Re: One year on - Our update.
 

Matt next time have the signs made on a solid material like board or steel plate or plastic as you know those made of paper screw up easily :p

Re: One year on - Our update.
 

Wonderful post ...wish you all the best in 2009 :thumbup:

Re: One year on - Our update.
 

You only sell to expats? Worth finding someone Spanish to help you find more work then...seems an obvious avenue if work in English only is scarce & you may find it's not a closed shop if they think you are actually making an effort to sell to them.

Re: One year on - Our update.
 

I know, I know, I'm ashamed of my poo Spanish but I am trying to learn. It's just not that easy. I am also always on the look out for someone to either 'front' for me or simply to sell on my services.
I do think though that there are enough English speaking potential customers out there to tide me over, what I do is so much more than just signs.

Re: One year on - Our update.
 

Great Story, Really informative. I'm thinking of moving to Spain myself with my family at the end of the year a lot of the questions I have been asking myself you have answered! Cheers!

I've just started another forum in regards to nursery schools for my 3 & 6month year old children so I'm hoping for some positive feedback.

The best of luck with your business & I really sincerely hope you all the good fortune in the world! :thumbup:

CharlieB

Re: One year on - Our update.
 

Splatt thank you. (as someone who is making the move in a couple of months it is reassuring you are so positive. Well done)

Re: One year on - Our update.
 

thanks for the honest post
its really good not to hear the grass is always greener but an honest view of how it is
stick with it its getting really bad back in the uk always seem to hear of businesses going under at least you have the sun!!

good luck

Re: One year on - Our update.
 

Thanks for the recent comments, and if there are any questions you would like honestly answered please feel free to contact me by PM, email or phone (it's easy enough to find these things out...).

To be honest it's not been that sunny for the past few months, a ray of sunshine here and there but predominantly howling wind at the mo. Still a good ten degrees warmer than blighty though!

For those of you making the move this year, by jingo there are some bargain properties to be had now, especially the repos. And I think we could also see a return to the 1.20´s soon on the exchange rate.

On the business front I had an absolutely dire January, 100€ a week if I was lucky, but now suddenly I seem to be beating customers off with a stick! The first week of Feb brought in more than all January.
It's unfortunate but I guess that for every two businesses closing down there is at least one that (for better or worse) takes it's place.

For some weird reason I seem to be detecting a ray of optimism here at the moment too. Those that have survived so far are reporting a little surge, which can't be bad for Feb.

Let's just hope it's not the storm before the calm!

Ste.

Re: One year on - Our update.
 

Great to hear business is picking up for you now. Long may it continue! On a sidenote, how are you finding Moraira? It's one of the locations (as well as Javea and Calpe) we're considering for a holiday property purchase and then longer term full-time living.

Re: One year on - Our update.
 

Hi Splatt, we are in business in Spain as well, 9 years this year :unsure: nice to see some one else that finds life similar to us, It's not better or worse but it sure is different. :thumbup: We always get a pre Easter rush then it settle's down a bit until the pre August rush were every ones tying to get jobs done before the August shut down. We have found that no one wants to get any stock in, in July :mad: which can be a right pain.
Of course it's going to depend on your type of business but I would not be put off by not doing to much Spanish, if the price is right :blink: put an add in the yellow pages, it's not just the Spanish that use it & if they want the work done you will communicate :thumbsup:
I still find putting orders in over the phone 'challenging' but I usually receive what I wanted :cool:
Remember don't under price your self out of business, customers will always want quality work, hang in there & build you reputation its worth the battle. :thumbup: We have seen lots of cowboys already disappeared, sure they will be back when the going gets easy again, but meanwhile we are seen to be here remaining in business.