The Pen Shop is moving in the ‘Write’ direction with the opening of new flagship store
In the face of high street decline, Europe’s largest writing instrument specialist, The Pen Shop, is celebrating an exciting period of expansion, as it announces the opening of its flagship northern store.
The 25th UK store, which opened last week at Leeds’ new shopping experience, Trinity Leeds, marks an important milestone in The Pen Shop’s long-standing history, as it takes an important step forward to a position of strength in a key new location.
As the first shopping centre of this size to open in the UK for 18 months, Trinity Leeds represents a major city centre shopping development, to rival the UK’s other key shopping destinations.
Talking about the new developments, The Pen Shop’s Director of Finance, Andy Briggs, said: “The economic downturn has meant that the past three years have been difficult for all retailers but this is a significant moment in The Pen Shop’s history. We have been looking to develop a new site in Leeds and it was vital that we found the right location at the right time in order to continue to grow the business.
“The positioning for the new store was extremely important in order to attract the right footfall and maintain a strong visibility in the shopping centre.”
Thousands of consumers passed through Trinity Leeds on its 21 March opening day and The Pen Shop celebrated a large surge of customers in the space of only a few hours, with retail in its gift division particularly strong.
Whilst the strength of this North East company lies in the quality and service found in its stores, The Pen Shop firmly believes in moving with the times and its e-commerce arm now represents a significant part of the business. With sales on the increase and a new mobile site launch planned in the coming months, investing in e-commerce is a vital part of The Pen Shop’s development plans.
Yet despite the fact that we are living in a digital age, The Pen Shop’s sales are strong and according to Managing Director Colin McClymont, the handwritten word has a vital role to play in everyday communication.
Colin said: “In the modern day era of electronic communication, everyone texts and emails, so receiving a handwritten note is often even more special. As well as being collector’s items, luxury and premium pens and associated gifts have become fashionable accessories with our extensive new product launches and range of iconic brands, there truly is a pen out there for everyone.
“The needs of shoppers have changed significantly in recent years and it was vital for The Pen Shop’s development plans to expand into the right location as well as continuing to grow our web sales division. To be part of Trinity Leeds, the UK’s major new shopping centre, is a fantastic step forward for us.”
During the process of expansion into the new Trinity Leeds, Sintons LLP, who have enjoyed a long standing partnership with The Pen Shop, agreed the terms of leases between all parties.
Andrew Walker, Partner in Sintons’ Real Estate Department, who has worked with The Pen Shop for many years, said: “We are proud to have been working with The Pen Shop for many years, acting on all of their leases and it’s extremely exciting to have been a part of the business’ development into its new Trinity Leeds store.
“The key with all leases, where the premises are part of a new development, is not only to ensure the paperwork reflects the terms agreed between the parties but also to ensure the development and fit out timeline works legally as well as being workable on a practical level. Our strong and long term relationship with The Pen Shop’s management is an important factor in all of the work we do for them.”
For more information about The Pen Shop, visit www.penshop.co.uk or follow The Pen Shop on Facebook or Twitter.
