We recently had the privilege of interviewing Raad Hossain, an expert in hospitality, and Founder and CEO of Nara Hospitality Co., Ltd. in Thailand, merging his interests in hospitality, trade, tech, and lifestyle. With a deep passion for arts and crafts, he launched Cave Craft Art Studio & Cafe. With his decade-long experience in the hospitality landscape, Raad has created a space at the Cafe that brings together creativity and hospitality, offering joy through hands-on experiences to everyone who visits.
The Beginning
We started the session by asking, “Can you walk us through your professional journey and how it led to where you are today?”
Raad Hossain shared, “I’ve been in the hospitality industry for over a decade, working with everything from boutique concepts to 7-star luxury properties. I founded Nara Hospitality Co., Ltd. in Thailand to bring together my interests in hospitality, trade, tech, and now lifestyle. Cave Craft Art Studio & Cafe is especially close to my heart because of my deep passion for arts and crafts. It’s a space where creativity, mindfulness, and hospitality come together—offering people joy through hands-on experiences.”
Navigating Through Challenges
Challenges are an inevitable part of every business. So, we asked Raad Hossain to share some of the most significant challenges he faced, and how he overcame them.
“One of the biggest challenges has been balancing my diverse interests. Early on, I thought I should focus on one thing at a time, but I soon realized that people are different, and not everyone thrives by narrowing down their focus. I enjoy working on multiple projects at once. The challenge, however, is staying true to the purpose of each while ensuring quality. I overcame this by surrounding myself with a strong team and learning to balance creativity with operations, so I could pursue my passions while leading effectively.” He mentioned.
The Art Of Balancing
We further asked, “How do you balance long-term vision with short-term operational needs?”
Raad Hossain added, “Our long-term vision is to become the world’s best creative space for hands-on workshops, and that guides everything we do. At the same time, I stay flexible and responsive to day-to-day realities. A capable team handles operations, and we constantly encourage experimentation and feedback. Since we’re in the business of creativity, we have to continuously improve—not just in how we operate, but also in the craft itself. That mindset helps us evolve without ever losing sight of our bigger purpose.”
Current Offerings At Cave Craft Art Studio & Cafe
Excited to learn more about the services and fresh additions in the future, we inquired Raad Hossain about the same.
Raad Hossain shared, “We currently offer over 16 DIY workshops—from candle and soap making to perfume blending, resin art, T-shirt printing, bag and mug printing, as well as jewelry crafting like pendants and bracelets. Some are fun and relaxing, while others are more advanced—for instance, our perfume blending workshop features over 160 fragrance oils, which is nearly unheard of in workshop settings across the globe. Guests can walk in anytime and start creating.
We also run mobile workshops for large corporations, schools, birthdays, and special events. In the future, we aim to expand globally by introducing mini extensions of some of our workshops in different countries, so people everywhere can experience the joy of hands-on creativity.”
Assessing Market Dynamics
Interested to learn about the assessment strategies used by Raad Hossain, we posed the question, “What methods do you use to analyze market trends, and how have these influenced your business decisions?”
“I use a mix of direct customer feedback, digital trends, and observation of global DIY and lifestyle movements. Our decision to offer walk-in flexibility and a wide variety of workshops came from seeing that people crave creative freedom and spontaneity. But in a creative field, you also have to trust your instincts. Sometimes you lead, and sometimes you get inspired by others doing amazing work. When you’re already leading in terms of the number and depth of workshops, you have a responsibility to keep improving—not just for yourself, but to raise the standard of DIY craft for everyone. That’s why we keep experimenting, refining, and pushing toward perfection.” Raad explained.
Impact Of Digital Transformation On Business
We asked Raad to share how digital transformation affected his business model.
“Digital transformation has significantly streamlined our operations, from workshop bookings and payments to customer engagement. Social media plays a vital role in how we connect with our audience and showcase our workshops. We’re currently exploring developing our own e-learning platform to make our workshops accessible globally and considering offering DIY kits for people who want to create at home. This approach will allow us to break down geographic barriers and make creativity available to everyone, no matter where they are. Additionally, unlike typically recorded e-learning, our virtual workshops will feature live interactions, allowing participants to connect with instructors in real-time, just as they would in person.” He mentioned.
Potential Technological Trends In The DIY Industry
We also asked, “What emerging technologies do you believe will have the most significant impact on your industry in the next five years?”
Raad Hossain replied, “I believe AI-driven personalization, AR/VR for immersive creativity, and blockchain for authenticating handmade work will be transformative in the DIY industry. These technologies can make crafting more interactive, accessible, and meaningful. However, I also believe that craft will never die—as long as we nurture it. People will always want to create something personal and meaningful for themselves, and technology can simply enhance that timeless desire, rather than replace it.”
Ensuring Employee Satisfaction
Employees are the backbone of any business. So, we asked, “What strategies do you implement to maintain high levels of employee engagement and satisfaction?”
Raad Hossain mentioned, “We foster a warm, inclusive, and creative environment where every team member feels valued and empowered. Everyone is encouraged to express themselves, propose new ideas, and take the lead in workshops. We emphasize respect, understanding, and collaboration, ensuring that all individuals feel safe and accepted. Continuous learning, celebrating small wins, and working together as a team are key to keeping morale high and maintaining a strong sense of community. We focus on passion and respect for arts and crafts, rather than just educational background or certificates, offering opportunities to those who are truly passionate about creativity and craftsmanship.”
Building A Strong Legacy
Lastly, we asked, “How do you want your business to be remembered, and what steps are you taking to secure that legacy?”
“Our vision is to become the world’s best creative space for hands-on workshops. I want the business to be remembered as a place where people feel free to create, express, and connect. We’re working toward that by focusing on quality experiences, thoughtful design, sustainability, and continuous innovation—making sure every visit or interaction with us feels personal and inspiring. The beauty of what we offer is that guests walk away with something they made themselves—something truly one-of-a-kind in the whole wide world.” Raad concluded.
Follow Raad Hossain on LinkedIn.
Find Cave Craft Art Studio & Cafe on their website https://www.cavecraftcafe.com/.
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