The new Leicestershire-based UK headquarters of multi award winning family-owned business Hallmark Consumer Services has officially opened, following a five-month bespoke refurbishment.
Hallmark specialises in providing outsourced services including e-commerce fulfilment and direct mail solutions to some of the UK’s household brands such as UNICEF, Hornby Hobbies and Visa.
In August, the company completed its purchase of the 42,000 square foot, seven acre site in Saxby Road, Melton Mowbray, Hallmark’s UK base since it was founded in 1992. The total £1.9million investment includes a complete and bespoke refurbishment that has brought back to life the former cold storage and haulage warehouse.
The move provides a doubling in Hallmark’s storage facility, an increase in its speed and efficiency in picking, packing and despatching orders for clients and lays the foundations for its expanding logistics activities.
Hallmark has also begun a job-creation programme that includes the appointment of two apprentices, one graduate and eight new full-time jobs.
The Mayor of Melton, Councillor Marilyn M Gordon, carried out the official opening of the new warehouse and office facility on Wednesday 18th December 2013, alongside Hallmark’s MD Chris Hall and Director Phil Hall.
Hallmark has experienced sustained, fast growth since 2010, which has been recognised in a number of national and regional awards including the Family Business Place National Red Ribbon Awards 2013, and the Midlands Family Business Awards 2012.
Commenting on the company’s new HQ, Chris Hall said: “We have experienced record turnover for the last three years, with double-digit growth in sales turnover, which has risen to over £5.3 million, representing an increase of 89 percent since 2010.
“The new HQ, warehouse and depot supports Hallmark’s strategy for ongoing expansion, projected growth and new business pipeline. The additional facilities and warehouse space not only increase our size and efficiency, but mean we can expand the range and size of goods we are able to store and ship, and loading of completed orders has been speeded-up by eighty percent.”
He added: “We have been in Melton Mowbray for twenty-one years and are pleased we were able to stay here; we have a longstanding, highly loyal and trained workforce across all our teams, many of whom walk to work, so the new premises, still in Melton, are a real boost. In addition Melton Borough Council has been extremely helpful and supportive.”
The Mayor of Melton, Councillor Marilyn M Gordon, added: “I am thrilled that Hallmark has reinforced its long-term commitment to Melton by retaining its UK base here in the town. The company is one of Melton’s biggest employers with a highly skilled, long-standing workforce and is playing a significant part in putting Melton on the map. Hallmark is a fast growing business and its excellent customer service is clearly paying dividends.”
Local property agents Mather Jamie assisted Hallmark with its 18-month search for the new HQ site. The purchase was part-financed by funding in excess of £1million from Barclays under the Funding for Lending Scheme, to include Barclays’ own cashback of up to £20,000. Hallmark worked with the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) towards securing a Regional Growth Fund grant for the HQ project.
