Commercial property advice from Wake Smith Solicitors has helped leading giftware supplier Puckator expand its UK operations in Sheffield.
Paul Gibbon, director in the commercial property team at the Sheffield solicitors worked with Puckator sales director Matt Shaw on securing the new bigger business premises in the city’s iconic Park Hill.
Puckator, which has bases in Sheffield, Cornwall, Italy and Spain, has 25 years experience as a leading importer, designer and trade supplier of wholesale giftware, collectables, homeware and novelties.
The expansion into Park Hill’s commercial units from Broomhill, sees the company, which currently employs 160 people worldwide and has a turnover of £20m, buy office space in Sheffield’s newest creative quarter.
Matt Shaw said: “We were looking for somewhere to buy and I saw Urban Splash’s development of the iconic Park Hill Flats. We were attracted to the commercial units because of the location and space. It is unique – there is nowhere else like it.
“The bespoke space, created from former flats, has been designed around our needs and offers bright, light, open plan studios, offices and meeting rooms enclosed by glass, exposed concrete and beautiful natural wood.
“It is a lovely place to work and there are great views of Sheffield. There is also an interesting dynamic of companies here.”
Puckator has taken a 2,500 sq ft office providing a base for the company’s design team to expand as well as more room for meetings and administration and sales staff.
Matt added: “We have just taken on a new German speaker and are hoping to employ at least three more designers for our five-strong design team here in the next 12 months to satisfy an increasingly growing market share.
“We have been trading for 27 years but have grown rapidly in the last four years and this move reinforces our growth and ambitions.
“The advice from Paul Gibbon at Wake Smith was superb. I have dealt with plenty of lawyers over the years and Paul provided us professional and honest advice.”
Puckator’s move sees 12 employees work from the new office.
Paul Gibbon said: “This is an exciting time for Puckator with regards to both company growth and new premises.
“The work redeveloping Park Hill is not just about creating some fantastic living accommodation but also using the building for businesses, retail and hospitality. We wish Puckator the best of luck in their new offices.”
Regeneration firm Urban Splash created a range of commercial space options as part of its redevelopment at the iconic flats with units from 500 sqft to 30,000 sqft.
Park Hill has now become home to businesses including CAN Studios, creative agencies Uber and Human, Warp Films, construction and engineering specialists Alpha Recruitment, architectural cladding company Cloaked, customer relationship management specialists Airship, research consultant Kada Research.
Phase 1 of the redevelopment in flank one at Park Hill is now complete, including 260 new homes, 10 contemporary workspaces, and the new Grace Owen Nursery, meaning over 600 people now live and work at Park Hill, which was given Grade II Listed Building status in 1998.
