A Gwynedd bubble firm that sells around the globe has registered as a French business to help navigate Brexit.
Dr Zigs - based on the Vaynol Estate near Bangor - has been an export success story, selling its bubble kits and mixture across the 海角视频 and overseas.
As the end of the Brexit transition period approached they became concerned about future sales in Europe and how the 海角视频’s exit from the single market and customs union could impact trade.
Owner Paola Dyboski-Bryant said: “Last year we were exhibiting at Nuremberg - one of the biggest toy fairs in the world, and at least half the buyers asked if we sold via Europe.
“All were already concerned about Brexit and the implications of trading with a 海角视频 company. This set of alarm bells for me, and on our return I started looking into what I could do to help Dr Zigs through Brexit.
"It was clear early on that we would have to register for VAT in the different countries, and some buyers were already asking us for a European address - there was certainly more awareness of the outcome of the 海角视频 becoming a ‘third country’ in mainland Europe than there was in the 海角视频.”
She started the registration for VAT in Germany, Italy and France in spring last year.
Paola added: “I’m so glad I did as it took nearly eight months for some of them to come through. Then in the summer I began to get concerned that leaving without a deal was a possibility, and began thinking about a plan B. For me that was setting up a Dr Zigs legal entity in Europe.
Most Read
“I have been lucky as I speak French, and was able to set things in motion in the summer. Finding lawyers, banks, and getting the process started.
"During the summer I was also able to set up some meetings with buyers, and having a EU business entity helped me clinch deals. began talks with a new distributor - and things started to take shape.”
In December she headed to France to their new distribution centre in La Rochelle to make sure the shipments would transit okay, buyers and systems would work, and to sign the final bits of paperwork.
Lockdowns have meant she has extended her stay - meeting accountants, banks and new distributors to establish a distribution network.
She is pleased with how it has gone.
She said: “We were able to test our new systems here and it works! The order arrived to our office in Wales, was transferred to our centre in La Rochelle here in France, and was shipped to our customer in Prague.
Sign up to the BusinessLive Wales newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn
As well as an in-depth early morning newsletter, we will be sending out regular breaking news email alerts. To sign up to this service
And, follow us on to catch the latest stories and to network with the Welsh business community.
Don’t miss
"We’re super excited for the potential we have with Dr Zigs.
"It’s been a challenging year, yet we’ve been overjoyed that the Bubbles have really come into their own, spreading so much happiness and joy in really difficult times.
"Now our Bubbles can travel even further, and that has got to be good news for everyone.”
She says manufacturing will remain in North Wales with jobs retained but that some work will now be carried out in France.
She added: “It may be that in future we have to move some assembly into Europe but it’s too early to tell.”
To have your say on this story please use our comments section at the top of this article