The UK's largest independent retailer of lighting is to open a 15,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution unit in Birmingham.
Christopher Wray Lighting Emporium is to establish its Midlands manufacturing and distribution operation at Kings Road Industrial Estate, Tyseley, Birmingham. The site is owned by Brixton's Industrious.
The address of the new business maintains a coincidental historic link with Christopher Wray's original premises in Kings Road, Chelsea.
Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength, employing over 200 people while operating from 15 locations in the UK and Japan.
The company supplies architects, interior designers and electrical contractors around the UK and also exports to professionals and private individuals around the world.
The new centre is situated between the company's branches in central Birmingham and Solihull, providing a perfect location to serve both centres.
"Our product range consists of over 3,000 contemporary and classic lighting designs for home and garden and therefore the supply chain between warehouse and customer is a critical issue," said Intesar Malik, distribution manager of Christopher Wray Lighting Emporium. The site in Kings Road is one of Birmingham's traditional industrial locations four miles from Birmingham city centre.
In recent years the area has become increasingly popular with national retailers seeking to locate regional distribution points, attracted by destination shopping centres such as the new Bullring, Mailbox and Solihull's Touchwood Shopping Centre.
These centres have underlined the economics for lower stocking levels in retail units in favour of a low cost space in a local warehousing facility.
