COVID-19 has not only had an impact on people’s health, but its ramifications also extend to their ability to “make a living.” It is a given that controlling the spread of disease is a national agenda in which everyone in society must cooperate. Staying in and staying safe for the sake of the country and practicing social distancing have been effective measures to help curb the spread of the disease, resulting in a decrease of infections which have declined steadily to and remained in the single digits. Nevertheless, many businesses have been affected by the pandemic, and many households have seen a decrease in income. Thus, a change in outlook and approach to conducting business is something that every business large or small must learn and find a way to adapt to quickly.
With the belief that “every crisis is an opportunity, and the reward for effort is success,” the Chemicals Business, SCG, has joined forces with local communities in Rayong to overcome this economic crisis together by using Facebook as a platform for an online marketplace under the name “Rayong Shop Hi” for Rayong residents to “Shop, Chill, Sell at Home” in order to take advantage of the quickly growing new normal consumer habit of ordering food and shopping online. This initiative, led by a team of advisors from the Chemicals Business, SCG, brings together over 100 Rayong-based vendors, from local enterprises to community mom-and-pop stores, onto a new platform of commerce, the “Rayong Shop Hi” online marketplace, in order to stimulate the economy and create income for communities in Rayong.
Buy and Sell Whatever You Want!
Fresh food, famous fruits, fabulous finds, and everything in between! Buyers can buy, and sellers can sell a variety of food products from fresh and processed seafoods like dried shredded squid, sun-dried swordfish, chili paste with pork cracklings, and salmon belly; signature fruits from Rayong such as durian and mangosteen; and goods like batik fabric, Thai textiles, and handbags; all the way to automobiles which dealers are offering with great promotions to group members via livestream.
10 recommended vendors on “Rayong Shop Hi”
- Dried Seafood from Rom Ruen Shop, Map Ta Phut Market: For anyone looking to stock up on shelf-stable food items during lockdown, we recommend this shop for its processed seafoods, such as the signature 5-star crab cakes, salmon belly that’s delicious on top of rice whether deep fried or fried with salt and pepper or garlic, and dried shredded squid in a variety of flavors perfect for snacking by yourself or sharing with others.
- Chanee Kai Durian from Krua Baan Petch, Hua Nam Tok: High-quality durians fresh from the orchard, bursting with sweet, creamy flesh—deliciousness guaranteed at a comfortable price point, with the added value of a generous vendor who is always offering deals and promotions, the assurance that durians are freshly cut, and a reminder to enjoy in moderation (no more than two segments daily). Durian is highly nutritious, helps boost metabolism, and is high in vitamin C.
- Mon Thong Durian, Chanee Kai Durian, and Mangosteen from Baan Nam Pen, Khao Chamao District, Pi Lawan Farm, Moo Baan Tulip: Mon Thong and Chanee lovers, don’t miss out this shop selling sweet, creamy durians harvested from mature trees. You can select fruit at your preferred level of ripeness, from crisp to chewy, guaranteed delicious by customer testimonials. This shop also offers fresh mangosteen harvested daily from orchards, bursting with fluffy sweet and sour flesh.
- Golden Nam Dok Mai Mangoes from the Local Stall Near the Entrance to Orchard 80, Hua Nam Tok Road, Map Ta Phut: Huge fruits fresh from the trees with resplendent golden skin and sweet, mellow flavor that are equally delicious on their own or with sticky coconut rice. Customers say that these “sweet mangoes bigger than the palm of your hands are guaranteed to hit the spot,” all at an affordable price point and even delivery service. Ripe mangoes are highly nutritious and help with digestion.
- Salak Sumalee from Khun Prasong’s Orchard, Yai Dum, Taphong District: Beat the heat this summer with farm-fresh salak full of flesh and flavor. For those who enjoy salak in syrup, theirs is a must-try. Sweet sour in flavor and seeded for convenience, this fleshy fruit is a pleasure to enjoy on ice as a thirst quencher in the summer heat. Salak is full of antioxidants and helps to improve immunity, reduce thirst, and hydrate the body.
- Chili Paste with Shrimp or Pork Crackling from E Jay, Map Kha: A must-try for spice lovers, this shop offers both shrimp chili paste and chili paste with pork crackling. What makes theirs a standout product is that the pork cracklings retain their fresh crispiness without going rancid. Seasoned pork cracklings are also available for the perfect snack.
- Desserts from Baan Khon Wan, Nern Payom Community: For those who are looking for a little sweetness in their lives, this shop offers a little bit of everything, from sticky rice with mango, durian, and various other toppings to even mango sticky rice in the form of cake. The sticky rice here is made fresh daily and with only natural colors. Their coconut jelly cake is not only a unique masterpiece in appearance but also fragrant with coconut milk and fresh coconut water. And finally, the santol is deliciously sour and spicy with toppings like sweet fish sauce and shrimp paste.
- Flower Coconut Jelly from Waan Wilai, Baan Plong, Map Ta Phut: Guaranteed to make dessert lovers smile with their boxes full of colorful flower-shaped coconut jelly, sweet and mellow and made fresh daily with no additives like flour, gelatin, or preservatives. The jelly can be stored for 3-5 days in a refrigerator for a satisfyingly cold dessert on a hot day. Not only delicious but also beautiful, it can be the perfect snack for yourself or a gift for others.
- Indigo and Salt-Water Dyed Fabric from the Taan Batik Community Enterprise: For fans of clothes made from naturally dyed fabrics, Taan Batik combines the local wisdom of Baan Chang, Rayong province in traditional indigo dyeing with the characteristic “Flying Swans” pattern that is found on the gable of Wat Lum temple in Rayong by adapting it into a fabric design using dyes from natural sources local to the region like mangosteen and monkey fruit to add uniqueness to the products, making them perfect as gifts, souvenirs, or outfits for the whole family.
- “Chalud” Cloth Bags from the Map Chalud Community Enterprise: These eye-catching cloth bags with beautiful designs handmade by the Map Chalud community are must-haves, with their compact size and pleasing shapes. Made from linen and cotton with water-resistant lining on the inside, these one-of-a-kind bags come in a variety of designs that you won’t be able to resist, from wallets and makeup bags to shoulder bags, backpacks, and tote bags.
These are only some of the locally made products available. There are many more items to be discovered and desired, delivered straight from the community to anywhere in the country. You can support any shops that catch your eye on the “Rayong Shop Hi” Facebook Page, an online marketplace that brings together a wide variety of local specialties from Rayong on a platform consistent with the new normal lifestyle to help stimulate the economy and circulate income during the Covid-19 crisis. “Stay home for the country; shop online for the community.”
