A CHAINSAW retail and repair centre is expanding with a new £450,000 storage facility after seeing sales grow by 10% in the past seven months.
Gustharts Chainsaw Centre, at the Milkhope Centre on the Blagdon Estate in Northumberland, was rapidly running out of space in its old 2,500sq ft unit due to the success of the firm’s website which was launched in February.
Trade has increased four-fold in recent months according to partner, Rob Gusthart, after seeing chainsaws and lawnmowers sell both domestically and overseas.
He said: “The move is the latest stage in a story of continual growth since the business began trading in 1985 as one of the first tenants at the Milkhope Centre.
“We’ve been very fortunate in growing despite current economic conditions and have invested profits back into the business, so we’re now the region’s main dealer for brands such as Stihl chainsaws and Viking gardening equipment.
“Like any other online trader, we need large amounts of stock to supply our customers’ requirements and we’re running out of space due to the success of the website. The new unit will become a showcase for Stihl products and a model for similar centres in other parts of the country.
“There’s seven of us working here at the moment, but we’re looking to take on another employee when we move into our new unit in November.
“We’re hoping to improve footfall by enhancing our displays and allowing customers a chance to preview the products. There are trees outside the estate, and we are working with our landlords to allow customers to try our chainsaws in real-life situations before they buy.”
Construction work by main contractors, Brims, is scheduled to be complete by mid- October, with an additional shop-fitting programme in Stihl branding finishing in time for an official December opening.
Designed by Newcastle-based architects, Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall (JDDK) Ltd, the new facility combines a steel frame and block construction with traditional rural design to sit comfortably with the existing retail units, themselves conversions of farm buildings.
Architect Clair Mawston said: “The old unit was 2,500sq ft, while this new building will be 3,500sq ft on the ground floor with an additional 2,000sq ft of storage space on the first floor. Our joint challenge was to blend traditional elements with contemporary features to create a building which sits well within the existing context. The use of the roof space as a storage area allows us to maximise the available floor space while keeping the overall form of the building low in line with the surrounding structures.”
Mark Wood, Blagdon Estate’s agent, said: “We’ve worked with JDDK for many years and are always impressed by the way their designs provide for complex demands for internal space but still seem to be very natural in appearance. Rob’s company has been one of our anchor tenants at the Milkhope Centre and we’re delighted to have been able to accommodate their requirements for additional space. The centre is doing very well with all units occupied and we have several enquiries for the Gustharts unit.”
