I went to sleep last night thinking about emigration and spent the night dreaming I was on the set of Neighbours and rapidly developing an Australian accent. I woke up inflecting sentences up at the end! Horrible!
You see, according to the Office for National Statistics a quarter of a million of us left the UK permanently last year, an increase of 70% since 1997 and the main reason for leaving was sited as “for a better lifestyle”.
I can see why. Right now the UK is a pretty depressing place. Between politicians sternly telling us to tighten our belts whilst they blow their huge personal allowances at John Lewis, the continued guilt trip of climate change, the haywire weather and the social disorder it feels like it is time to get the hell out and not come back.
With all of this going on it doesn’t surprise me that one of the most popular questions I am asked is “How can I earn a living in Turkey?”, because even with large equity windfalls in the coffers earning tempting Turkish interest rates people want to have an active new life abroad.
I’m a great proponent of niche business in Turkey. I think there are several sectors that can be explored to provide income for people, assist the general economy of the area and allow people an interesting new lifestyle.
Generally the whole “run a bar” thing is out as a viable option although as a selfish ex-pat I’d be delighted to see some more fine dinning opportunities! You are unlikely to get a work permit to run a mainstream bar and the competition is fierce and likely to be cut throat. Equally estate agency is a non starter for similar reasons.
If you want to get rich quick I would try another country, Turkey is about lifestyle opportunities not riches beyond you wildest dreams. That said though I do have a friend who is doing extremely well by exploiting a niche business into a franchise opportunity, but he started as a niche and just saw his opportunities and took them!
With a growing middle class that appreciates and values Western style facilities and an increase in well heeled travellers to the Aegean region then anything to do with spa facilities, health and fitness and alternative therapies will do well in the right premises with the right marketing. Also, Turkey has always given significant social standing to artists and intellectuals and writers and artists find the area hugely inspiring so art galleries, creative writing workshops and other creative teaching will find a natural home here.
The increase in mortgage availability brings a greater emphasis on the home as showcase for the individual and western interior design and styles are lauded in the growing proliferation of interiors magazines. So cottage industries turning out quality hand crafts and soft furnishings will find a market and any small enterprise that trains local people and provides employment, no matter how few, will be welcomed.
In our area of Aegean Turkey I would love to see more antique shops, both architectural antiques and the smaller home furnishing pieces. We are far from the antique riches of the Istanbul back streets and as I wrote in this blog a long time ago the natural Turkish disregard for “Eski” (old) things has meant a dearth of such things in this region. So a keen antique spotter willing to travel to collect stock and bring it back to Kusadasi will do very well and have amazing fun into the bargain.
I think whatever you do you have to love it and have a real interest and enthusiasm in it. I love our old stone houses which is why I am willing to slog around in mud and put in 16 hour days when we are working on one. If I didn’t love it I would simply have stayed in social care and spent my time second guessing the behaviour of asbo holders from a nice warm office!
So think niche, and think about what you can bring to the area, and think about what you love and you are part way towards your all important business plan.
posted 15-03-2008