hindrance into an opportunity. As the saying goes "change the crisis into an opportunity".
Things that must considered when deciding on doing a business;
The market. The market has a high need for that product. There is not enough of the product available on the market. Acceptance by the community. There is a gap in the market and it is possible to increase the market significantly.
Have experience. Have knowledge of how to do it. Has been passed down through the families by grandparents. Have expertise.
Have raw materials or have a lot of product in the local area. Something of which there is a lot of in the local area, which can be used, which can be used differently. Develop it, process it, and sell it. For example, in a community that makes furniture from Teak wood, there are many small pieces of wood left over. These can be carved into small wooden animals to be sold.
There is an opportunity or gap for the business. For example it is close to the market, close to a tourism site, have recevied support or funds from the government or NGO.
Study and gain knowledge in topics that you are interested in and want to follow. Find news, information, resource centres or places of knowledge.
In the case of working as a group, consult and brainstorm within the group.
Request support or ideas from people with knowledge in the village or community.
Invite people with knowledge and experience to introduce or provide ideas, or have them act as consultant for the group.
Find new knowledge or information outside of the community. Go on study tours to other villages or to successful groups
Request support from the Government or NGO. Ask for support to increase knowledge, workshops, study tours etc.
Prepare the area, tools, materials, work system, techniques, and decide on the roles and responsibility of people in the group.
Trial the activity, observe, note and learn from the experience. Determine the problems, analyse them and find methods to solve them.
In the first stages, start small, as you have little experience, then if it doesn't work out or if there are problems, the losses are not large. If there are good results, then increase the business.
The needs of the market. What the market likes, what sells well, why it sells well
What the current trends are, what the trends will be like in the future. How the product is accepted, how long it is accepted. How often the market is, if it is once or if it is consistent.
The market, or other selling places for the product
Where the raw materials can be found. If there are not enough, where they can be obtained from, from which communities.
Places that sell the materials, equipment and tools
Places for knowledge, people who can be experts or provide knowledge, places for study tours
Place which provide support such as workshops or funds
Personal funds
Money borrowed from the Credit Union
Money borrowed from the Bank
Money combined from all members of the group
Money combined from members of the group and the Credit Union
Money borrowed from the Government or NGO
Money supported by the Government, INGO or funder
