Opening an overseas branch in the UK
July 23rd, 2007 by Jurga Galvan
Quite often you hear news stories which divulge details about the latest new company to hit our shores, but why in our current economic climate are overseas companies opening branches in the UK? This is indeed a very good question, because as we know, the pound is incredibly strong against almost every other major currency, so moving, setting up and staffing a UK venture can be very costly for the overseas investors. Yet still they come.
Taking a quick walk down any high street in a major city will help to explain. Using London as my example, a gentle stroll on a Saturday afternoon will yield a popular coffee shop on almost every corner; yes you guessed it - Starbucks. Starbucks hit our shores 9 years ago with its first shop in Kings Road, Chelsea, and in that time have grown from strength to strength, popularised by international television and sitcoms, the English people are no longer satisfied in the café anymore, instead we want elegance, we want choice and more importantly we want it now. Furnished better than many homes, it’s a place to meet, share and enjoy while taking in the atmosphere and of course, get a cup of gourmet coffee.
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