by BeachcomberJohn » Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:17 am
Yes the Spanish mentality is hard to understand but it is the ones who own their freeholds that can do this. Those with rents to pay either promote themselves successfully or go broke and many do a runner! Leaving the landlord to pay all the bills still owing. I'm not sure its right when a tenant's debts are passed to the landlord ie: Electric, water, rates and I even know of suppliers and landlords who have insisted new tenants pay off previous debts before allowing them to open or to serve them.
Although the Spanish on the whole are slow to learn they will do in the end and usually by copying successful businesses (makes sense) and often the Brit businesses that are doing well. Over 8 years ago I brought the menu of the day to the Beachcomber in Mojacar and it wasn't long before my British and Irish competitors copied me (was a Spanish only thing originally of course).
Also at the same time I introduced the menu of the night which was totally unheard of in any restaurant Spanish or other. The Brits and Irish took a while to copy as they didn't want to lose their night time profitable business but I was doing the Tesco thing and stacking them high and selling lots. It took the Spanish about 5 years to start copying me.
Luckily the Spanish tend not to copy my menu, fish and chips for instance was only available, when I arrived in Mojacar, on a Friday in all the Brit etc restaurants. I offered the meal with crispy beer battered and skinless fish day and night 7 days a week and this was fairly quickly followed by my competitors. None as far as I know were making their batter with beer at the time but they all are now.
Iv'e been copied all my life in business and take it as a compliment (Mostly!) and you have to remember that I copied the Spanish in the first place with their menu of the day and just widened the concept to the night time. I copied some ones recipe, probably Gordon Ramsey's!!! for the beer batter so although I do, its no good me moaning about others.
John.
