Member Article

Pen shop is write on for expansion

A North East company, which started life as a few shelves in a department store, is celebrating its 60th birthday with news it plans to expand further. The Pen Shop was opened in June 1946 in Grainger Street, Newcastle, when Tyneside brothers Thomas and George Allan ran out of space for writing instruments in their thriving department store, T&G Allan.Since then the company, which is managed from its Team Valley head office, has established itself as Europe’s largest chain of writing instrument stores, with stores and concessions in 25 major cities - including London, Edinburgh and Birmingham - and airports across the UK. And as The Pen Shop marked its 60th anniversary, managing director Colin McClymont revealed plans are afoot to further expand the firm.He said: “As we celebrate this milestone in the history of the company we are at a very exciting time in its development. We are now trading on an international stage at five airports, as well as within a number of Debenhams stores and at stand alone stores on the high street in cities across the UK. “Although we aren’t at the stage of being able to reveal specific details, we are seeking opportunities to expand all divisions over the next five years and I look forward to being able to make announcements soon.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .