Working

Till now we didn’t have much investment. We are working mainly at home, selling our designs by internet or using personal contacts to get clients and visiting them at home. The next step that we are working on, is to have a shop where we can display our work and people can visit. We are investigating that right now and looking into financing possibilities.

Did you find the paperwork diffícult?

Definitely. Like a lot of people with creative jobs, I never had much interest in paperwork, and I find it kind of hard to understand, but I also know that most times it is not so difficult as it seems. And sometimes I was really surprised, that it wasn’t as hard as I expected to be.

Did you get help from any particular official organisations or associations (e.g. Chambers of Commerce)?

None

What is your business experience / background / qualifications?

We are both specialised in our individual work. I studied graphic design in Berlin, and later worked in different agencies and publications in Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Tarragona and El Salvador, before I finally decided to work on my own, realising my dream idea to make designs with tiles.

My boyfriend and partner, has worked more than 12 years in construction, in all over Europe, like Germany, Austria, Denmark, Holland and of course Spain. He’s specialized in fixing tiles and ceramics for bathrooms, kitchens, etc. So he knows everything about the materials, and collocation work.

What are the positive aspects about having a business here?

It is very positive for our business to be based in the city of Gaudí . Barcelona is also a multicultural city, with influences from all over the world, open to new ideas, especially in design.

And the negative aspects?

What makes it of kind of difficult for a stranger here, is the fact that a lot of business works with personal contacts. Somebody knows somebody, who knows somebody, who has a brother, who can help you, or who wants to contact you. Being a stranger, you don’t have the social network, people from here normally have. Especially in the beginning, when you know just a few people, this can be difficult.

Are there any other useful contacts, tips or information you think would be useful to other foreign entrepreneurs in Barcelona? Please describe:

Most of all learn Catalan. I understand the language but speak very little and hopefully will become fluent as I see that it really opens doors, when you at least speak a little.