SUPPLIER S HOWCA SE
a tenant with 26 employees to occupy
roughly 4,000ft2 (372m2) on the first floor.
In moving forward, executives carefully
contemplated Townsend’s future, coming
to the conclusion that the building would
be ideal to support growth or contraction
as it is composed of two tax parcels that
could be divided. “We could split the
building in half; we have separate utilities
for both,” says Beckett. “We could rent
that all out for office space and just use
this for storage. We were trying to think
about where we’re going to be and what
we’re going to do.”
businessjetinteriorsinternational.com
JANUARY 2020 063
Trend Talk
“Keeping our eye on the runway and red carpets, we’ve
seen that celebrities and other influencers are wearing
genuine leather skirts, pants and even earrings, and
accessorising with leather handbags and shoes. Although
we produce leather for upholstery purposes, we are big
believers in the inherent value of leather – its durability,
timelessness, elegance and breathability – and expect that
as fast fashion continues to move out of favour,
more people will be drawn to investing in
genuine leather pieces that hold their value
for long periods of time.”
Rachel Hidde, marketing coordinator
at Townsend Leather
SOMETHING NEW
While the interior of The Stitch has a
timeless feel, achieved through the mix
of antique and contemporary design,
all new gas and electric facilities were
installed, along with a three-stop elevator
to bring the building into compliance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Only the warehouse has a modern feel,
with new metal racks and lighting.
The need for space to store its German
hides was the motivation for Townsend
buying the complex. Townsend finishes
ORIGINAL FLOORBOARDS
AND BRICK WALLS HELP TO
SHOWCASE THE HERITAGE OF
BOTH THE SITE AND THE FIRM
FREE READER ENQUIRY SERVICE
To request more details from Townsend Leather,
visit www.magupdate.co.uk/pbji
the materials according to contracts with
designers and manufacturers in the
global residential, hospitality, contract,
aviation and transportation markets.
EXPANSION OR CONTRACTION
The company considered opening a
warehouse in Germany or in New York
City before deciding on a space closer
to home. Townsend originally sought
only 20,000ft2 (1,858m2) but ultimately
purchased the 66,000ft2 (6,132m2) Diana
Knitting Mill, won over by its look and the
potential of the building. If the company
continues to grow, there will be plenty
of room for expansion.
There are several areas that Townsend
will market as leasable office space for
now. The company has already lined up
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