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Yesterday (7 March), the British Embassy in Sofia hosted the GREAT British Spring Show and showcased the excellent UK retail brands available in Bulgaria.

The UK is one of the leading retail markets in Europe and is home to everything from internationally recognised brands to artisanal small businesses. Its retail sector has proven resilient, with sales reaching £403 billion in 2020.

Globally, the UK is the second most popular destination for elite shoppers, taking a 31%share of the market, and is an exciting location for high-end retail shoppers from all five continents.

UK retail brands are known for their high quality, sustainability practices and innovation. This, combined with the sector’s size and variety, provides a range of market opportunities for retail businesses choosing to operate also outside of the UK by franchise formations or agent distribution.

This year’s GREAT British Spring Show showcased brands such as Paul Smith, The Body Shop, Laura Ashley, Cole Beauty, Scottish Fine Soaps; English Soap Company; Yardley London, Westbarn, Dr PawPaw, Philip Kingley, Superdry, Pepe Jeans, Adnams Distilleries and Jaguar Land Rover.

Exhibitors Information:

• Paul Smith – the famous designer once said: ‘You can find inspiration in everything’. With this Paul Smith champions positivity, curiosity and creativity. The company recently celebrated 50 years of design knowhow in refined yet relaxed tailoring for men and women through to casual trainers and formal bags and accessories. The brand is represented in Bulgaria by the fashion retailer MDL.
• Laura Ashley was a Welsh fashion designer and businesswoman. She originally made furnishing materials in the 1950s, expanding the business into clothing design and manufacture in the 1960s. In 1979, the company launched its home furnishings collections. Laura Ashley Bulgaria, has been the exclusive representative of the brand in Bulgaria since 2007 and for this period they have made popular the British chic in the interior and have furnished thousands of homes in Bulgaria and in the region.
• The Body Shop - a global beauty brand, founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick. The Body Shop team are passionate about using sustainably sourced, natural ingredients and ingredients of natural origin, and they are working towards using natural ingredients based on regenerative farming.
• Zlatna Ribka the famous shop for beauty and care with a 15 year presence on the Bulgarian was exhibiting four UK brands.
• Westbarn Co, with HQ in Durham is a company that focuses on creating high quality brow and skin prep products for professional makeup artists. The brand distributes to over 60 countries around the world. Their products can be found in prestigious stores like Harrods, Liberty London and Urban Outfitters.
• Philip Kingsleys hair products are about complete wellness for hair and scalp. Company’s approach encompasses enhancing nutrition and general wellness, using products specifically formulated for hair texture and condition.
• British brand Dr. PawPaw provides balms, hand creams and hair care. Family owned, they we were founded in 2013. Today Dr.PawPaw is a multi-award winning range loved by celebrities, is in the kits of make-up artists and used on set for major Film and TV productions and in the homes of families all around the world.
• Intelfarm is a company that for more than 15 years has been the exclusive distributor on the Bulgarian market of leading British cosmetic brands such as:  Kent Brushes; Cole Beauty and Scottish Fine Soaps; English Soap Company; Yardley London
• Global Brands Bulgaria is an exclusive distributor of world-famous brands Pepe Jeans and Superdry for Bulgaria and with stores in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas.
  • Pepe Jeans was born in London in 1973. By 1980 Pepe Jeans London was rivalling with all of the big UK brands for number 1 spot in the market place, becoming the British most successful jeans brand ever. In 1983 Pepe Jeans London started its international expansion to Ireland and two years later towards Continental Europe and USA.
  • Superdry has a significant local presence around the world, operating through 740 Superdry branded stores in 61 countries.
• Guests also had the opportunity to taste the exquisite Adnams gins. Adnams is a family-owned company based in the heart of Southwold on the east coast of England. In 1872, the two brothers George and Ernest Adnams started a brewery which 150 years later keeps on providing some of the finest quality spirits.
• Parked in front of the Residence was the new Land Rover Sport. Moto Pfohe is the official importer and dealer of Jaguar and Land Rover.