The dream of Sofia

Anyone walking through the store with Lyuben Milchev quickly realises that the idea of small and medium-sized businesses, namely that local retailers know their customers well – and vice versa – works everywhere. Also in Sofia. In May, Milchev opened the ninth and largest location of his Praktis DIY chain there, covering almost 23,000 m² (DIY International already reported on this), and he says of this location: „This store was my dream.“

The fact that he is currently guiding a visitor through the store on the outskirts of the Bulgarian capital with obvious joy and justified pride does not prevent him from making direct contact with customers during the tour. At one point, a couple asks for more items in the garden furniture department, which the boss takes care of himself. And at another point, a woman approaches him directly to thank him for a delivery – personally, with a bottle of wine. And the visitor thinks: Exactly, this man knows his customers and his market.

And he knows the DIY store concepts of many competitors worldwide, because as a member of Edra, he travels a lot. This is also evident in his new dream store: an open and spacious floor plan, lots of light, a warm shopping atmosphere and modern presentation forms characterise the image. The shelving systems were supplied by Polish specialist Mago. Prices are displayed electronically in Bulgarian lev and euros. Bulgaria, an EU member state, will introduce the European currency on 1 January 2026.

Visitors notice the modern shopping atmosphere as soon as they enter the store when they look at the paint and wallpaper department. Low shelves with wooden decorations in a suggested roof shape intuitively emphasise the theme of home improvement. The lighting department is also located close to the entrance.

In general, home improvement plays an important role in Bulgarian DIY stores. Like other DIY retailers in the country, Praktis stores have large furniture departments with a wide range of products that goes far beyond small furniture: beds and upholstered furniture, office furniture and cabinets are also included. A dedicated planning service is offered for kitchens, including large and small appliances (from espresso machines to…