Israel Romero / Sunday, April 6, 2025 / Categories: Blog Why does our store operate in Europe? Made in Spain Store has turned 5 years old this year; it feels like yesterday, and we continue moving forward in the gourmet world boldly and without role models, so we know there is much left to learn and to teach those who come after us. Believing in our own experience as the recipe to follow Europe: our natural market The keys to Made in Spain Store's success Our recommendations When, in mid-2019, we considered the possibility of creating a gourmet shop selling exclusively Spanish products, the idea was good, but what worried us most was the sales process itself. Would we know how to do it? What if customers asked for products we didn't have — what would we do? Many doubts caused by ignorance of the business, zero e-commerce experience; it wasn’t the best baggage to start this venture. But we were very clear on the business idea: if we brought together a group of interesting brands and products, and provided value through content generated by us, we could win people over, just as we had fallen in love with the producers ourselves. And that’s when we started researching how the online gourmet market in Spain looked… it was really hard to describe. The vast majority of websites were awful, with zero engagement. And the ones we saw that were doing it well were physical businesses that had, over time, developed into the digital space, and we were light years behind in everything: products, positioning, design… we seemed from another planet. Believing in our own experience as the recipe to follow Still, we kept thinking our idea was good, and that looking too much at what other companies did wasn’t helpful if we didn’t start from the same point. We were 100% digital, and what we wanted was to be a useful and necessary website/store for people who desire, long for, and enjoy Spanish gourmet products. Exactly! That was what set us apart, and still does. Our niche focuses on 100% Spanish products. It was then we realized that if we wanted to spark interest, we should target an international consumer profile — someone who knows Spain and the best of the country, and who wants, above all, trust and not to be misled. Because I wouldn’t have trusted much at the start either when ordering food products, paying in advance, and having them shipped to my home in another country. That was the challenge. We had an advantage: our international community living in Barcelona — broad and from many different countries — would be very useful to test our idea. We had their trust beforehand, but it wasn’t easy to ask them to buy gourmet products from us when they didn’t have the habit of doing so with us. Having the website in no fewer than 32 languages would make reading easier, lengthen the time spent on the page, and increase our chances of conversion to a sale. Europe: our natural market The experiment with our community worked, and it gave us clues as to which markets might be most interested in our Spanish gourmet product store. And yes, when we began to see that most orders came from European Union countries, we couldn’t say we were surprised. Because, on one hand, being Spanish, it would seem logical that Spain would be our natural market — but it wasn’t. France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Lithuania… were the “regular customers.” Bingo! We were right. Europe loves us, values us, and desires our gastronomy beyond when they come on holiday to Spain. What happened was that if we didn’t come out of our shell, it was literally impossible for them to seek us out. The keys to Made in Spain Store's success Extensive weekly content. For us it is essential to share our knowledge with the people interested in the Spanish gourmet products we have selected for Made in Spain Store. Product characteristics, their particularities and differences from lower-quality alternatives, possible pairings, and who the brand owners are. Content creates trust and makes us accessible. It’s effort, sacrifice, and it builds relationships in the medium and long term — something many people aren’t willing to invest in. We are. A very special product selection. We choose and find products through unusual circumstances, recommendations, chance and sometimes coincidences. But for products to be Made in Spain Gourmet, they must be excellent, have attractive packaging, carry an exciting storytelling, and have owners whose values align with ours. It’s not an easy filter to pass, but those who do earn our love and our trust, and what a customer most desires: our 100% recommendation. Customer service. When you usually shop online you don’t expect anyone “behind the screen,” but we are there, always. Because we are not just an online shop; we are a hybrid store that wants to interact with our community as much as possible. We know our obligation is to advise, to generate trust, and to provide value. We could say the percentage of satisfied customers after our conversations or WhatsApp chats is very high. For us, this is an indispensable added value. Our gourmet packaging. When you see products in photos, you want them to arrive at home in the same condition. For us, that mission is fundamental. That’s why we dedicate more time and security resources to ensure products arrive in optimal condition to our customers. Producers take their time to craft their products, so we must preserve them with the same care. These five years have gone by quickly, but there is still much to do and many corners of Europe to reach. We will be delighted to welcome you to Made in Spain Store, your trusted shop for Spanish gourmet products. Our recommendations ROI&CO products ISBILYA products AUTHOR: Israel Romero, CEO of Made in Spain Gourmet. Our April Essentials Why are Cantabrian (Spanish) 00 anchovies so highly prized? Print 5 Rate this article: No rating Please login or register to post comments.