Barcelona Mum

Julia Fossi and Julie Stephenson - Fish and Chips

 - Why did you decide to set up Fish and Chips?
We were looking to start a business in Barcelona that would enable us to stay here, make some money and fill a niche.

-  How is the business going? 
It has been very hard work and the winter months were very slow. We spent a lot of time then marketing and promoting our business and now spring has arrived all the hard work is starting to pay off.

- Who are your main customers? How popular is Fish and Chips among the locals? 
We have a wonderful core group of regular customers who kept us going over the winter. Ex pats are very excited by fish and chips and love our full English breakfast. We are a little off the tourist trail but when they find us they usually move in for the rest of the holiday! People who have read about us come looking for us. The Spanish and Catalans also enjoy fish and chips. Often they have tasted it in the UK but sometimes they are new to fish and chips and they really like it. It is a little harder to get them to try anything more than a croissant for breakfast!

- What are your goals for the next year?
In June we will have been open for a year. We are planning a party on the 15th to celebrate. Sophie from The Drama Factory will be making an appearance on our terrace with a special story for the kids and of course there will be lots of cava and fish and chip style goodies to sample. After that we are going to launch our much requested burgers and heading into the winter we are really going to focus on our home/office delivery service and we would like to invest in a little fish and chip scooter!

-What were the main challenges you faced setting up your business?
Racism, sexism, contradiction in laws, complicated paper work, never the same answer to a legal question, unhelpful people......all a challenge!

- Would there be anything you would do differently if you did it all again?
Think very carefully when choosing business partners. People you seem to have a lot in common with on a social level do not always have the same work ethic as you.

- How does running a business in Catalunya compare to running a business in the UK (if relevant)?
There is very little help on offer for new businesses in Catalunya; ie start up incentives (soft loans or even low interest rates) and tax benefits. Laws seem much more defined in the UK. Obviously there is a language barrier.

-  Do you think the system in Catalunya is sympathetic to entrepreneurs/the self-employed?
Not at all. Social security payments are high from day one with no regard given to whether you actually have an income.

- What do you think the main advantages and disadvantages or running your own business are?
Running our own business here in Spain has been an emotional rollercoaster from day one. Mostly highs, exciting times, meeting great people, creating a new service which people love and appreciate and want to be a part of....some even offering to work for free! A few lows but that is usually attributed to complete exhaustion and not having enough time in the day to get everything done. Had the odd nervous breakdown but on the whole we keep each other going....round the bend!

- What advice would you give to other women who are thinking of ‘going it alone’ in Catalunya?
Go for it. Believe in yourself (many will not believe in you). There is a solution to EVERY problem...our motto all the way.

- How can people find you?
Fish and Chips
Rambla del Raval 26
+34 93 441 1134 www.fishandchipsbarcelona.com info@fishandchipsbarcelona.com