Myself and Bulgarian Girlfriend are moving to Bulgaria in a couple of months. Not retirement age yet, 49. Currently run my own business selling photographic studio equipment here in the UK but with current USD exchange rates and competition the business just isn't making enough for long term survival here in the Uk so, selling my stock off now to build up some capital for the move. My Girlfriend does carved leatherwork, mainly making archery equipment but as new requests come in expanding into other areas. This business isn't enough to live here but would be a help in Bulgaria. Her business is registered here in the UK but from Bulgaria our plane would be to make the items there and possibly have a family member here to do local distribution. Also widening the customer base to europe should be easier from Bulgaria... need to find out about postage costs etc. I would need to find a new income after i've helped fix the house up. Probably something related to woodwork as I will be bringing wood workshop equipment with me to make doors and kitchen cabinets etc. But sure I will find some opportunities out there.

So that is the background.

Question really is what do I have to do here before moving there, inform the tax and vat man i'm closing business but how do you deal with paying your stamp etc so I still get my pension later in life. I'm sure there are many things that need to be done here but at a loss as to what. Any advice appreciated.

Neil

Sorry I can't help you with the UK side of things, but I am heavily into woodwork, mainly bespoke furniture and would welcome the chance to discuss some possibilities. My closest Bulgarian friend is a wizz at leather carving and he would also be a good contact..neither of us live too close to where you will be, so as not to be competition, but the old 'you scratch my back etc.) comes to mind.

I will help anyway I can.

Cool, good to know. we have asked around with some people who do leatherwork in Bulgaria, seems they get the leather imported from Spain. We will be bringing some to keep us going when we come.

Woodwork wise have stocked up on some tools, nothing too big as I need to get it in the transport with our furniture, have:

Planner thicknesser
Table saw
bandsaw
drill press
router+bits and table
Morticer
Compound Mitre saw
Dust extractor
(should be enough to kill my electric)

and variety of hand tools etc.

Will either buy somewhere there to convert into a workshop or build one on the land.

Getting the timber is hard in our area, Vidin, as mostly green and cheap ply. So far Sofia is our nearest although not been there to see the quality or availability. Even concidered setting up my own kiln as if it is hard for me to find ,it will be hard for others = demand = business. Especially as more and more europeans move there.

We will be popping to Plovdiv no doubt as we love it there so we can meet up some time for a chat and share of ideas etc ... over a few pints of course

Neil

Take a look might be of interest to you:

[url:1an5ixna]http:
//americanwoodworker.
com/blogs/projects/archive/2009/09/29/solar-kiln.
aspx[/url:1an5ixna]

Should have no trouble drying some stock in the summer months in Bulgaria.

Neil

hi great to hear what you do and want to do. My husband does leather craft and makes all sorts of handbags mens bags sheaths for knives etc the list goes on.
All leather and tools and buckles etc he has shipped in from Tandys order via the internet delivery just a few days.

He fits camper vans and caravans too so he has all sorts of wood working tools and equipment and is always happy to help where he can as we both are.

As for England and stamp etc contact dept of works and pensions and tell them you are hopefully working in Bulgaria whilst there for some time and would like to pay your contributions whilst not living in England. That's how we pay ours as we are not of retirement age yet either.

timber is various so it depends what you want to work with but there are many different timber yards around. I doubt any one is going to have a kitchen fitted in any thing else then pine because that is what they know here and to be honest kitchen units in the shops are so various wood stainless steel laminates and so resonable in price i do wonder if there is a market for a kitchen fitter. In England a bespoke kitchen 30 to 40 thousand pounds but here i can't see that happening. good uck though and i hope i am wrong It was always said in England that the kitchen should be 10% the value of the house well that says it all really same here 20 thousand house 2000 kitchen!

Good to know there are others doing leatherwork. Does your husband use Tandy in Spain or UK. Latinka was chatting to a Bulgarian leatherworker and he moved he's supply to the Spanish Tandy as the delivery and quality was better.

Latinka's site:

[url:1mglgrkd]http:
//www.
artemisleathercraft.
com[/url:1mglgrkd]

Hope this is not looked on as advertising... please no one buy anything, only linking for anyone interested.

Neil

looked at her work it's very nice. It might be a good idea in the future that people that order leather etc buy together for better prices.
The Tandys delivery has come from UK and from Spain and some dirrect from America the American leather was not good. breaks and marks all through it.

I shall post some photos of Colins work when i can work it out! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Latinka was thinking of trying to source a supplier in Turkey as they are good with the leatherwork. We will let you know if we have any success.

Yes agree about mass orders if there are a number of people wanting leather etc. The trouble we found with tandy was they sometimes send leather that no one wuld buy from their store because of marks, scars etc. We moved to another supplier here in the UK. If we find they dispatch to bulgaria we will let you know. Price was good even though we have an elite membership with Tandy.

One of the products I manufacture is from beech wood, kiln dried , I got some from a man down the road from our factory near Vidin he got it from a friend from near Montana

Im not sure on the exact source but Ive just done a search and there is a massive place cutting it near Montana ( they say they also sell smaller amounts and retail ) , but if not an email will suggest a place they sell to that will supply

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Ive found that everything is specialist in Bulgaria, one company for each type of wood

Will. Looking foward to hooking up with you soon.

ellisn wrote:

So that is the background.

Question really is what do I have to do here before moving there, inform the tax and vat man i'm closing business but how do you deal with paying your stamp etc so I still get my pension later in life. I'm sure there are many things that need to be done here but at a loss as to what. Any advice appreciated.

Neil

Ellisn This is a very good site there is all sort of nfo [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This might help a little

Book disconnection of main services
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