Working

What are the positive aspects about having a business here?

It’s nice because you meet a lot of very nice people. I can honestly say we have hardly any customers that aren’t nice. They’re all interested in what you do. For example today, when a lady came in and said we had turned her husband’s life around because he can get proper English fruit cake now. Everybody’s really thrilled when they find something that they’ve not been able to get before.

And negative aspects?

I think as long as you stick to the letter of the law, you do everything that’s required of you and you make sure all the rules are followed, you shouldn’t have a problem. Sometimes you do, if you think you’ve got everything right, but then someone will come up as say something like, “No, that’s not the right size, you’ve got to have more of a space between these shelves” and then you have to revamp. I think as long as you do your best to get everything right, then you won’t have a problem.

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

You can get information from the council, the internet, and you always have to employ an architect. Everything has got to be done step by step and it’s all got to be done correctly.

You also have another business don't you?

Yes. We set the Sky installation business up 13 years ago, we don’t just do Sky we do Russian, German and Dutch TV, all the sports channels and it’s properly regulated. We have an office here for Sky and a 24 hour helpline which, although sometimes at 3 o’clock in the morning I don’t want to, we always answer the phone. We have a showroom here so people can come and see the systems working. Having this means people have confidence in us, we’re so much more than just a mobile phone number on an ad. We’re also happy to do repairs if anyone has had any Sky TV problems from an installation company and now can’t get back in touch with them.