OK – tonight’s meeting is full of good useful info. We have info and (if the signal is good) a demo of a free short-cut tool for all you social network marketers not already using it. There will be updates on some of the big events going on “down south” plus all the local news, your updates and more… Look forward to seeing you later
The theme of last night’s meeting was Business Issues & Challenges for 2012.
We are still deep in the “crisis” and we asked our members to talk about the challenges that they are facing in the coming months. This elicited a very interesting discussion amongst the members, with each member outlining the challenges that they are facing within their own businesses.
The output of the discussions follows:
| Business | Issues faced by the Business Owner |
| Business 1 | Prices have not increased in 10 years but this has not prevented a decline in overall client volume. Customers are having to choose between a meal out per week or whether to afford the services on offer as the prices are similar and the exchange rate has been detrimental to a mostly British target market most of whom are reliant on pensions. However, this particular problem has been alleviated of late with the rise of the £ against the €.The service is provided at weekdays only, so younger employed and self-employed people are not generally able to attend events. Targeting schools is a possible alternative strategy, as schools are cutting back on the teaching of non-core subjects.
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| Business 2 | The main challenge is getting business through the door, many communities are “tied” to their current providers and there is only a very small window of opportunity around the time of each annual contract renewal that can be exploited.Competition is predominately from traditional Spanish providers who tend to provide inadequate information on how community money is spent. A frequent lack of transparency and auditability opens up dangers of negligent or even criminal behaviour on the part of current incumbents. Whilst this is a concern for each community, it opens up opportunities for a business offering a transparent and properly conducted professional service.
Apathy of the expatriates in Spain is perceived as a problem: they want to complain but they won’t actually do anything about their complaints. Getting concerted action for community voting is therefore a time-consuming process that eats into the profitability of each project. Another issue facing expatriates is that the laws governing communities are poorly understood.
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| Business 3 | The owner of this business started it as a foil to Facebook pages that have information and offers that disappear very quickly due to the timeline nature of Facebook. Using an internet platform allows Facebook linkage – but permits posts to stay “live” and relevant longer – offering a discernible benefit to contributors.There are two key challenges facing the owner. First, start-up costs and barriers to entry are low and so competition is extensive. A second problem is that the owner also promotes the site with a Facebook page and potential clients post (at no charge) on the FB page rather than posting them (at no charge but slightly more effort) on the proper site.
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| Business 4 | This niche business has been operating for four years and the main challenge is raising awareness. The size and scope do not currently justify significant expenditure and so most promotional activity currently takes place via Facebook.Hires are either nightly (special events) or weekly (e.g. cruises).
Having business premises would be ideal to help generate extra custom.
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| Business 5 | Outside the summer season, there is a specific part of the day which is extremely quiet and the challenge facing the owner was how to improve occupancy during this period. Members had several suggestions for improving trade during this period, drawing on their experience of similar businesses in the area. |
| Business 6 | Trade has been steadily increasing, both in terms of volume of orders and order size but cash flow is a problem as they ask for a significant deposit with full payment on delivery.Filling backhaul and, to a lesser extent seasonality are issues that are challenges facing this business. Increasing fleet size is being examined by the business owner, but there are investment and employment legislation issues which need to be considered in more detail before taking this step.
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| Business 7 | The nature of this business is that there are no barriers to entry relating to cost or qualifications. In addition, while the generic service can provide the opportunity for increasing each client’s business trade, no guarantee can be offered that this will be the case. The client needs to provide the goods and services required by consumers, but this is the owner’s ultimate responsibility.The business is particularly affected by the poor economic climate and a particular challenge facing all owners of businesses like this is the difficulty of selling a service which does not yield immediate benefit to clients. |
At a future meeting, we will also discuss possible solutions to the challenges faced by our members. This is also bound to be a very interesting meeting.
Please find attached this week’s Bulletin Market Bulletin 14 11 2011which contains the following points:
Regards
Neil
Neil Gubbins
ST. JAMES’S PLACE
WEALTH MANAGEMENT
11 Hamilton Place
Mayfair
London W1J 7DA
T: 020 7495 1771
M: 07739 263334
www.sjpp.co.uk/neilgubbins
More tools for your advertising Campaigns
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This is the text being sent out by press release:-
It is officially countdown time to this year’s International Lifestyle and ExpoFiesta exhibitions; four exhibitions, over three days, all under one roof, the Lifestyle, ExpoFiesta, Tourism and Culture exhibitions promise to be an event not to be missed.
This show stopping event will take place at the IFA Centre near Alicante Airport (AP7 – Recinto Ferial) on November 4th, 5th and 6th from 10.30am until 9pm and with over 120 stands packed with Lifestyle Products and Services there will be something there for everyone. But this is no ordinary exhibition. For the first time the Expat Lifestyle exhibition and the Spanish Culture show will come together and as a result it is guaranteed to provide a unique and superb day out for all the family.
The 120 stands in the Lifestyle Expo section alone will provide an eclectic mix of businesses showing off their products and services. From boats and beautiful ‘bling’ jewellery to the Moroccan Experience complete with a marquee, belly dancers and traditional Moroccan food, you will be transported straight to North Africa without having to even leave the exhibition hall! There will also be manicures and pedicures as well as fantastic garden and conservatory furniture, plus telephone and internet solutions, travel opportunities and currency exchange. Bag yourself a bargain or find out how to economically heat your home; the wide variety of companies at the exhibition will be at your disposal to get more help and information in order to provide you with everything needed for a successful life here in the sun. And if you get hungry or thirsty, our three International bars will be on hand to serve you their finest wines, beers and snacks.
But this exhibition is not just any old exhibition, this is the Lifestyle Expo Fiesta which means that there is even more to see and do. Because we have joined forces with the ExpoFiesta, which highlights Spain’s traditional fiestas, the Moors and Christians from Alcoy will be at the event and there will be performances of traditional Spanish dance as well as the Tourism and Cultural Expo, which is designed to provide you with as much information about places to visit in Spain and what to see and do.
Come and join us as we bring you FOUR exhibitions under one roof and really find out what Spain has to offer! There will also be lots of free draws, giveaways and competitions galore and you could even walk away with a Mediterranean cruise, courtesy of Playa Flamenca Viajes, which includes stops in Monaco, Rome, Florence, Naples and Tunisia; all you have to do is guess the number of balloons in the car! And the best bit of all…?
It is FREE ENTRY FOR EVERYONE TO ALL FOUR EXHIBITIONS!
SOL Productions, the IFA, our sponsors White Knight Glass Curtains and Playa Flamenca Viajes as well as our collaborating media companies look forward to welcoming you to this new style exhibition, which we hope will take the Costa Blanca to new heights.
This is just a brief outline of some of the exhibitors taking part at the Lifestyle Expo Fiesta 2011. You can log on to www.solproductions.tv for the full list of exhibitors who have booked to date or visit www.lifestyle-expo.com or our Facebook site Fiesta Time.
Please feel free to use this email addon for your websites and emails – as every bit of publicity helps – Thanks
St Jame’s Place Wealth Management
Please find attached this week’s Monday Market Bulletin 23 08 2010 which contains the following points:
Kind regards,
Neil
Neil Gubbins ST. JAMES’S PLACE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
11 Hamilton Place, Mayfair, London W1J 7DAT: 020 7495 1771 – M: 07739 263334
Just to let everyone know our next meeting on July 15th will include a talk from David Warren on Marketing. David has an extensive background in this subject, both academically and through practical application – so however great your expertise in this area, it should be a good discussion!
Look forward to seeing members and guests.
Gaile
Our next meeting is on 1st July at Peri Pera in Javea Port (Marina Alta Business Club) – could members do me an enormous favour, please – if you have details of local fairs and events for August in your community – please could you bring them with you to the meeting… as I have a cunning plan 
Thanks
Gaile
St Jame’s Place Wealth Management
Please find attached this Monday Market Bulletin 07 06 2010 which contains the following points:
Kind regards
Neil
Neil Gubbins ST. JAMES’S PLACE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
11 Hamilton Place, Mayfair, London W1J 7DAT: 020 7495 1771 – M: 07739 263334
To Contact Colin please email colin.evans@sjpp.co.uk
Looking forward to tonight’s meeting – it will be good to catch up with everyon’s news – big question on everyone’s lips must be the new Labour law – will they, won’t they – is it happening on June 16th or will the Unions stop it??
Join us tonight for the discussion on how the changes will affect our businesses… Peri Pera, Javea Port – 7:30pm
Gaile