What Can Possibly Go Wrong?
Sat Dec 14 2019 00:36:00 GMT+0800 (Malaysia Time)
Greetings from Spain
Happy Friday the 13th.. what can possibly go wrong?
It's my last day here in our Malaga warehouse before going to the UK for Christmas.
Last week I was telling you about our new Spanish warehouse.. and the very different business culture to the UK and even other parts of Europe. You can read about it here.
So last night like many of you I was awake half the night watching the election dramas unfold. Some major upsets and spills, but at least now we know.. Brexit is on..it's going to happen. And on the 31st of January 2020.
I'll be honest I don't like it, I feel we have been sold a lemon, it seems crazy to cause trading friction with all our European neighbours.. especially when half our sales at AW are into Europe.. BUT... now is clarity, now we can put plans into action.
Raul went back to Malaysia, Tomas and Rodrigo are back in the UK.. from Monday the new team in Spain will be on their own at least for a week or so. Thrown in the deep end.
It's still early days, there are workmen all over the place, stock deliveries still to come, the showroom is not set up yet.. but the website is buzzing, customers keep popping in to say hello and make friends (as is the Spanish way) - even with limited stock available orders are flowing.. and the team is mega motivated and soaking up lots of knowledge and developing skills breathtakingly quickly. I think they are going to be awesome..
And now Brexit is getting done.. they will need to be, because depending how it works a flood of orders could move from UK to Spain (and to our Slovakia base).. maybe then some staff will move from the UK.
2020 is going to be a big shake-up year, but I feel at last we are ready for whatever happens. As Katka in the UK likes to say.. when life gives you a lemon.. Make a gin and tonic.
It's Friday the 13th and unlucky for some we got Boris. At least the jokes will be thick and fast, and life should be interesting.
It's a bit noisy in the office here in Malaga, mostly because of all the workers, plastering, fitting floors. putting in doors and installing air-conditioning.. they should be finished in a few days, and it certainly looks like it. I have to say I am blown away by the Spanish workers, not only are they superbly professional, incredibly polite but between breaks and long lunches they work like the wind - so fast.. and so clean. Every-time there is dust and dirt, they stop and clean, at the end of the day everything is swept clean all tools are put away. The construction site is left spic and span. No "Grand Designs" style drama what's so ever.
The only drama we had was from a jolly English guy who came to quote for some work, did all that sucking in of breathe and scratching his head - told us he was sooo busy but at a push could fit in the job. We asked that he was legal, and his workers insured and paying taxes - yes of course he said Boris-like with heaps of confidence. On the day, just before starting Mario our accountant guy said, do you mind if we just check that.. "saying yes is not good enough" he told me we need to see papers. Here you can be fined huge sums if your not careful. Mario had a quiet word.. five minutes later the guy came to see me.. Sorry David.. he shook my hand, "no hard feelings mate.. but we are off the job", and with no further ado he and his team vanished like bats in the night.
Meanwhile in the UK the team is still working like crazy to get orders out. I understand we are keeping up and even catching up bit by bit.
Lots of new products came in including a beautiful elegant range of candle holders and ready for the new year some super cool note books - perfect for making a list of things to do in 2020.
Speaking of which as mentioned - next week I will be in the UK, and making plans for next year.
Hope you have a great weekend and get through Friday the 13th unscathed and smiling.
In any event.. Don't worry be happy.. make a G&T :)
Take care.
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