An online entrepreneur has set up the storage aspect of his business at a major trading estate in Southampton.
VR Direct, an importer and retailer of general merchandise, has moved into Central Trading Estate, in the shadow of the Saints’ home ground, St Mary’s Stadium.
VR Direct signed a five-year lease at £5.50 a sq ft on 418 sq m (4,500 sq ft) Unit 9A at Marine Parade – equivalent to £24,750 a year exclusive.
David McGougan, Hughes Ellard’s industrial space specialist, acted jointly with CBRE on the deal.
The estate is managed by LaSalle Investment Management on behalf of a pension fund client.
VR Direct, which sells the goods over the internet and has an office at Dalian, near Bejing in China, is owned and operated by Robbie Cheng.
He started up the business last September and had been searching for the right premises for six months.
David said: “This was an excellent fit for VR Direct – Robbie was drawn to the strategic location near the docks, competitive rent and a warehouse that can accommodate serious growth over the next few years. We wish him every success for the future.”
Nick Tutton of CBRE said: “VR Direct is in good company, with a number of national trade counter occupiers on the estate, including Magnet, Speedy Hire, R&M Electrical, Greeenham Trading and Johnstone Paints.”
Robbie said: “David and Nick have been very helpful in sourcing me the right premises, which is perfect for storing merchandise from China to sell on the internet, such as folding scooters and remote control helicopters.
“We’re already getting 30 orders a day and the size of the warehouse means we can upscale without having to relocate.”
With two other units on the estate currently under offer, the landlord has two units coming available in the next few months.
They are unit 2 at 1,016 sq m (10,940 sq ft), at £60,170 a year exclusive, and unit 5 at 882.5 sq m (9,500 sq ft) at £52,250.
Each unit offers clear span industrial/warehouse accommodation, with 5.5m internal eaves height and large loading doors. All are available on new leases for a term to be agreed.
