An online retailer of premium beauty and skincare brands is relocating its warehouse and fulfilment function from London to Peterborough and is seeking to recruit locally now.
Skin Research Group – an online retailer of a number of specialist, premium skincare brands, including vegan brand, Dr Botanicals – is moving the logistics arm of its business from London’s Docklands to Peterborough, having recently purchased premises in Orton Southgate.
The news has been confirmed by property agency Barker Storey Matthews who acted on behalf of the vendor in the sale of the over 10,000 sq ft (941 sq m) unit at 8 Holkham Road, Orton Southgate.
The unit was extensively refurbished and upgraded by the vendor ahead of the sale to Skin Research Group. The final sale price remains commercially confidential but Barker Storey Matthews confirms the unit was marketed with a guide price of just under £500,000.
Skin Research Group has a current headcount of 30-plus employees and begins its warehouse and fulfilment operation from its new Peterborough base this month (December).
The company is actively recruiting for warehouse operatives based in the local area to work at its new city warehouse facility.
Richard Walker is the Chief Executive of Skin Research Group which he founded six years ago, in 2011. While the company’s head office will remain in Central London, in explaining the transfer of the logistics side of his business from London he points to the affordability of Peterborough’s industrial stock as a property investment, as well as the day-to-day practicalities of the delivery and supply side of his business.
He comments, “In acknowledging that the availability of industrial units is an ongoing issue in hotspots across the country as logistics demand grows, commercial property in Peterborough shines through because of the added value of the city’s excellent transport links and the area’s large population from which to recruit warehouse operatives at all skill levels.”
Richard Jones, Director, Barker Storey Matthews, adds, “The relocation of Skin Research Group’s logistics from London to premises in Peterborough confirms the appeal of our city’s established industrial areas such as Orton Southgate.
“Demand for commercial premises for occupier uses such as those of Skin Research Group and similar, niche suppliers, stockists and sellers, is expected ro remain constant as we head in to the first quarter of next year (2018).”
