London indie retailer set to double its estate over next few months
While Paperchase’s stores around the country are in the final throes of closing-down sales, with all 100+ standalone shops and concessions preparing to shut, some quick work by the Postmark retail group has seen it win the tender to take on the five outlets in Network Rail sites – in London’s Victoria Station, London Bridge, Waterloo, and Kings Cross plus Birmingham New Street – as well as the Paperchase unit in Battersea Power Station and two other stores.
By the end of the summer, these new store additions will take Postmark, headed up by Mark and Leona Janson-Smith, to 15 outlets, more than doubling its current seven-strong estate. Also, the Birmingham New Street store will expand the Postmark brand outside of its London heartland.
Mark and Leona worked with their property agent, Paddy Bates, founder of Hatch who advised the sites.
As Paddy commented: “It’s really satisfying to see family-owned independents, such as Postmark trade among the national chains.”
“It’s an extremely exciting time for Postmark,” commented the retailer’s md Mark, “we’re delighted to be able to grasp this huge opportunity to grow our brand and offer even more members of the public our curated mix of quality greeting cards and stationery.
“I can’t thank our suppliers enough for the support they have shown us as we ramp up for this business expansion.”
These additional Postmark stores will be jointly owned by the Janson-Smiths and Cardzone, part of the joint venture agreement forged with the two retail businesses in April 2021 for future stores.
The Postmark-branded outlet is planned to open in Battersea Power Station on 7 April, and the aim is for the majority of the station units to have been converted to the new storefront by the end of April.
