Part 2 of our mini-series where we meet entrepreneurs who have moved countries.
James Smith is the founder of Tributize.com, an internet platform where users create web pages for everything they love. Tributes to friends, family and famous people, you’ll find them all on Tributize.
James, you are originally from England, now living in Switzerland for many years. Is there anywhere else you lived before settling down? How do you remember those places?
I have lived in a few different countries before settling in Switzerland. I got a taste for the region after spending a wonderful summer in Liechtenstein. In Holland I was really impressed with the Dutch ability to speak so many languages – many people spoke better English than me. In America I lived in Chicago for two years and enjoyed the politeness and openness of the Americans despite hearing real gunshots every night from my apartment! I also lived in France while commuting over the border to work in Basel.
Today it is relatively easy to go and live or work within the European Economic Area. It wasn’t always like that, was it?
When I first came to Switzerland it was very difficult to obtain a work permit: my boss had to go to court to explain why he wanted to hire a foreigner. Once the job was finished the authorities would not issue another permit, so I had to go and live in France to be able to do the same job. One thing however that has not changed is the level of stress associated with moving, because you do not know anything really without having lived in a country before. For example, the areas to live in, what a fair price should be, or even something simple like opening a bank account, can be very tedious in some countries. In order to learn all the community rules, like where to sort the rubbish, I needed to start from scratch. One particular thing that I was not expecting was the fact that the English spoken in Chicago was not the same I was used to, so a little frustrating for me. As an example of unexpected transgression, I needed to light a bonfire in Switzerland, and have my neighbour swiftly extinguish it, to learn that such an activity is illegal here!
Are there any big challenges or bad experiences you have had personally? What would you have done differently?
One big mistake I did make was going to court here in Switzerland without a lawyer. There was a dispute about a house purchase, with a huge amount of evidence to prove my case. Nevertheless, in the end I had to manage four lawyers to conclude the case. Another challenge was to sell two cars here, because the general belief is that you need to be a professional to sell cars. This is quite different to the UK where there is more informality and more of a DIY mentality.
Overall though, you must have found it beneficial to venture abroad.
The main benefit is that you obtain a new perspective on your home country, and can start seeing thing clearly for what they are, as opposed to unquestionably believing you are the best. Just by comparing, you can see that some things are done better abroad, like safety and cleanliness in Switzerland. In terms of career, it certainly is beneficial to have international experience, because it shows ambition and initiative. It’s not the easy route, but pays off in the end.
Do you have any tips or advice for those hesitating to move around Europe? Like those just graduating, or those considering their first posting?
Just do it, you’ll never regret it!
Any reason why someone should think twice about exploring Europe?
Not really, providing you’ve done your research and got advice from the right people.
Tell me a little about Tributize, how did it start?
It started many years ago. I had been to the funerals of my grandmother and my uncle and on both occasions I had learned interesting facts about them which I did not know before. It seemed such a pity that these memories might be lost forever and so I looked for a way to preserve pictures, anecdotes and stories and share them with my family who live all over the world. This seemed like a common problem without an existing solution so I built Tributize – a platform for sharing good memories with friends and family.
What have you noticed about how people use Tributize? Perhaps you have some insights you would like to share.
We have users from more than 90 countries registered on our website – it’s a concept that appeals to everyone, regardless of nationality or location. The act of telling someone publicly and in a lasting way just how much they mean to you is very powerful and emotional.
What problems do you face being in one country whilst your customers are all over the world? There must be a few restrictions like regulations, taxes, currencies.
In fact it is quite the opposite, it is incredibly easy to be based here and provide this service. Company foundation is easy, the taxes are minimal. On the flip side, Switzerland is a high cost location, so hiring people needs to be properly thought about.
James, thank you very much for your time.
