 Changing Places Week 137 W/C 5th October 2008
To be a Business Agent here in Majorca requires three skills -reputation, ability and luck. This is the lesson that Sun Search Acquisitions comes to grips with every day. The fact that there is rarely exclusivity on the property or business idea you represent means that its first past the post with the seller. He/she is just concerned that his business sells and is not remotely interested in the sensibilities of the Agent who of course would much prefer to be exclusive. It's a very hard world on the streets as the selling season begins. The buyers that are around are sensing desperation and offer the most basic of prices for businesses that would have sold at three times the price only last year. There are stories of people handing in the keys and giving up selling the trespaso (lease) on their business because they can no longer afford the monthly rental. Those that can are holding on until the next round of interest cuts which might mean more ready buyers. We deal in dreams, disappointments and the occasional big success!
The big guns are meeting in the Port of Soller to make a Dubai based company's dream come true. The seven star hotel for the Jumariah group is now gathering momentum. The work on the infrastructure was very low key during the summer months but the minute the 1st of October arrived the place was swarming. The transformation of this cliff top site into the first seven star hotel in Europe is going to be the one to watch this winter. The talk in town is that officially it is welcomed with open arms but privately people are concerned about the radical change it will mean for the Port of Soller. Beautification is not popular with everyone and nor are the larger berths that are being prepared for the super yachts owned by the people that will one day stay in seven star luxury. For us it is a very exciting place to be at this time of recession and depression because it means that good times are just around the corner. Would any major company invest all that money for the serious luxury end of the market without doing their homework? I personally think not.
We have one bright star that is bucking the trend in business sales at present and that is the environmentally friendly Light Box Bench. It's great to be part of the invention and patent world and be inspired by the ideas that come out of that place. We are working with Graham Smith the inventor of this recycled solar powered creation. The concept is of a bench seat with panels for advertising which are illuminated by solar power through a light box - (which is reasonably priced with excellent returns). The business opportunity is to site the free standing bench where people can see it and sell the advertising panels to local businesses. This is not some crackpot invention as they now are sited in every Asda supermarket in the UK. Graham and his environmentally friendly business opportunity appear in the Asda magazine this month with the story of this winning formula. So when you see the light boxes and interesting advertising appear soon all over Majorca remember you read it here first!
A family Sunday lunch in the garden with the views of the mountains covered in that stunning autumn sunlight that makes this time of year my favourite in Majorca. The nesting for winter is just beginning - Soller is a little colder than other parts of the island in winter and duvets and flannelette sheets make an appearance plus ordering the calor gas to heat our house. We have central heating but that is never enough in our draughty entrada. This is the price we pay for paradise.
Sometimes we question what we are doing here. We work harder, worry about business, have relationships with bank managers and don't spend nearly enough time admiring the view. But saying all that we came to Majorca to live, not to experience the mythical ex-pat life that some say exist. Living for us means taking risks and experiencing the highs and lows just like everyone else around us.
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