2 British firms eye Phl mart

MANILA, Philippines - Two British retail companies have expressed interest to enter the Philippine market.

United Kingdom (UK) Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Anwar Ahmad told reporters during the British Fashion Month launch, a British lifestyle company plans to open stores in the country.

“In shopping malls, you will see very soon a (British) lifestyle company.(This is) a place where people can hang around in a British environment...a place where people can have a drink and then have some food,” he said.

He said a major British drugstore company is likewise interested do business here.

“We’re in discussion at the embassy with a number of others but they will be launching themselves,” he added.

UK Trade and Investment director Iain Mansfield said earlier two to four British fashion retail brands are expected in the country this year.

The fashion brands are planning to come to the country by forging partnerships with local companies.

The Philippines is seen as an attractive location for British retail brands given the growing economy, the Filipinos’ higher consumption spending and presence of strong local retail companies.

“People are buying and when people are buying, businesses are interested,” Ahmad said.

Another factor drawing the interest of British retail brands here, he said, is the country’s relatively young population who are conscious of what they’re wearing and always want to look good.

Local mall owners also want to bring in the British retail brands here.

Ahmad noted that mall owners are interested to have Primark, a popular clothing brand, open stores in the country.

“Everybody wants them to come here but I am not sure they’re ready yet to internationalize because they want to be very careful that the model that works in the UK will work here too,” he said.

Should Primark be interested to do business here, he said the embassy would be willing to provide the company information needed to establish its presence in the country.

Many UK labels have opened shops in local malls and retail centers which include Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse, Burberry, Paul Smith, Dunhill, Superdry and Mothercare.