Mr Grumpy

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By Mr Grumpy - Thu 8th Sep 2011

 

I am not, never have been, never claimed to have been and never will be an expert on business marketing. But I do like to think that I have a reasonable amount of common sense and business experience to know when something is fundamentaly wrong with somebodies business plan.

Don't get me wrong - I honestly belive that some of the most succesful and shrewdest businessmen are expats. Having to not only operate a succesful business, but do so in a foreign enviroment and language, and one where your client demographic is continually changing - not to mention the currency exchange rate - must take flexibility, motivation and dedication. I take my hat off to many businesses that fall within this category because I know it can't be easy.

However, on the other side of the coin there are hundreds of businesses opening up in Spain every day by expats who are newly arrived and don't have a plan - let alone a clue ! You see people who were Admin staff in the UK opening Bars, Dustbin Men becoming Builders and worse still, in the property boom years, everyone wanted to become an Estate Agent.

Some managed to learn through their initial mistakes and end up making a decent go of things. Others folded pretty soon after hitting the first few hurdles and went back to the UK wiser but poorer.

But sometimes, you just know by looking at a Business name when somebody hands you a business card, that they haven't really thought things through ....

If there is one thing that creates a lasting and positive first impression about a business it's the name. And as you only ever have one chance with a first impression it's an important choice to make.

Now, I know that it is traditional to name your business after oneself, but you would have thought that if your name did not have a 'positive association' with your trade, then you may be justified for having a re-think to come up with a name that was both memorable, and put you in a positive light.

Or at least you may have thought so.

Just a few of my favourite business names that I have noted over the recent months are as follows (and I kid you not, these are genuine !) :

A.J.Short Windowcleaner (Must either have VERY long ladders or specialise in bungalows)

Crook Specialist Cars (Why not just go all the way and call yourself "Arfur Daley" ?)

Breakwells transport (Wonder if they specialise in fragile loads ?)

Messi Pools and Gardens (Seriously. I wonder if he does a good job ?)

Drips and Leaks Plumbers (Is that what they repair, or what they leave behind after the job has finished ?)

We all know that the economy of Spain is tight at the moment, and focusing on doing business with the British expat community is going to severly restrict your market and therefore your turnover. Still, it wouldn't surprise me if this was just the tip of the iceberg.

Any odd business names down your way ?