Luxury stationery and leather goods firm Smythson, whose products are used by the royal family and which employs the Prime Minister’s wife Samantha Cameron as a part-time creative consultant, has relocated to a new base in Swindon.
The business, one of only eight to hold three royal warrants, has moved from South Marston industrial estate to Birch Industrial Estate at Kembrey Park. 
Founded in 1887 by Frank Smythson, the company sold writing paper and calling cards to wealthy Victorians from a shop in London’s upmarket New Bond Street. It invented the iconic lightweight pocket diary in 1907.
Mrs Cameron joined in 1996, becoming its creative director a year later.
The firm now occupies a terrace of three fully refurbished units at Birch totaling 34,800 sq ft from where it designs, prints and finishes most of its luxury products – using many traditional techniques such as copper etching.
The units were let by Swindon property agents Loveday on behalf of owners Caisson Investment Management.
Loveday partner Alastair Andrews said the units had been let immediately following the departure of the previous tenants – a further sign that the demand for good quality industrial units was improving.
“Demand for good quality industrial units has improved significantly over the past 18 months and the seamless transition to Smythson is a further sign of a strengthening market,” he said.
Swindon’s commercial property market has bounced back strongly over the past year after a sharp downturn during the recession with a number of new lettings around the town, including offices and industrial units on its business parks.
Pictured: Smythson’s news base on the Birch Industrial Estate
