Silly question !!
 

Why are business people complaining about lack of income and yet they are making little effort to be found?

Everyone knows how hard it is to make a business work, but Please, "no pain, no gain".

Ex pats and locals alike, would like to know where they can find suppliers and services local to them. So WHY do the businesses not let them know where they are?

Everyone can complain that the world is giving them a hard time but it takes real people to stand up and be counted.

If you read through many threads on here, there are many people asking where to find services or suppliers....WHY.

If these businesses want to be found, stop complaining that life in Spain is hard, do something about it.

When people ask, "where is a plumber" How do I find this", "Find it for me", they are asking for assistance. Instead of complaining about the monthly costs of running a business in Spain, let these people know where you are.....Everyone wins...

Re: Silly question !!
 

If you ask the Spanish, in particular, they will respond "why, everyone knows where I am and what I do"

Re: Silly question !!
 

All the good stuff in Spain is found by word of mouth. Even the best places to eat never advertise themselves. For that reason, it is actually pretty hard to get involved in Spanish society as an outsider. It would be much easier if you go to an office everyday or have Spanish friends and family.

Just look at the interent. There is very little information on the internet compared to in English and this is despite well over half the country having internet access.

There is still a sense of community in many places in Spain and for that reason perhaps they dont reach out and advertise themselves to the virtual community.

Re: Silly question !!
 

But do they??? Even when they are in a back street or out of the way.

I have heard the Spanish complain about the monthly payments but not as much as the English and the German. But, I have never heard them complaining about their advertising bill going up?

There are many people who are looking for good tradesmen and good suppliers, Why do these people not want to be found?

This is why I entitled this thread. "Silly question"

Re: Silly question !!
 

I have to agree with the "sense of community" and I must admit, this is one of the best reasons to live in Spain. But, there are multi lingual sites, that are there for everyone, if they choose to use them.

Being accepted into Spanish society is relatively easy, if you are genuine and patient.

Saying this, the "virtual community" is not only the future, it is the present. If we can't lead by understanding, how can anyone follow?

Anyway, regardless of the Spanish ideas, I wish the English would stop whinging and do something about it, this is not a bus stop, you don't have to wait your turn!

Re: Silly question !!
 

Because the attitude is that good tradespeople are always busy, so if someone has to advertise then maybe you cant trust them...

Spanish people are very mistrustful about capitalism you know ;)

My wife is thinking of a marketing campaign at the moment for her business and we have ruled out advertising to start with, as this will make people doubt the quality of the claims we'd be making. Instead we'll try and spread the word throughout the community

Re: Silly question !!
 

I agree Cricketman. Just one question? If all these quality tradesmen are so busy, why are they complaining about their monthly social security contributions?

As regards advertising, giving people doubt as to the quality of the merchandise, shouldn't someone explain this to TESCO ?

Re: Silly question !!
 

I have found all of my tradepeople via the local community. When I wanted my house painted I went to a neighbour and asked who to get, she took me to the painter who was painting her sister-in-laws house. My new roof was done by my neighbour who is a builder and although not the cheapest in the town is undoubtably the best. Word of mouth is the way it works in our town however they print booklets for the bigger fiestas and local tradesmen and local traders put their adverts in there.

Rosemary

Re: Silly question !!
 

In my town there are at least 2 monthly advertising magazines (in Spanish) carrying a multitude of adverts for all types of businesses plus properties for sale or rent, miscellaneous articles for sale and adverts from people looking for work (plus one or two job vacancies). They don't seem inhibited by the fear that the townspeople will assume their products/services are no good.

Having said that, I follow the path of asking a Spanish friend or neighbour for a recommendation if I want a tradesman to do work on the house, or if I see someone working on a nearby property and they seem to be doing a good job I might ask them for a quote directly.

Re: Silly question !!
 

I think that in a close knit community this is probably the best scenario but in a wider area it's not always possible. It's good to hear the different approaches to advertising, from different areas and type of areas.

Re: Silly question !!
 

I know we should all get to grips with the language but I still feel more comfortable reading about something important, in English. I guess other nationalities are the same?

Re: Silly question !!
 

In most areas where there are expats in any great number, there will not only be expats who can point you in the right direction, be that an expat trader or Spanish (whichever gives the best service), or many of the local Spanish will speak enough English to be able to help you out, too.

On a local basis, boca a boca is always best.

Re: Silly question !!
 

Very interesting.

I recently found a plumber, very close to my home address, and found out that even my friend (a local guy) didn't even know the shop was there. His work was excellent and I would certainly recommend him. But, as I explained to him, I lived not 600mtrs from his shop and didn't know he was there. His reply was, "yes, many people say this".

If there was some way to know where they were and better still, to know of previous experience of their work, I for one would feel more comfortable using someone for the first time.

Re: Silly question !!
 

I take it that your interest is in advertising & maybe you have a company that can help ?

Re: Silly question !!
 

surely not :lol: