Co-owners ‘elated’ with new store opening as indie retailer’s expansion gets underway
Minor last-minute hitches may have slightly delayed the opening of the newest and biggest shop in Postmark’s growing retail empire – but co-owners Mark and Leona Janson-Smith are already over the moon with the Battersea outlet, which was previously a Paperchase store.
“We opened on Tuesday after a couple of last-minute hold-ups,” Mark told PG Buzz, “but the first couple of days have been phenomenal and we’re elated with how it’s started.”
Mark admitted it all got a little hectic in the lead-up to the opening on Tuesday, 11 April, just three days later than planned, so he and Leona completely forgot to have their picture taken in the revamped store but he added: “We’re so happy to have the doors open – come down and say hello!”
The new outlet is in the iconic grade II* listed Battersea Power Station which has been brought back to life as an exciting and innovative mixed-use neighbourhood with shops, bars, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues, including the Lift 109 viewing experience which has an elevator in the north-west chimney that takes visitors 109m to the top for 360-degree views over London’s skyline.
The new Battersea store is the first stage in Postmark’s expansion to more than double its current seven-strong estate by taking over eight prime sites left vacant by the collapse of the Paperchase chain – the five Network Rail outlets in London’s Victoria Station, London Bridge, Waterloo, and Kings Cross plus their first venture outside the capital in Birmingham New Street, along with the Battersea unit and two other stores.
These additional Postmark stores will be jointly owned by the Janson-Smiths and Cardzone, part of the joint venture agreement forged between the two retail businesses in April 2021 for future stores.
Mark added: “Battersea is our biggest store to date and it’s been interesting increasing our range in such a short amount of time but the team have done an exceptional job.
“The rest of the expansion is in full flow with two more due to open next week. They won’t be Postmarks as we know them for a while as we’re working with the old fittings but, once they’re all open, we will work through re-fitting them.”
Battersea Power Station has recorded a footfall of five million since it first opened six months ago, Retail Gazette reported last week, with more brands set to launch in the main shopping area and the new Electric Boulevard pedestrianised High Street.
Battersea Power Station Development Company ceo Simon Murphy told the magazine: “It has been brilliant to see so many people visiting – to have welcomed more than five million people down since the landmark opened has been a huge achievement.”
