Actually, we should probably title this post, ‘why you should buy local-made products’ and not just Thai products. However, since we live in Thailand and over 32 million tourists expecting to arrive in the country in 2016, this post is focusing on locally-produced Thai products.

Everyone knows that buying local products and supporting local communities is the right thing to do. But why? Here are the benefits to you and the producers.

They are unique

Local products are unique to a specific area, which means that they are often rare to find anywhere else. In Thailand, you will find fruits, vegetables, household items, crafts, pottery and even designer items that are particular to one area.

Ever heard of OTOP? It means One Tambon One Product and it is a program aimed at supporting the locally made and marketed products unique to each Thai Tambon or sub-district.

Keep an eye out on ThaiTambon.com on latest news and events of the OTOP.

They are made with love, sweat and tears

People who create these products, do so with passion. Obviously they also need to make a living but for them profits margins are not important. They aren’t distracted from it so they focus on quality and really put the hard work into it.

Have you ever seen a Thai woman weaving silk the traditional way? Or an old man making a Tuk Tuk replica with aluminum wires? It takes hours if not days.

They are generally better for the environment

Locally-made products, whether in Thailand or anyone else typically means they are create with eco-friendly materials. Mass-production often means that chemicals are being used in massive factories, which can really harm the environment.

Think of food. The more food that is grown organically and locally, less chemicals such as and fertilizers are used, which means they are better for you and the environment.

It’s better for the economy

When you buy local stuff, the money stays in the community. This boosts local economy whereas if you were to spend in internationally-owned or private-owned companies, it boosts exports/imports and more money goes into private pockets.

For an economy to thrive, the money needs to circulate. Not gush outwards to unknown sources. You can read more about this on Time.com

It’s Cheaper

For you as a consumer, it’s a lot cheaper to go to the local producer or seller. Big chain markets and malls slap on excess prices. This is pretty obvious and nothing new but we often tend to forget this. It might not even be our fault especially if you live in the city where there are more shopping malls and supermarkets than local stores. I know that is the case for us so we often choose convenience over everything else.

Partnership with Toojah

Oh and there’s another thing. We’re also announcing a partnership with a local startup company called Toojah, which promotes local artisans and producers who create authentic Thai products. Their goal is to provide a platform  that showcases the talent and skills of these local ‘makers’, while offering them a way to make a living.

Our friends at Toojah aim to provide these authentic Thai products to be easily accessible to travelers, tourists and expats in and out of Thailand.

I mean, isn’t that an amazing business model? Didn’t you ever wish, especially during a short trip, to be able to buy local products without the hassle of looking around helplessly? With Toojah, you don’t have to worry about that plus you know that the products are coming from an authentic, non-mass-created producer. And if you’re in Bangkok, Toojah delivers the gifts within 3 hours! That’s pretty cool!

We absolutely love the concept of Toojah and they have so many times to choose from across several categories such as arts & crafts, silk, food, wellness and Eco-friendly products.

We’re pretty sure we don’t need to convince you anymore as to why you should start considering buying authentic, locally-produced souvenirs.

Disclaimer: some links are part of an affiliate program. Clicking images will take you to Toojah shop website. Any purchase you make provides us with a small commission (which help run this website and fund our travels). However, you are not at all obligated to click or buy.

As always, we only work with brands we trust, believe in and share the same values. We in fact approached the founders of Toojah as we truly believe in their product, mission and values.