Process of opening a clothing store in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia from AZ (2025)




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- 1. Advantages of opening fashion stores in Southeast Asian countries
- 2. The development of the fashion industry in Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia
- 3. Challenges when opening a clothing store abroad
- 4. Requirements to open a local brand store/establish a fashion store in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia
- 5. Detailed 5-step process to open a fashion store in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia
- 6. How does GLA support businesses to set up fashion stores in Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia?
- 7. Frequently asked questions about opening fashion stores in Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia
Opening a fashion store in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia is an exciting opportunity, but it also comes with many challenges. Competitive markets, complex regulations and understanding the needs of local consumers are all issues that businesses need to face when starting a business in the fashion industry.
In the article below, GLA will point out the opportunities and challenges when opening clothing stores in Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia, thereby helping businesses achieve their business goals when building local brands abroad.
1. Advantages of opening fashion stores in Southeast Asian countries
Opening fashion stores in Southeast Asian countries: Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, etc. brings significant benefits to businesses. Here are some key advantages when opening a fashion store in Southeast Asian countries:
Potential market
- Young population: Southeast Asia has a young population with a high proportion of potential consumers, especially in the fashion sector.
- Rising middle class: A growing economy promotes the growth of the middle class, leading to high demand for quality fashion products.
- Fashion trends: The demand for diverse fashion styles, from popular to high-end, creates conditions for many business models to develop.
Competitive advantage
- Cost: Labor, production and operating costs are lower than in developed countries.
- Infrastructure development: Transportation, logistics and payment systems are increasingly perfect, supporting effective business operations.
- Opportunity to access new markets: Easy to penetrate neighboring markets in the region.
- E-commerce platform: is growing strongly, opening up opportunities to reach large customers.
Opportunity for diversification
- Expanding the market to Southeast Asian countries helps businesses diversify income sources and minimize risks.
- Access to the latest fashion trends and regional innovations.
In short, opening fashion stores in Southeast Asian countries brings many great advantages and development opportunities for businesses. However, to be successful, businesses need to understand the local market, meet the needs of target customers and take advantage of appropriate sales channels.
2. The development of the fashion industry in Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia
Fashion industry in Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia: Strong growth and great potential.
Thailand:
- The fashion industry in Thailand is growing strongly with a diverse picture of brands and styles. Bangkok is considered the leading fashion shopping center in Southeast Asia.
- Thailand is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.
- Growing domestic consumer demand, especially for high-quality products and services, is driving the development of shopping malls and retail stores.
- The Thai government is implementing many policies to attract foreign investment, improve the business environment and promote innovation.
- Thailand is an open economy, participating in many Free Trade Agreements (WITH 14 FTAs), facilitating import and export and attracting investment.
Singapore:
- Singapore is famous for its modernity and creativity in fashion, with many high-end fashion stores and strong support from the government with many business support policies, creating a favorable and attractive business environment. Foreign investment.
- Singapore is located in a favorable geographical location, the center of connection between Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. Singapore's seaport and international airport are leading transportation hubs in the region.
- Singapore is a leader in its free, open and stable market economy
- High-end fashion hub: Singapore focuses on the high-end fashion segment, attracting luxury brands from around the world.
- Growing e-commerce platform: The online fashion industry in Singapore is booming, providing many choices for consumers and driving revenue growth.
- Interest in sustainable fashion: Demand for sustainable fashion products is increasing, promoting the development of brands and designers pursuing this direction.
Cambodia:
- Although the fashion industry in Cambodia is still new, the country is becoming a new destination for famous fashion brands.
- Cambodia is strategically located in Southeast Asia, connecting to major markets such as Thailand, Vietnam and China. This is an advantage for businesses wishing to export goods from Cambodia to other markets.
- Cambodia has the second youngest population in Southeast Asia.
- Cambodia's tourism industry is growing strongly, attracting a large number of international tourists.
- Development potential: The fashion retail industry in Cambodia is on the rise with the rise of the middle class and consumer demand.
- Appearance of young designers: The Cambodian fashion industry is witnessing the emergence of talented young designers, bringing a new breeze to the market.
- The Cambodian government has many preferential investment policies to attract foreign investment capital. Foreign investors enjoy many incentives such as tax exemption, tax reduction, and administrative procedure support.
The fashion industry in Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia is growing strongly with much potential. These countries are making efforts to improve product quality, diversify styles and develop export markets. Therefore, this is a promising and potential market for foreign businesses and investors when opening clothing stores in Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia.
3. Challenges when opening a clothing store abroad
Opening a clothing store abroad is a great opportunity to reach new markets and international customers. However, this also poses a series of significant challenges that businesses need to face. Let's take a look at the challenges when establishing a local brand abroad:
Understanding the local market
- Grasp the fashion trends, preferences and needs of local consumers.
- Research culture and customs to adjust products and services accordingly.
- Research competitors to build an effective overseas clothing store business strategy.
Legal barriers
- Comply with local import, trading and tax regulations.
- Apply for business license and related documents.
- Understand labor and environmental regulations.
Logistics issues
- Manage supply chain effectively to ensure stable supply.
- Choose the right shipping method to ensure products reach customers quickly and intact.
- Resolve issues related to customs procedures.
High operating costs
- The cost of premises, labor, taxes and other expenses are higher than in the country.
- Fluctuating exchange rates can affect profits.
- Higher marketing and branding costs.
Difficulty in management
- Managing a store remotely can be difficult.
- Cultural and language differences can lead to misunderstandings in communication.
- Difficulty in recruiting and training local staff.
Risks
- Market, political, economic and social risks in the host country.
- Exchange rate risk.
- Competitive risks.
In the process of facing these challenges, GLA will always be a reliable partner to provide advice and support to businesses when opening fashion stores abroad. With extensive experience and understanding of the international market, GLA will help businesses overcome risks and optimize business opportunities abroad, support company establishment and provide comprehensive tax consulting effectively. Contact GLA to receive the best support in the process of establishing a fashion store abroad.
4. Requirements to open a local brand store/establish a fashion store in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia
Below are the basic requirements to open a fashion store with a local brand (Local Brand) or establish a fashion store in Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia:
- Register business, get business license in Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia.
- Tax declaration to the authorities tax in Singapore, Thai tax and Cambodia.
- Apply for necessary licenses and certificates: including local approval, fire safety certificate, and other certificates depending on the type of business product such as: Product quality certificate, certificate of origin of goods, trademark registration license, etc.
- Register with the Customs Authority, in case the Enterprise intends to import clothing and fabrics, it is necessary to register with the customs authority to carry out import procedures.
- Sign up GST tax in Singapore, VAT in Thailand and GST/VAT consulting support, preparation of legal GST/VAT returns.
- Prepare Financial statements and reports need to be submitted annually to Singapore companies, Thailand and Cambodia.
- Complying with the above requirements is very important to ensure that your fashion business activities are carried out legally and smoothly in the countries of Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia.
Contact GLA for consulting support when opening a fashion store in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia. GLA is an organization specializing in providing consulting and business support services in Southeast Asia, ready to support you with all questions and requests related to opening a fashion store.
5. Detailed 5-step process to open a fashion store in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia
The first and most important step in the journey to successfully opening a fashion store in Thailand, Singapore or Cambodia is thorough market research. This helps businesses identify the right target market, grasp current fashion trends and predict future trends, and understand competitors to find a point of difference for their brand.
- Identify your target market: Businesses need to clearly identify the customers they want to target. Consider factors such as age, gender, income, interests and lifestyle to create a clear portrait of your target customers.
- Analyzing current fashion trends and predicting future trends: is essential to ensure that the Company's products are always updated and attractive to customers.
- Research your competitors and find a point of differentiation: Understanding your competitors is key to creating a point of differentiation and attracting customers.
- Research their products, prices, marketing strategies, and customer service. From there, businesses can identify strengths and weaknesses and look for opportunities to differentiate themselves when building a local brand abroad.
Choosing the right business model is an important decision that affects the success of a fashion store. Here are three popular business models:
- High end or low end fashion store?
- Specialize in one brand or multiple brands?
- Sell online or combine both online and offline? If your business decides to sell e-commerce products, you should consider setting up a Singapore company first and take advantage of tax incentives, bank accounts, and payment gateways to penetrate Thailand, Cambodia, and other target markets.
Businesses should carefully consider factors such as investment capital, products, target markets, management capabilities, etc. before making a decision.
1. Learn about the legal regulations for establishing a fashion company in the country the Business chooses.
This is the first and most important step when establishing a company abroad. Businesses need to carefully study the legal regulations on company establishment of the chosen country, including:
- Choose your business type
- Learn about the conditions of establishment, registration procedures, etc.
- Rent office address in country of establishment
- Hire a designated director and secretary.
Businesses can refer to information on government websites or business support organizations or contact GLA for detailed consulting support.
2. Prepare business registration documents.
Business registration documents usually include the following documents:
- Application for company registration.
- Company charter.
- List of shareholders/founding members.
- Personal identification documents of shareholders/founding members.
- Charter capital.
- Documents proving head office address.
3. Submit your application and complete the registration process.
After preparing all the documents, the Enterprise needs to submit the documents to the business registration authority of the country that the Enterprise has determined. The registration procedure usually takes a few days or a few weeks to complete.
4. Requirements to open a fashion store in Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand
In addition to the necessary documents, Enterprises need to meet other conditions when establishing a fashion store abroad:
- Minimum investment capital.
- Shareholders.
- Local Director.
- Office address.
Depending on the country that the Enterprise chooses when establishing a fashion business, the above requirements will be different according to the regulations of each country.
Establishing a company is an important step in the process of opening a fashion store abroad. Complying with legal regulations and preparing complete documents will help fashion businesses complete the registration procedure quickly and smoothly.
- Choosing a reputable bank that suits your business needs: First of all, businesses need to choose a reputable bank that suits their business needs. Popular and trusted banks in Southeast Asia include: OCBC , UOB, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, etc.
- Prepare documents according to bank requirements: Each bank will have specific requirements for documents needed to open a business account. This may include identification documents, business license, copy of lease agreement, and other relevant documents. Prepare documents carefully and completely to avoid obstacles in the account opening process.
- Submit application and complete bank account opening procedure
Through this step, the Enterprise will have a corporate bank account opened, helping to manage finances and business transactions in the fashion industry (e-commerce) conveniently and effectively.
GLA will advise and support businesses. open a corporate bank account, consulting on international payment solutions suitable to the needs and goals of the Enterprise.
To ensure that your business is conducted legally and avoids breaking the law, tax filing and compliance with tax regulations are extremely important. Here are some steps you can take to ensure tax compliance:
- Fully declaring and paying taxes according to regulations helps avoid legal risks and possible negative consequences.
- Hire accounting services or do tax declaration yourself: If the Enterprise does not have enough capacity or knowledge about accounting and tax, the Enterprise can hire professional accounting services to support in tax declaration.
- Always update the tax regulations of the host country: Tax laws are constantly changing and updated, so businesses need to monitor and update the tax regulations of the host country. This helps ensure that businesses always comply with the latest regulations and avoid unnecessary errors.
GLA is a unit specializing in providing consulting and support services. corporate accounting tax in Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, etc. GLA has a team of experienced specialists ready to support businesses with all issues related to tax declaration and business accounting. Contact GLA today to receive the best support!
6. How does GLA support businesses to set up fashion stores in Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia?
GLA provides comprehensive support services for businesses setting up fashion stores in Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia, including:
- Legal advice, supporting fashion businesses to understand legal regulations related to company establishment, business registration, intellectual property, etc.
- Market consulting, providing information about the fashion market in the country the business wants to establish, including trends, competitors, distribution channels, etc.
- Support businesses to establish companies in Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia operating in the fashion industry including preparing documents, completing business registration procedures and establishing companies in the host country.
- Support Enterprises in applying for necessary business licenses, including business licenses, work permits, etc
- Support Enterprise search Office and store rental locations suitable for opening a clothing store, including location, area, price, etc
- Consulting and supporting businesses Open a foreign bank account in Singapore, Mỹ, Hong Kong, Thailand, etc. and international payment gateways: PayPal, Stripe
- Support businesses in fulfilling their accounting and tax obligations according to the law.
With a comprehensive and professional service, GLA is a reputable partner helping businesses successfully establish fashion stores in Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia.
7. Frequently asked questions about opening fashion stores in Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia
1. Why should you open a clothing store in Thailand, Singapore or Cambodia?
The fashion market in these countries is growing rapidly, providing many business opportunities for Enterprises wishing to do business in the fashion sector.
2. Which location should I choose to open a fashion store in Thailand/Singapore/Cambodia?
You should choose a location that has:
- High traffic.
- Suitable for target market.
- Reasonable rental price.
3. What is the average cost to open a fashion store in Singapore, Thailand or Cambodia?
Costs vary depending on factors such as location, size and style of store.
Accordingly, the cost of renting a physical store in Singapore is relatively high compared to the rental cost level in Thailand and Cambodia. Businesses should conduct a thorough cost analysis before starting the process, or consider doing e-commerce business before renting a physical store.
4. How long does it take to set up a fashion store in Thailand, Singapore or Cambodia?
The time may vary depending on the complexity of the setup process, regulations and other factors. Businesses should contact GLA for support and detailed advice on the time it takes to open a fashion store in Thailand, Singapore or Cambodia.

- Opening fashion stores in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, etc. helps expand international customers and develop revenue and brand.
- Opening a company in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia is a requirement to open a fashion store in these countries.
- Finding a unit that supports the establishment of a foreign company to open a full-package fashion store like GLA helps businesses feel secure in developing their fashion business expertise in compliance with foreign legal regulations.

This article was published by GLA on 18/03/2024. Copyright and accompanying content are intellectual property of GLA. All rights reserved.
The guidance and content are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific guidance and advice on accounting, tax, legal or other professional advice. Readers should consult professional advisors on specific issues.