So negative..!

[BENIDORM]

I think that some of the forum members should change their names to perhaps ..Grim Reaper or Doom and Gloom Merchant or maybe Misery-R-Us.
What a lot of downbeat comments, glass always half empty, it's going to get worse type comments, come on be a bit more positive.!

If you need work, try creating your own, it's not that difficult..!!!
I suggest starting a little business and better that it's a 'shoe string operation' using your own money, don't borrow money, use what you can 'scrape together', you will appreciate and spend it more wisely.
Look for something different, it's no good opening a shop selling scented candles or Pope on a rope soap, you need to identify what people need, not luxury goods or services..
Think about making a realistic wage, not some get rich scheme, you will not get rich in Spain, but you could end up with a nice comfortable living.
I'm sick of turning on my telly and being 'bombarded' with adverts touting loans---Soft music and Puppets and Singing Oranges...what a load of rubbish, borrowing money is serious not a joke, the nice smiley people will turn into real 'heavies' if you don't pay ..!

Get you thinking caps on ..you can make it work !

CU......Gordon

[pilgrim2]

Well said!

[firsttango]

Cannot think who you could possibly mean?

[peteroldracer]

Anyone starting a business should not need any encouragement or the reverse: if they have the necessary attitude to make it work they will just do it! I do not mean they should not ask advice about local conditions or from specialists, but if they are put off by comments on a forum, where no one really knows who is or was what, they will never cope with the vicissitudes of running a business.

[Unicorn]

I think it is not a question of being negative but if someone comes on here asking advice that is generally what they get. No-one is obliged to take the advice.
From where I sit I see many people coming here and trying to start a business, not speaking the language and sometimes with little research. It is not a little known fact of how much red tape there is here, although I did read somewhere recently that it was going to be made easier to start-up. Does anyone have any details of that?
Whilst enthusiasm is a wonderful thing, a sprinkling of common sense can be a help. If you are dealing with the expat community, their number vary wildly during the year, and that should be taken into account. I cannot, offhand, think of any UK people running businesses that service the Spanish very much other than English Schools and dog kennels. (With the exception of A.com, of course!) If anyone knows of any perhaps you could share them with us, it would be interesting.
I guess that may occur more in some places than others. Estepona is more Spanish than other places.

Comments, I hope, will be both interesting and illuminating.

[BENIDORM]

Thanks folks !

Peter,
Although I can see where you are coming from I disagree about your sentiments regarding encouragement, everyone at some time in their lives need to be given some kind words and a 'pat on the back'....even you....
Continually being told that you can't do something can induce a negative state of mind and a little motivation sometimes is all that is required to assist someone making a decision about doing something different from their normal lifestyle.
Yes , you really do need to do as much research as possible and take advice from people who know what they are talking about, but ultimately it is the individual who makes the final decision.
Anyway I will always continue to encourage people and were possible try to act with guidance, there are some great young people around, with really new and novel ideas and I would love to see them succeed.!
Carry on Chaps !!!

Regards,
Gordon.

[katy]

Encouragement takes many forms. It isn't kind to encourage someone to do something which flops over 90% of the time. Would be better (and kinder) to encourage someone to change direction into something more suitable. Not everyone is cut out to run a business...even in their native country and in boom times. My advice would always be to open up a business in the UK and if and when it is profitable and successful, move to Spain and put in a manager

There was one on a forum who bought a bar close to cabopino CDS which for some reason never did anything after several owners. despite warnings, from more than myself and accusations of us being negative they lasted only 3 months. Another I mentioned on here recently and from another forum. He opened a business in spain in December and suddenly announced closure and back in London by June...a costly excercise. Would have been better taking a 6 months holiday! Saw it personally too. A Cousins Daughter and Husband opened a restaurant nightclub in the Canaries...they lasted a year. fortunately they did take my advice not to sell their UK home. If someone has a good thought out business plan then it should stand up to a bit of criticism. These are recent examples but i bet most of you who have lived there for many years have seen lots of huge failures even when times were good.

People who come on here seeking advice are not children, they are not being told the CANNOT do anything. They do not have to take the advice, infact most seem to have already made up their mind before asking.

[Nimrod]

I think it's all very well giving people encouragement but I think you need to know their business plan (if they've actually got one!) before doing so.
Why would you give someone encouragement to open a bar,restaurant,chip shop, unless you don't like them.
Too many people going to spain because they're a failure in the UK,people ,if you're a failure in the UK you'll be an even bigger one in spain.
It's easy to make it in the UK,far more difficult in spain.

[peteroldracer]

It's easy to make it in the UK,far more difficult in spain.

IMHO that should read "It's hard to..."

[Nimrod]

Point taken POR.

[BENIDORM]

Unicorn,
Your point about creating a business aimed at British Expats is very valid, I would never encourage anyone to start a business expecting to rely on and aimed at one small corner of the market.
It is so important to reach everyone ,especially Spanish people, which takes a little time as they tend to be wary of 'Foreigners', but if you can find the right product or service at the 'right price' then you have every chance of success..
Another point about starting a business is that it really doesn't have to be a ' real bricks and mortar' type , internet sales really are in my opinion the way forward, this way you really can tap into the 'world' market, and operate from a relatively small premises with not so much outlay.

Katy,
Exactly, encouragement takes many forms, that's why I pointed out that it is the persons own decision ultimately, but it doesn't hurt to try and offer a little motivation and support.
And your advice about Not opening a bar / restaurant business is very valid, over the years I have watched more of this type of business collapse.
It doesn't matter what age you are, at some point in your life it is good to listen and take advice and encouragement from others, I've been given advice many times, sometimes by much younger people than myself ( In my case most people are younger than me now .. ), I don't care who helps me , as long as they are experienced and know what they are talking about....

And 'by the way', I don't just mean 'negativity' with regard to business here in Spain, I include living here as a retired person etc....Not everyone is unhappy here.....

Regards,
Gordon

[luckyjim]

The British press don't make it very easy. Has anyone seen a programme about all the expats who are happy here and don't want to go back to UK or other. I havn't but has any one else?

[Unicorn]

Only some ghastly programme, Channel 5 I think, about pensioners in the Canaries. They seemed happy enough but I am not sure they are representative.

[anyroads]

Only some ghastly programme, Channel 5 I think, about pensioners in the Canaries. They seemed happy enough but I am not sure they are representative.

My wife came upon the programme when trawling through the channels and called me to have a look at it. It appeared to be the 75 plus version of club 18-30. "Leapy lee" of little arrows fame at 74, seemed to be the babe of the programme ( and still doing the bars ). I got the impression most were just holiday makers, and did not have places there. It seemed to be party till you drop ( in some instances true it seems )

anyroads

[chrissiehope]

Leapy Lee used to (& may still) have a column in the Euro Weekly News...

[luckyjim]

The last programme I saw was about the poor people who were trying to save their homes. I sympathise with them, but, all I saw in the Bitish press was doom and gloom. I do believe that those of us who live here would not want to go back to the UK. Perhaps the tele channels should make a programme about us and allow people in England to see the other side of the coin.

[katy]

There were plenty of positive programmes some years ago...remember your place in the sun and other versions depending which channel. All convincing Brits that the natives were friendly and you could get help to extend from the Mayor, rent out at highly unrealistic prices etc etc. look what happened...over 20,000 left with Unsellable illegal properties

I know some who are happy in Spain but you have to ask yourself why thousands of Brits have their properties on sale in a market where they have had to reduce...have they all fallen out with the neighbours I personally know over 20 couples wanting to sell and they are scattered all around Andalucia.

[BENIDORM]

In my opinion many of the 'positive' programmes aired some years ago are actually responsible for some very misleading views about buying Spanish property.
They painted very cosy and rosy pictures about how you could buy a wonderful property for a low price which nestled in lush valleys with warm micro climates...What a load of.....*****.

I don't understand why there is so much animosity shown to the many expats who have no intention of moving back to UK, if they are happy that's great...surely.?

There are many other reasons why some would decide to leave Spain, changes in circumstances , ie losing their partner, or serious illness, when moving back to be looked after by close relatives makes sense, and of course many just 'move on ' naturally...etc

Anyway I send Best Wishes to everyone ..wherever you live...

Regards,
Gordon

[Nimrod]

I don't understand why there is so much animosity shown to the many expats who have no intention of moving back to UK, if they are happy that's great...surely.?

I don't see any animosity to those who are happy living in Spain.
If you're happy I'm pleased ,good luck to you.
I do see people who haven't made it in Spain,they'd never make it wherever they lived,I see people escaping until the money runs out and i see people who thought they would 've liked living in Spain because they were retired ,could well afford it,but for several reasons couldn't cope with the system,the Spanish (sorry!) and the manana attitude.
Me!
But if you are happy then great,my 3 weeks a year in spain ,maybe a few more weeks now that my house hasn't sold after 3 years (I'm getting 6 cents a number now) is enough for me.

[katy]

I haven't noticed anyone showing any animosity