Cyprus-Forum.com

[DeepDooDoo]

Good evening forum members.

As you will see from my post count, I am a relatively new-kid on the block, but I have been around the Cyprus-Forum lurking for quite a while. My opening question could be classed as somewhat contentious, or it may be pure urban myth, but I'd like to ask about Cypriot business ethics and the possibility of physical injury or potential repercussions if I step on the wrong toes.

I've been in Cyprus for almost a year now, after moving here from Portugal. I'm a Brit and while I have no desperate need to work, I plan to in order to fill my days and be occupied. The business idea I have is, I believe, fairly unique to Cyprus, but a large part of it will encompass an aspect where there are native Cypriots already well established.

Rightly or wrongly, I have heard that this may not be taken too kindly to. A recent report in the 'Cyprus Mail' suggested that the cost of hiring an arsonist or a 'heavy' was minimal and that the practice was common-place in order to ward off competition. Is this statement likely to be true and do I need to be worried for myself/wife/business/home if I decide to undertake the venture?

What is the likely-hood of my idea being copied and undercut by others? I'm not afraid of competition in a fair and open market, but stories relayed to me suggest that potentially my idea could be easily reproduced at minimal cost (whereas my set-up costs would be considerable) but offered with minimal professionalism and no regard to customer satisfaction or repeat business. Is this true of the general Cyprus market-place and business mindset, or yet again, another urban myth?

Finally, a number of my potential clients will be well-established, large Cypriot-owned businesses. Am I better to employ the services of a native Cypriot to sell my idea to the people that matter (ie those controlling the money), or will I stand any chance as a simple British individual with a good idea to propose?

Hopefully, I will have given you all a laugh by now at how 'green' I appear along with my limited (but slowly-improving) understanding of the Cypriot culture. My last 11 months in Cyprus have been nothing less than pleasurable and I have enjoyed it immensely. I have no desire to upset anyone who is Cyprus-related in any way, so I make my apologies now if I have annoyed anyone with my assumptions or observations.

With kind regards,

DDD

[Eliko]

DeepDooDoo, welcome to the forum and good luck with your enterprise, if your 'avatar' is anything to go by, you've little to worry about since you are in it already !.

[Oracle]

The devil makes work for idle hands ....... You acknowledge you do not have to work.

...... Seems like you are of limited intellect ....... so I look forward to reading about you in the Cyprus Mail

[DeepDooDoo]

The devil makes work for idle hands ....... You acknowledge you do not have to work.

...... Seems like you are of limited intellect ....... so I look forward to reading about you in the Cyprus Mail

And you gathered that, exactly how, Phoenix/Oracle/whatever your name is now? From one of only four posts I've made?

My limited intellect allowed me to post what I considered to be a number of reasonable questions, sensibly written and hopefully, well punctuated and intelligible. I also thought that my polite introductory manner would help to serve me well into my first serious foray into the forum.

I also apologised (in advance) for my lack of knowledge in subjects that may offend or that I had heard/read wrongly.

My is bad.

[Oracle]

The devil makes work for idle hands ....... You acknowledge you do not have to work.

...... Seems like you are of limited intellect ....... so I look forward to reading about you in the Cyprus Mail

And you gathered that, exactly how, Phoenix/Oracle/whatever your name is now? From one of only four posts I've made?

My limited intellect allowed me to post what I considered to be a number of reasonable questions, sensibly written and hopefully, well punctuated and intelligible. I also thought that my polite introductory manner would help to serve me well into my first serious foray into the forum.

I also apologised (in advance) for my lack of knowledge in subjects that may offend or that I had heard/read wrongly.

My is bad.

Seems like you know yourself well ... to apologise in advance

[rawk]

What is the likely-hood of my idea being copied and undercut by others?

Isn't it spelt, "likelihood"?

rawk

[DeepDooDoo]

Rawk,

Yes, I looked at that long and hard before I posted - my spell-checker never picked it up. Apologies...

[Sotos]

Give DeepDooDoo a break! You don't have to worry about being physically harmed. If your competition is the underworld pimps, taxi drivers and that kind of people, or some of the estate agents then maybe you should worry about your car being burned if you go too tough on them. The possibility is minor of course and it can happen to anybody not just foreigners. Beyond that expect competition to be hard. Those other companies are established and have connections and you don't. And Cyprus is a free market so nobody can stop somebody else to take your idea unless you patent it or something.

[Hazza]

Agree with Sotos here, unless you are planning to go head to head with gangsters or Taxi drivers, you don't have anything to worry about. Whch part of Cyprus are you in?

Good luck with your venture and welcome to the forum.

[pantheman]

If your idea is that good and is seen to be making money, you can bet your bottom dollar that someone else will do it too.

As for selling it yourself, well unless you can speak greek well you are already fighting a difficult battle as you say you will be selling to the natives.

As for harm, I doubt that that is an issue, usually people that have cars or shops torched are themselves involve in some or the same crime so I don't think you need to worry on that front.

As for setting up with already establish outlets , so what, its a free market and if you can do yours better, good for you. They may not like you for doing it, but why care, you are in business and thats what business is all about.

Before you go spending money, setup, goods etc etc, do a little more on your intended market to get some feed back, this will give you a better idea if its worth proceeding.

Just a question? Are you planning to setup in the same vicinity as the others? Do you have to be there? Isn't your product/service good enough to be traded from some other location?

Just wondered.

Eitherway, good luck and let us know, when you have done it, what it is you do . You never know we may want to buy it to !