There is room for original business ideas in Lanzarote…
I’ve spent many years involved with all types of businesses spanning many industries - and I am enjoying myself now as much as ever. We’ve been lucky enough to be quite successful here so far, the problem with that is - as is the case anywhere - this breeds imitators. Not that (sorry if this sounds arrogant) we have yet encountered anyone we consider a serious threat… Be it other people ‘branching out’ into web design by teaming up with a friend who ‘knows a bit’, mimicking our various other projects, targeting our Google keywords, or a whole plethora of other little annoyances.
There are good people, and some damned good businesses here, don’t get me wrong, but they are professional and original enough to have their own directions, own agendas, and their own strategies which target niches in the market. And more importantly a bit of imagination and flair. A straight ‘copy’ of us - or our respectable and established competitors - is not even likely to make a dent in any established business…
Lanzarote is rife with copy cat businesses - often naive people, who may well have never run a business in their life come here thinking that they can ‘wing it’. Not the case. As we have said elsewhere on this site, if you can’t do it in in the UK, your chances of survival here are limited. Be honest with yourself - are you seriously prepared to work as much, probably harder, than you did in the UK for a fraction of your current income?
Do you really think with a bit of DIY experience and having spring cleaned a house or two you are going to make a success of - yet another - a villa management company?
Do you really think in a property market that has stalled, largely to the crisis in the UK economy and terrible exchange rates, you are going to make a fortune as an estate agent?
Quite honestly, unless you have a nest egg that affords you time to learn, or extremely large balls and a lot of talent - think seriously before getting ‘big’ ideas, or you are setting yourself up to be disappointed. If you are coming to Lanzarote to set up a business - be original!
There is plenty of room for new ideas - ‘we’ see many opportunities and gaps in the market here - but unfortunately we are only able to do so much. Much as we’d like to start a number of other projects we want to retain our focus…. If only there were 48 hours in a day! If only we could bottle up a few of the ideas and sell them! Ideas we have in plenty, time as always is limited…
