kevd

Hello all.
I have been reading all the helpful advice etc on this forum so maybe some one can help.
1. Where is the best place to open a cycle shop including bike hire or maybe organized cycle tours in spain?
2. where in your opinion would this work?
We are learning spanish at the moment and our daughter who works in GIB. is fluent in spanish
We have had our uk flat valued but would have to use the proceeds to set the business up and find somewhere to buy or rent to live.
Our daughter lives near Estepona and we could use this as a base to live temporarily .

We have a good knowledge of the costas and ballearics as we,ve travelled by campervan all the way down and round to cadiz eventually going over to the canaries by boat.
My wife is a palliative care nurse.but would be willing to consider any other work.
I,m sorry if this has been a bit long winded.
But please any help would be appreciated.
Many Thanks. Kevin

silverchick

I would think anywhere that has areas of National parkland would be suitable?So people can dump the cars and go for a bikeride. We intend too buy bikes as soon as we can out there to explore our new territory!

jeanc

Hi kevd, I'm another shiefielder where abouts are you? Think silverchick is right, if your near a national park then you're going to get people who like the out doors. But you'd have to check out the competition

Mitzyboy

Interesting idea. The Spaniards are cycling mad as you probably know. From what you say you won't have the cash to maybe, say, combine it with some land puchase and accomodation for the cyclers? That would be a great idea, log cabins a little inland somewhere ......

silverchick

That would be a fantastic Idea, especially if you linked it to 'green' issues, did i.e solar heated cabins etc. there are so many people now concerned with their carbon inprint on the world you'd be inundated!

mikelincs

Quite a few bike hire companies round here, hire out the bikes, and deliver and collect them.

pablosho

Hi KevD
Just an idea and may be a rubbish one but here goes anyway. Chiclana (Costa de la luz) About 2000 expats live in and around the area, the spanish holiday there all through the summer and with the great length of La Barrosa beach many people might be interested in hiring bikes to cycle to the beach rather than take the car.
I am sure the good expat people of Chiclana will give it a or a accordingly.
Cheers

Mercedes

Hi Kevin

If you are thinking of living near your daughter, why not spend a bit of time in the area and get to know it well, before parting with any money. Join a few clubs in the areas and get a feel for it and some of the problems people are encounting and where they get their bits and pieces from etc. By going to other clubs yourself etc you will start to know what the problems are and the needs of people. I think it is probably too early for you to buy this shop until you have lived in an area and got to know what people want etc. Also check out each area you are looking at and see what the competition is like and how good their service is, again you may find a niche. I personally wouldn't spend any money until you have done a through research of the competitors and what they have to offer, and I wouldn't part with any money until I had been living in a place for at least a year to get an idea whether it would be a good idea or not.

If your daughter is working although she speaks spanish, she may not always be available to help you if you have customers who are spanish or dealing with suppliers etc. It is tough enough setting up a business in your own country without having the language barrier on top.

Its a good idea but you have to do more research and see what is around, so that involves looking in yellow pages and maybe joining a few clubs to ge to know what any complaints are or what people want.

kevd

Hi JeanC i,m from hillsborough,Sheffield.
But hopefully moving to spain asap if it all works out o.k.

kevd

Thanks for all the advice given.
We are hopefully going over to the estepona area for approx 3weeks early in June so will do some more research .As i call it a (RECCIE MISSION)
We love the spanish way of life after visiting many times.
My wife is still dubious about it all though ,scared of the change!
All the kids are now grown up but still trying to convince her that they would be only 2 hours away to visit one another.
Am i right in understanding that if both parties are not 100% certain it would not work moving out to Spain.What do you think?
I personally would be willing to lick the floors clean (only joking) to live the Spanish way of life.
But if my wife is not 100% sure am i flogging a dead horse so to speak?
Anyway thanks again for your help .Kev

MnM

Hi Kevin and a warm welcome from me too

I would make sure your wife wanted to make the move as much as yourself otherwise the results could be devastating.

There's a famous quote I live by:

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction.
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Best of luck
Martha

Bigbhudda69

The little prince..??

rugbymatt

Thats nice, Mine is....

"Dont eat yellow snow!"


Oh and welcome Kevin.

MnM

Are we hijacking AGAIN??????

Ummmmmmmm and as far as snow is concerned......well, you'll have quite a number of months to worry about that one

rugbymatt

I actually said hello so officially no!!