online business?
Jun 2nd 2016, 7:00 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2016
Location: Wallasey
Posts: 10
online business?
Hi all,
I'm hoping that in 2-3 years my wife and I will be in a position to retire and relocate to the hills north east of Malaga. I'm thinking of starting an on-line business, serving the UK. The business would be purely by phone and internet. Does anyone have any experience of such a venture, or thoughts on major drawbacks?
Thanks,
Andy
I'm hoping that in 2-3 years my wife and I will be in a position to retire and relocate to the hills north east of Malaga. I'm thinking of starting an on-line business, serving the UK. The business would be purely by phone and internet. Does anyone have any experience of such a venture, or thoughts on major drawbacks?
Thanks,
Andy
Jun 2nd 2016, 10:02 pm
#2
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2
Re: online business?
Hi Andy, I'm also from your neck of the woods and I'm also in a similar position to you (in the process of moving to Malaga).
I've ran an online sweet shop specialising in importing American candy to the UK and selling it. Depending what you're trying to sell online it depends if you can make a sustainable income. You need to have a good markup on the product to cover the price of shipping from Spain to the UK, that's what got me when international customers bought my products - it was heart breaking to charge so much to ship them an item that may of cost less than shipping. It can be fun, but also challenging.
I'm actually a web developer/online marketer so initial cost were not very much for me to setup my business. However, I suggest a good budget to provide on-going marketing online to generate new customers.
If you're doing phone orders, I suggest buying a virtual Skype number for about £3 a month, you can even buy a local number such as a 0151 from Skype number that will forward to your mobile/computer. That way costs from UK customers to you in Spain is kept at a local landline call.
Feel free to ask any questions I maybe able to help with.
I've ran an online sweet shop specialising in importing American candy to the UK and selling it. Depending what you're trying to sell online it depends if you can make a sustainable income. You need to have a good markup on the product to cover the price of shipping from Spain to the UK, that's what got me when international customers bought my products - it was heart breaking to charge so much to ship them an item that may of cost less than shipping. It can be fun, but also challenging.
I'm actually a web developer/online marketer so initial cost were not very much for me to setup my business. However, I suggest a good budget to provide on-going marketing online to generate new customers.
If you're doing phone orders, I suggest buying a virtual Skype number for about £3 a month, you can even buy a local number such as a 0151 from Skype number that will forward to your mobile/computer. That way costs from UK customers to you in Spain is kept at a local landline call.
Feel free to ask any questions I maybe able to help with.
Jun 2nd 2016, 10:04 pm
#3
MODERATOR
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Costa Valencia
Posts: 14,800
Re: online business?
Hi Andy, I'm also from your neck of the woods and I'm also in a similar position to you (in the process of moving to Malaga).
I've ran an online sweet shop specialising in importing American candy to the UK and selling it. Depending what you're trying to sell online it depends if you can make a sustainable income. You need to have a good markup on the product to cover the price of shipping from Spain to the UK, that's what got me when international customers bought my products - it was heart breaking to charge so much to ship them an item that may of cost less than shipping. It can be fun, but also challenging.
I'm actually a web developer/online marketer so initial cost were not very much for me to setup my business. However, I suggest a good budget to provide on-going marketing online to generate new customers.
If you're doing phone orders, I suggest buying a virtual Skype number for about £3 a month, you can even buy a local number such as a 0151 from Skype number that will forward to your mobile/computer. That way costs from UK customers to you in Spain is kept at a local landline call.
Feel free to ask any questions I maybe able to help with.
I've ran an online sweet shop specialising in importing American candy to the UK and selling it. Depending what you're trying to sell online it depends if you can make a sustainable income. You need to have a good markup on the product to cover the price of shipping from Spain to the UK, that's what got me when international customers bought my products - it was heart breaking to charge so much to ship them an item that may of cost less than shipping. It can be fun, but also challenging.
I'm actually a web developer/online marketer so initial cost were not very much for me to setup my business. However, I suggest a good budget to provide on-going marketing online to generate new customers.
If you're doing phone orders, I suggest buying a virtual Skype number for about £3 a month, you can even buy a local number such as a 0151 from Skype number that will forward to your mobile/computer. That way costs from UK customers to you in Spain is kept at a local landline call.
Feel free to ask any questions I maybe able to help with.
Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.
Please let me know if you need any further help.
Rosemary
Jun 3rd 2016, 6:04 pm
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2016
Location: Wallasey
Posts: 10
Re: online business?
Hi Andy, I'm also from your neck of the woods and I'm also in a similar position to you (in the process of moving to Malaga).
I've ran an online sweet shop specialising in importing American candy to the UK and selling it. Depending what you're trying to sell online it depends if you can make a sustainable income. You need to have a good markup on the product to cover the price of shipping from Spain to the UK, that's what got me when international customers bought my products - it was heart breaking to charge so much to ship them an item that may of cost less than shipping. It can be fun, but also challenging.
I'm actually a web developer/online marketer so initial cost were not very much for me to setup my business. However, I suggest a good budget to provide on-going marketing online to generate new customers.
If you're doing phone orders, I suggest buying a virtual Skype number for about £3 a month, you can even buy a local number such as a 0151 from Skype number that will forward to your mobile/computer. That way costs from UK customers to you in Spain is kept at a local landline call.
Feel free to ask any questions I maybe able to help with.
I've ran an online sweet shop specialising in importing American candy to the UK and selling it. Depending what you're trying to sell online it depends if you can make a sustainable income. You need to have a good markup on the product to cover the price of shipping from Spain to the UK, that's what got me when international customers bought my products - it was heart breaking to charge so much to ship them an item that may of cost less than shipping. It can be fun, but also challenging.
I'm actually a web developer/online marketer so initial cost were not very much for me to setup my business. However, I suggest a good budget to provide on-going marketing online to generate new customers.
If you're doing phone orders, I suggest buying a virtual Skype number for about £3 a month, you can even buy a local number such as a 0151 from Skype number that will forward to your mobile/computer. That way costs from UK customers to you in Spain is kept at a local landline call.
Feel free to ask any questions I maybe able to help with.
Regards,
Andy
Jun 3rd 2016, 6:07 pm
#5
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2
Re: online business?
Even better then! Familiarise yourself with Google Ads, Bing Ads or even Facebook Ads if it fits with your business model, get some coupons for when you have your website setup and have a go yourself with free coupons. Advertising using these sources is great to gain new customers.
Learn as much as you can, because you'll have web agencies charging you an arm and a leg for stuff that can be achieved yourself.
Good luck with it!
Learn as much as you can, because you'll have web agencies charging you an arm and a leg for stuff that can be achieved yourself.
Good luck with it!
