Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Work Experience By Sergio I Triay
11:26 | 
Posted by
madaboutfurniture
For 3 weeks of my summer holiday, I took up a work placement in the retail store Mad about Furniture, with the main objective to gain people skills, and further increase my understanding of the functions of a real world work placement.
Although 3 weeks is not a great amount of time, I thought it sufficient to gain the experience I needed to use in my later life which will hopefully include University in the near future. Having little experience in the “real world of business” Mad about Furniture has thoroughly enhanced my awareness of how a modern business works. Starting at 10am until the hunger ridden hour of 2pm, there is always something to occupy your time.
Mad about Furniture is an international company, and working in the shop, I saw illustrated in real life the importance of languages, with the clientele being extremely diverse in terms of nationality and mother tongue. As a British company with British owners in Spain, my flexibility and knowledge of both the Spanish and English language became very useful. In fact, my first job within the company was to translate many of the phone calls we received from Spanish suppliers and subsequent transport personnel who enquired about some of the orders and deliveries we had made. Further to this, my translation skills became even more useful when it came to translating prices, stock availability and measurements, to Spanish clients who came into the store.
However, translating is only the beginning of this three week job placement adventure. On one of the many work filled days, Steve, Sarah, and I proceeded to check stock availability in the warehouse. Sounding like a simple task, Stock taking can be rather stressful and is an essential part of running the business and if not done properly can cause all kinds of problems.
While not picking up the phone, translating or stock checking; my job centred on updating the quotation packages we send to clients, trying to give them a modern touch, whilst making it as user friendly as possible. This job although simple, was time consuming, and if there is one thing I have learnt about the world of business is that “time is money”.
Having my mind set on Politics from a young age, I never thought skills such as GCSE ICT would become useful in my future job opportunities. However, working in Mad about Furniture proved my theory wrong, as my next job was to complete an online customer satisfaction survey. This was obviously aided by my knowledge gained in ICT which in turn opened my mind up to the importance of having a wide variety of skills available.
The overall experience at Mad about Furniture proved a great success! Not only did I complete the objectives I set out at the beginning of my job placement, but also enhanced some of the skills I had almost left behind. It moreover, gave me a realistic view of what work is like outside the study environment and in the words of Donald Kendall “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary” – a sentence which encapsulates my experience of the world of work. Success is proportionate to the effort and hard work you put into it.
Lastly, I would like to thank all the colleagues at Mad about Furniture, for making me feel welcome at all times and always helping me in anything I needed throughout this whole experience. Moreover, I would like to especially thank Steve and David for the fantastic opportunity they have given me with this job placement which I’m certain will be a great asset to me in my future.
By: Sergio I Triay.
Friday, 27 May 2011
Professional services abroad
Professional services abroad
Buying your home abroad will bring you into contact with a number of professional services and it's always a good idea to get to know what and who are providing the services you need and at what price.
Initially your contact will start with a real estate agent who will probably have a partnership with a local lawyer to assist in your legal matters.
Rates can be negotiable and its worth asking for alternatives to save money.
If you are not living in Spain it's a great idea to tie up with a professional property management company who can ensure your home is checked regularly and kept in good condition.
We recommend passion4property who can also assist with bill payments, repairs and small projects as well as everything from full property management to key holding services.
Mad about Furniture work with only tried, tested and trusted partners and we can make recommendations for you on a whole range of professionals including accountants and even where you can park your car at the airport!
Medical services are of good quality in Spain but regular visitors and home owners may want to invest in a company such as helicopters sanitarios for emergencies and general peace of mind although for residents professional services such as Sanitas, part of Bupa provide more comprehensive private healthcare.
Similarly, dentists are of a good quality and generally cheaper than in the UK and many people opt for major dental work to be carried out in Spain saving a lot of money against the private dentists in great Britain.
Cosmetic surgery is also prominent on the Costa del Sol.
Other professionals services include Banks, Financial Advisors and money changers which are important in avoiding excessive charges when moving money to Spain, receiving money and obtaining the best exchange rate
Buying your home abroad will bring you into contact with a number of professional services and it's always a good idea to get to know what and who are providing the services you need and at what price.
Initially your contact will start with a real estate agent who will probably have a partnership with a local lawyer to assist in your legal matters.
Rates can be negotiable and its worth asking for alternatives to save money.
If you are not living in Spain it's a great idea to tie up with a professional property management company who can ensure your home is checked regularly and kept in good condition.
We recommend passion4property who can also assist with bill payments, repairs and small projects as well as everything from full property management to key holding services.
Mad about Furniture work with only tried, tested and trusted partners and we can make recommendations for you on a whole range of professionals including accountants and even where you can park your car at the airport!
Medical services are of good quality in Spain but regular visitors and home owners may want to invest in a company such as helicopters sanitarios for emergencies and general peace of mind although for residents professional services such as Sanitas, part of Bupa provide more comprehensive private healthcare.
Similarly, dentists are of a good quality and generally cheaper than in the UK and many people opt for major dental work to be carried out in Spain saving a lot of money against the private dentists in great Britain.
Cosmetic surgery is also prominent on the Costa del Sol.
Other professionals services include Banks, Financial Advisors and money changers which are important in avoiding excessive charges when moving money to Spain, receiving money and obtaining the best exchange rate
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
The rain in Spain
One of the surprising things about where we are based in the costa del is how much rain we seem to get. It doesn't rain in the same way as the uk which is frequent and regular with regards to quantity etc but it is also almost always steady rain/ showers etc etc.
Well, last week down here in the sunny costa del sol the heavens opened and we had the downpour of the year. It wasn't so much rain as a torrential torrent that lasted hours, the noise kept us awake most of the night with a fantastic thunderstorm( if you like watching thunderstorms) wrecked havoc on the roads and flooded villas and apartments alike. The roads on our journey to the airport on the morning after resembled a war zone littered with debris from the power of the water.
I have already had a phone call from a previous customer who's apartment we furnished last year informing us that their lovely apartment has been divested by 20 cm of water and needs completely re furnishing and re decorating
So this brings me to my two points.
Firstly, Beware if you are planning an outdoor event before the middle of June. You may need a contingency for your wedding should the rain decide to fall. Any wedding last weekend would certainly turned out a little different than would have been planned.
Secondly if you have a home here and it's empty, get it checked even if you have had no problems before. This is where a management company could help. Arriving Over the summer to find your home under 6 inches of water is guaranteed to spoil your holiday.
Steven Dixon
Director
Well, last week down here in the sunny costa del sol the heavens opened and we had the downpour of the year. It wasn't so much rain as a torrential torrent that lasted hours, the noise kept us awake most of the night with a fantastic thunderstorm( if you like watching thunderstorms) wrecked havoc on the roads and flooded villas and apartments alike. The roads on our journey to the airport on the morning after resembled a war zone littered with debris from the power of the water.
I have already had a phone call from a previous customer who's apartment we furnished last year informing us that their lovely apartment has been divested by 20 cm of water and needs completely re furnishing and re decorating
So this brings me to my two points.
Firstly, Beware if you are planning an outdoor event before the middle of June. You may need a contingency for your wedding should the rain decide to fall. Any wedding last weekend would certainly turned out a little different than would have been planned.
Secondly if you have a home here and it's empty, get it checked even if you have had no problems before. This is where a management company could help. Arriving Over the summer to find your home under 6 inches of water is guaranteed to spoil your holiday.
Steven Dixon
Director
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
A day in the life of......Sorin, Deliveries and Warehouse
My name is Sorin Constantin and I joined Mad About Furniture in May 2006. I start work at 9am in the morning at the warehouse the first job of the day is to load all the deliveries for the mornings installs. Loading a delivery is a big responsibility because we need to be very careful with all the furniture and double check all is packed correctly and we have all the correct items and colours. My job is to deliver furniture, install the furniture, and layout each room making sure all looks great and positioned correctly for the room. I install all the electrics, putting up all ceiling lights, terrace lights and sunken halogen spots where required. I also do all the finishes including curtain poles, hanging curtains, pictures and bathroom mirrors even making the beds!!. Our working hours are between 9am and 7pm and when I have finished the deliveries I will then go and check the shops, changing lights, painting, and changing round stock. Then last job of the day (if I have any time left!) is to organize and tidy up the warehouse which helps a lot when we have to load a delivery or take delivery of a container. I make sure all the furniture is on lines, each line is stocked in collections and stacked on racking or pallets ready for easy selection and loading.
That is a typical work day for me in Mad About Furniture
A day in the life of......David Gibson, Director
A day in the life of.....David Gibson, Director
When we first opened Mad about Furniture almost 10 years ago the coast was a very different place and that means a very different working environment.
We started with just two staff, us the owners and quickly expanded. While we used to have our own clients and own specialties we soon naturally fell into different and sometimes alien roles such as Financial control where I spend most of my days now.
I say alien as maths was never my initial forte as I have always worked in marketing and indeed have a degree in the subject.
So it seems strange that my business life has progressed this way but, any business is about having a handle on the whole entity and it’s crucial that one person has responsibility for sales and marketing and another financial while communicating with each other at all times to form a team.
Once accepted, this more alien world for a marketer becomes quite structured and unseasonal, unlike the more volatile and (exciting?) world of sales.
The beginning and the end of the months are my busiest. Working closely with a good accountant is vital and again, preparing the company's financial situation is heavily centred around the month and quarter ends.
As well as preparing and understanding documentation from basic invoices to paying bills and forecasting and budgeting which is vital in any business worldwide we have also gained unusual and, we think, valuable experience of running the business in a foreign country and, largely, in a foreign language. These skills can be transferred to a whole host of businesses and again can be a valuable skill base for anyone wanting to start a new business as an expat in Spain.
To illustrate this, my quieter mid month period is spent working with a sister company, Passion 4 Property. Despite being a totally different business, the skills used behind the scenes at Mad about Furniture are directly transferrable.
Working outside of the front line in any small business often means getting at least a basic understanding of legal and personnel systems which in turn requires an understanding how staff contracts should be handled according to the current legislation and at the same time matching the employees and the businesses needs, especially, for example, if the enterprise is seasonal. While most businesses in the world see seasonality in sales, life in Spain can be affected by seasonality more than most as our key clients, second home owners, tend to give us business at the same time at key points of the year.
Despite the structured month I do work inside our main store which in itself produces variation and being retail, clients arriving all day so although most of my work could be done from home, working in a furniture store allows me to see the bigger picture.
As well as having a good relationship with a good accountant it's important to have a close relationship with your bank, again, like in any business in any country we also work hard to forge relationships with trusted and professional services with anything from shipping agents to sofa manufacturers in China.
Over 10 years we have seen a lot of day to day changes on how we fill our day but it remains that we all work as a close team so as owners we feel confident that we are driving the business forward during, sometimes difficult times including a worldwide recession. This type of business day isn't too much different to any other enterprise, anywhere in the world.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
A day in the life of....... Ebony. Head of Security
A day in the life of....... Ebony. Head of Security
My name is ebony. I'm am a 5 year old black Labrador.
My day starts at around 8.20 when my owners Steve and David wake up.
My first job after they put my diamante collar on is to get to the back door before the horrible cat I live with gets there. It's always fun to terrorise her. She always seems to get her breakfast first and this is something that I have had to get used to. I particularly hate it when she drinks water from my bowl but if I try and stop her she just spits at me.
Being a dog I am constantly surprised and never know what or where I am going next. At about 9.20 I leave the house in the back of a car and we head off to the beach I get to run up and down and sniff out other dogs. I am very well behaved and so don't need to go on the lead very often.
I was one of 6 puppies and when I was picked I went home with my brother Bailey. The problem was we never really got on very well and we were very naughty, my owners had a terrible time trying to train us as we used to cause trouble together and finally we had to be separated. It caused them a big problem because they really thought it would be nice to have 2 dogs and didn't want to give one of us up but Luckily my owners friend took my brother and now he has a great life, he is very spoilt like me and we still see each other and enjoy playing together when we can.
Unfortunately I am a working dog, I am head of security at Mad about Furniture. It's actually a great place to work and I don't have many responsibilities, mainly it's just sleeping and keeping quiet. When people come in I have to give a little friendly growl to let them know I am there. I can quickly gage if they like me and if I think I may get a little cuddle I wag my tail and wiggle over to them for a quick hi. They sell lots of great furniture and always seem to have customers in the shop, I do wish though sometimes I could work in a pet shop where they would be more food and different animals to annoy.
If I'm lucky my favourite people will come in and take me out for a very long walk and wear me out. I don't have lunch but when the owners go out I normally go too.
I’m on the beach again by 7pm for more fun. Often we go to an Indian restaurant where I have learnt that if I am well behaved and wag my tail the very nice Indian chef will give me a big bowl of chicken tikka with rice. If we go straight home I get dinner about 8pm and then I just laze about on the floor staring at the cat or sneaking up on to the sofa, in the summer I love swimming in the pool and if it's hot I just walk in the pool and have a swim about.
Sometimes David makes me do silly tricks but I am usually allowed to go to bed at 11pm. My dreams are mainly about the cat or food or playing in the garden with my favourite people.
Ebony, black lab, head of security
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
A day in the life of....... Jason,Warehouse and installation team
I am Jason and I have been with Mad About Furniture for 5 years.
My day starts at 7.30am because my son starts school at 8.15am. At 9 o´ clock I am at the warehouse and begin to load the van for the days deliveries, a delivery can involve many things including installation of lighting, blinds, curtains, bathroom and kitchen accessories.
From a full package or just a terrace table and chairs, every delivery is so different, so it keeps the job exciting and interesting and it is always nice to see the smile on a face of the customer as they look forward to using their new furniture and relaxing in their holiday home.
Another part of my job is to keep stock of new items going into the warehouse, these arrive from all over Spain as well as the Far East by container. I take pride in keeping the warehouse tidy and well organized with all the ranges stocked together with bar coded labels. The upkeep and cleanliness of the van is also an important job in between deliveries.
I ensure new items are taken to the shop to be put on display and help arrange the shop´s layout with the sales staff. Keeping the shop looking nice can involve hanging mirrors or pictures, changing lighting or even painting.
My day runs straight through until 7pm. as the company doesn´t close for siesta to be more convenient for the clients. It is a pleasure to work with a very friendly team for what I consider to be the best shop on the coast to buy your furniture from.
Friday, 8 April 2011
A day in the life of.....Sarah, Sales and Design team
I am Sarah the newest member of the “Mad About Furniture “ team, I joined the company nearly one year ago in April 2010 and I am very pleased I did!
My typical working day starts with the horrible ringing of my alarm clock at 9.00am!! I know that’s not particularly early but I am not a good early morning person, so after the quickest shower, getting dressed , make –up on and I am out of the door at 9.45am ready for work 10.am. The shop is open 10am through to 7pm and doesn’t close for siesta, so if you can only pop in your lunch hours then it’s not a problem as we are open.
My role is sales and helping clients with their needs and requirements. I love helping with coordinating colours and design. I have 22 years of experience in different careers from window dressing, fashion stylist and interior design so all incorporate a flair and eye for matching shades and colours and designs of fabrics, furniture and accessories.
I like meeting our clients in the shop and asking if I can assist in what they are looking for. As well as all the items we stock we have a large collection of suppliers whom we work with so if our client can’t see what they are looking I will sit down with them and go through some brochures to ensure they have the perfect item they need.
As well as individual items of furniture sales I also get involved in complete furniture packages and interior design.
I visit the client’s new apartments and evaluate and measure for their requirements. I check for how many light fittings are required, what size and how many curtains they would needed etc. I advise and take note of the space available for items in all rooms including size of dining tables, sofas and beds etc. Taking into account all the wood finishes, floor colouring and wall coverings I then put together a full inventory for the client to include photographs and individual prices.
Steve and David have built up a fantastic company with excellent quality furniture at affordable and not silly prices
so it’s a pleasure to sell and advise clients on products that I would happily purchase myself .
Monday, 28 March 2011
Wednesday, 28th March 2011
If you are interested in buying a property in the Costa del sol or already own a home here, you could do worse than get hold of a copy of last weeks Sur in English and the supplement about buying in The Malaga area.
Yes, it is that time of year when people are trying to talk up the coast as the summer seasons but I found it to be a balanced view with sensible comments by people in the know and the articles useful to any wannabe buyer.
The south of Spain has had a tough time over the last few years, not unlike but maybe more severe than others of Europe but now may be a good time to start thinking about owning that second home in Spain.
To give you some of the highlights, the Costa del sol is a large area that has seen a building boom go bust and there are thought to be 400,000 empty properties around unsold and lying empty. In some areas where there have been massive overbuilding property prices have fallen by 40% and the experts think that they will have to fall another 20% before they start to see interest return and actually some properties are un-saleable do to either location or concept.
that's the bad news over, as in all areas, location, location, location is key and where there has been a more organic growth and quality builds, property prices haven't been anywhere near as effected. One of the main reasons for bargains around in these areas isn't anything to do with the property being worth less money, it's because the owner has had financial problems at home mainly Ireland, England and Germany and so have had to unload their property at a bargain price.
As we move forward these will become less frequent and will again help stabiles the Market. One thing that they don't mention in the report is that borrowing has had a major factor in reducing prices, people just can't get the finance easily and this is depressing the market further.
One thing is certain is that the speculators have gone. The guys who want to make a quick buck won't be back for a while and that’s a good thing, with buyers looking for property to use themselves and for the long term it will create a much more sustainable Market for the long term and that's a good thing for all of us.
There are undeniably loads of great properties to choose from and if you have either the cash or the finance in place there has never been a better time to buy. Will prices go down further? Not much in the good areas the experts say so if you are thinking of buying and thinking long term now could be the right time. We have been here 10 years and can't think of a better place to have as a holiday home.
Monday, 21 March 2011
A day in the life of..... Steve Dixon, Director
A day in the life of......Steve Dixon, Director.
My working day starts at 10 in the morning and the alarm doesn't wake me until 8.20. It's a far cry from 6am starts and cold journeys on the m25 that I had to endure every day when working in the UK.
First task is to let “Ebony” our black labrador and “Gibs” the cat out for a wee and then it's tea and back to bed to watch the news headlines for half an hour. Breakfast is always cereal with soya milk.
Ebony gets a walk on the beach on the way to work and this is something else that I appreciate every day. She comes to work with us and sleeps all day on one of the rugs but wags her tail when anyone comes in the store. The shop opens at 10am and that's when Sarah also arrives. Tea and lots of it are drunk in the first hour while we plan the day.
The delivery guys, Jason and Sorin have already been on the go for an hour as they start at am every day. They have been with us for 5 years and it is their job to deliver furniture to customers and to organise our warehouse. When we install a complete furniture package they have the job of installing all the lights, putting up the bathroom mirrors , showers screen and hanging the curtains etc, etc. Sarah will then join the guys and help make all the beds, unpack the kitchen pack and lay out the apartment and when they have done all the hard work I will turn up, fluff up the cushions and make sure that everything is ready for the customer to move straight into.
It's basically a team effort and we are very focused on getting the job done to a high standard and on time. Our guys have been with us for 5 years and nether have had a day off sick or been late ,so you can't ask much more than that from your staff and colleagues.
Back in the store it is me and Sarah on the sales desk all day. We both take calls and talk to potential clients who come in the store. We don't need daily meetings as we are constantly talking about what is going on but we do sit down weekly and go through each client to make sure we are on top of things.
Everyone has their own responsibilities. Sarah deals with emails and sales enquiries she also keeps the website up to date and keeps a tag on deliveries and orders. My role is more focused on the buying making sure we have enough of the right stock and visiting Clients on site.
Davids desk is out of the way and this suits him. He does all the administration and manages all the finances , he also makes sure that suppliers are paid and we are reaching our targets.
Lunch is always on the go and usually just fruit as we are aware that we will probably eat too much in the evening.
We buy most of our furniture from China and the Far East and we spend time away at exhibitions sourcing the products. This is one of my favourite parts of my job and David is the one who plans the trips and makes them easy.
We have been in business for 10 years next year and we are very proud of what we have achieved in this time. It's always a gamble uprooting and moving to a foreign country but it has certainly been a great experience for us and we have made a great life for ourselves over here. Going back to the UK would not be an option but you never know where we might end up, as long as its Ebony friendly and we can get sky tv!!! That's fine by me.
In-between clients I will be thinking about ranges and what we can buy next. Buying the right furniture at the right price is key and is probably the single thing that has got us through a down turn in the Spanish housing market but when you are confident that you have a great team, have great products in stock and competitive prices it keeps you positive and helps you sleep at night .
Our working day ends at 7pm and by then we are all ready to go home.
Finally at home its more dog walking on the beach ,our evening meal and then off too bed.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Buying a sofa
A few weeks ago on television I watched Mary Portas, she had a series where she tackled different sectors in the retail Market and went undercover as a sector shopper to see the kind of customer service she got from stores and then worked with the stores to improve the way they served customers.
This particular week was based on furniture shops and it was very interesting.
The first thing that it showed was that generally the service offered by large companies was dreadful. No one tried to find out what the customer wanted or asked any questions, it was all just the hard sell.
The second thing was that the things that Mary was trying to train the staff on were all second nature to us at mad about furniture.
Your sofas are probably the most expensive item you will buy for the home and it is something that you will have to look at and live with for a long time so it is important that you get it right.
What material would you like, mostly we sell leather because it's so practical, modern looking and comfortable. It will also last the longest, look the best for longer. Nowadays however there are some very good quality imitation leather available as well as some Suede materials that are all the rave and now with scotch guarding and new technology, materials are coming back in fashion,
Colour is vital, cream looks great in spain gives you that Mediterranean feel. Brown is the bestseller but the colour is up to you, treys, blacks and red are popular too. Advice, if you are not sure maybe it's best to stay neutral and use some great cushions to jazz things up, as you can replace these whenever you like
What about the style?
Modern low and with square arms, tall comfortable and traditional, how about a chaise so you can put your feet up. What about a relaxer built in.
Corner sofas are very popular and give you more seats in a smaller area. We also now have a corner sofa set in stock that has a built in iPad charger and player in the corner part and built in speakers so you get all the technology and it's all hidden too.
The important thing is to use someone who will help you to get it right and show you everything that is available so you make the best choice.
If you come to mad about furniture we will show you options, help you design what's best for you. We will visit your home and offer some great advice, measure the space so you get the right sofa first time. We have lots available from stock for immediate delivery or you can have one made to your requirements and delivered in only 30 days.
This corner sofa is only 1199€ that's great value and It's in stock.
Our leather sofa sets start at 1600€ and we have many around 2000€ we also have some lovely Italian made sets, they start from 3000€ but go up to 10,000€ and beyond
Mary, if your reading this please pop by, your welcome to secret shop in our store anytime.
This particular week was based on furniture shops and it was very interesting.
The first thing that it showed was that generally the service offered by large companies was dreadful. No one tried to find out what the customer wanted or asked any questions, it was all just the hard sell.
The second thing was that the things that Mary was trying to train the staff on were all second nature to us at mad about furniture.
Your sofas are probably the most expensive item you will buy for the home and it is something that you will have to look at and live with for a long time so it is important that you get it right.
What material would you like, mostly we sell leather because it's so practical, modern looking and comfortable. It will also last the longest, look the best for longer. Nowadays however there are some very good quality imitation leather available as well as some Suede materials that are all the rave and now with scotch guarding and new technology, materials are coming back in fashion,
Colour is vital, cream looks great in spain gives you that Mediterranean feel. Brown is the bestseller but the colour is up to you, treys, blacks and red are popular too. Advice, if you are not sure maybe it's best to stay neutral and use some great cushions to jazz things up, as you can replace these whenever you like
What about the style?
Modern low and with square arms, tall comfortable and traditional, how about a chaise so you can put your feet up. What about a relaxer built in.
Corner sofas are very popular and give you more seats in a smaller area. We also now have a corner sofa set in stock that has a built in iPad charger and player in the corner part and built in speakers so you get all the technology and it's all hidden too.
The important thing is to use someone who will help you to get it right and show you everything that is available so you make the best choice.
If you come to mad about furniture we will show you options, help you design what's best for you. We will visit your home and offer some great advice, measure the space so you get the right sofa first time. We have lots available from stock for immediate delivery or you can have one made to your requirements and delivered in only 30 days.
This corner sofa is only 1199€ that's great value and It's in stock.
Our leather sofa sets start at 1600€ and we have many around 2000€ we also have some lovely Italian made sets, they start from 3000€ but go up to 10,000€ and beyond
Mary, if your reading this please pop by, your welcome to secret shop in our store anytime.
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