Gift company Apples to Pears has branched out by moving into new offices at the Bond’s Mill Business Estate in Stonehouse, near Stroud.
The expanding company has taken a five-year lease on 2,000 sq ft in the Wheelhouse, owned by Robert Hitchins Ltd.
Apples to Pears, established in 2002, is a multi-million pound company, renowned for creating award-winning brands such as Gift in a Tin, and for developing innovative garden gifts such as ornamental watering cans which are sold to high street retailers like John Lewis and through independent gift shops.
The company has just announced a collaboration with the Natural History Museum and launched two exciting new dinosaur model Gift in a Tin products – Dippy the Diplodocus and a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Managing Director Clive Briscoe said: “We’re expanding fast and desperately needed to move. The new office gives us twice as much space. We love it. The Wheelhouse has lots of character. Old and new blend really well and it has been refurbished to a high spec.”
The landlord – Bond’s Mill Estate Ltd – is part of the Robert Hitchins Group. Its Accounts and Administration Manager for Robert Hitchins, Helen Hawke, wished Apples to Pears well at the Wheelhouse.
“The Wheelhouse is at the heart of Bond’s Mill Estate, formerly one of the major woollen mills in the Stroud Valleys. Its historic buildings and position on the banks of Stroudwater Canal and within easy reach of J13 of the M5, make it unique, offering versatile office accommodation finished to an exceptional standard.”
Bond’s Mill benefits from on-site management, a café and excellent car parking. There is another stunning office suite of 3,000 sq ft available in the Wheelhouse. For those seeking a smaller office, there are 500 sq ft suites. Flexible lease terms are available to suit occupier demand.
Mr Briscoe took over as MD and joint owner of Apples to Pears in 2016. He and his business partners Finance Director Sally Granger and Creative Director Mark Wash are part of a team of 13 in the UK.
The company exports to countries worldwide, including mainland Europe, the USA, Canada, South Africa and Australia.
The Natural History Museum is the latest addition to Apples to Pears’ licence portfolio which already includes BBC Earth Springwatch with which it creates models of birds and butterflies and The Clangers.
Robert Hitchins, based at Boddington in Gloucestershire, is one of the leading property developers and investors in the South West and South Wales. It provides the full development process from site acquisition and planning through to development and investment.
