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  • where can i source sign supplies in spain?

    Posted by graffica on 11 April 2007 at 11:41

    Everything is available in Spain! … and in general cheaper than in the UK.
    So no way can I agree with the negative comments I´ve seen recently on UK SIGNBOARDS.

    When I started in the first computerised sign-making business in Spain 1984 there were just 2 vinyl suppliers: Fasson (now Avery) and 3M. Spandex opened in Barcelona and shook up the market with lots of other suppliers following suit. Now there are scores of them.
    GRAFITYP … Please note your website for Spain is dreadful.

    Same with all the other products. PVC (used long before I arrived here) Dibond, Polypropolene etc.
    Complete light-boxes or all the necessary components to build them yourselves.

    As PETER said in a previous post, Spain isn´t a 3rd. world world country.

    Maybe the market is not as sophisticated as in the UK, but if you know where and how to find what you want, it´s all here.
    Trouble is, most of the Brits who work here are too lazy to learn the language to a reasonable level of competence. They then go on to congregate in Brit ghettos and bars complaining that they can´t get stuff. And some even … incredibly! … import from the UK at considerable extra expense and inconvenience.
    They´re also missing out on at least 95% of potential customers by dealing only with Brits.

    With a bit of perseverance, I "Google" for everything I need … google.es
    … and can always find what I´m looking for… or speak to your local Spanish sign shops. In general they´re very helpful. Go to the trade shows. SIGN ESPAÑA is in Madrid in October.
    But if you can´t speak the lingo you´re shutting yourself off from these options.
    Stop moaning, get learning and start earning.

    No apologies for this rant. Spain´s a great country to live and work in. But only if you get real and don´t expect it to be the same as working in the UK.

    I´m quite prepared to help anyone here if they´re having big problems locating supplies and have hit a brick wall.
    Give me a call at 96 689 7150. (Altea, Alicante)

    Chris

    Peter Normington replied 18 years, 8 months ago 5 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Peter Normington

    Member
    11 April 2007 at 22:34

    Well said, Chris

    Its ironic that the British look down on immigrants in this country that don’t speak English.

    Peter

  • Phill Fenton

    Member
    11 April 2007 at 23:17

    :welcome: :appl:

    Well said Chris – I only wish I could speak a foreign language as well as you speak English.

    Please do not think bad of us Brits – and well done for speaking out on behalf of your fellow nationals.

    Unfortunately I have only ever visited your country as a tourist – but like many I have often secretly harbored an ambition to set up a sign business in your wonderful country. 😀

  • Martin Pearson

    Member
    11 April 2007 at 23:31

    Chris, I must admit I was quite surprised by some of the posts about finding sign supplies in Spain. I have only ever been a few times as a tourist but where ever I went there always seemed to be plenty of signs about and lots of variety
    Never really thought about the language issue because I just assumed that if people were setting up their own business in a foreign country they would be able to speak the language.

  • Andrew Bennett

    Member
    12 April 2007 at 08:02

    Hi Chris,
    Phil got it right. I was on holiday in Murcia region last year and had the same thought. On asking I was told there were thousands of brit sign makers so assumed there was a huge supply chain.
    I must learn spanish 😀 😀

  • graffica

    Member
    14 April 2007 at 00:51

    Hello from cold and wet Spain.

    PHILL: Sorry to disappoint, but I´m English. Maybe that´s why my English is fairly good. Not as good you Scots speak it, but I can get by. Possibly because a good mate of mine of here is a Partick Thistle supporter and I have to translate for him when we´re among fans of a proper English team like QPR. (Not that I get a get a lot of practise as there´s only 2 or 3 of us within about a 50 km. radius).

    PETER (Normington): From your posts I kind of detect that you´re a bit of realist (cynic?) like me. Keep it up!

    MARTIN: Yes. You´d think that people would learn at least a few basics before moving to a foreign country. But not mostthe the Brits on the Costas. They expect everyone to speak English and complain when they don´t.

    ANDREW: Murcia is considered by the Spanish in general to be one of the more "backward" provinces, but the signmakers there don´t have any problems obtaining supplies. Obviously they must be importing everything from the UK.

    I note that there there was an English guy working in Spain on UK SIGNBOARDS a few days ago (after I´d posted my my original message). Usual complaint! Can´t get supplies. Have to go Madrid etc.
    Complete bo****ks. Do these people really expect to find a supplier just around the corner? There are loads of carriers here and if you order by midday, the goods usually arrive the next working day.

    Maybe you´ll assume by now that I´m a racist and very anti-Brit. Not so. There´s plenty of Brits here running successful businesses, with or without learning the language. Depends on the type of business of course. The ones I have no time for are those who won´t make the effort to learn the lingo and moan-moan-moan all the the time about levels of service and supply lines not being like in the UK. They´re not and probably never will be. But with a bit of initiative, patience (I´m not very good with that),
    the Internet and some frustration, you´ll eventually find exactly what you need … generally for the same amount of euros as pounds sterling, therefore cheaper. Rollup banner displays 15 euros, Metal A-boards 25 euros. Quality thermal vinyl for garments 6.25 euros per.mtr. Brand name self-adhesive vinyls at silly prices.

    We all get stuck from time to time, and UK SIGNBOARDS is a brilliant site.
    After 28 years in the game I learn something new every time I log on.
    But for those in Spain, I´ll always try to help if I can.

    Am banging on a bit. But just one more thing,
    Can I contact Rob Lambie direct without going onto a forum. Anybody know how?

    Chris. vistagraffica.net

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    14 April 2007 at 01:05

    Chris,
    Me a cynic, Never,

    Rob can be contacted
    admin@uksignboards.com

    😀

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