Australian e-commerce hit Tinyme opens first UK production hub in Leamington Spa

Multi-award-winning Australian e-commerce company Tinyme, which makes personalised gifts for children, is setting up its first UK production hub in Leamington Spa.

The Melbourne-based firm is a huge success story in Australia, selling a range of premium quality personalised products for kids including name labels, jigsaw puzzles, drink bottles, rucksacks and books.

Entrepreneur Mike Wilson set up the business in his spare bedroom 16 years ago and it grew quickly, with business partners Nick McLennan and Ben Hare joining six months and three years later respectively.

The company’s ongoing success has seen it win the online retailer of the year at the Australian Online Retail Industry Awards (ORIAS) in 2019 and 2020, before being inducted into its hall of fame in 2021.

We advised Tinyme on available buildings and the merits of Leamington Spa as a business location for its UK production centre. That advice quickly bore fruit, as we secured a seven-year lease on a 6,076 sq. ft premises in Hermes Close, on the Tachbrook Business Park.

Growing at home and the UK

Ben said: “Our business has grown to 65 employees in Australia and launched in the UK in 2011 with a dedicated website and an office in Birmingham in 2012.

“We’ve grown our UK business to the extent that we’re ready to open a manufacturing facility here. As we offer made-to-order products, it means we are closer to market and can ship faster and more cheaply to our customers, giving a much more responsive offering and a better customer experience.

“That’s what’s brought us to Leamington Spa. It’s very central for distribution and has really good workforce access, which is a big plus. The premises themselves are also ideal for what we need.

“We’re a relatively small business compared with some of the retailers we compete against in Australia, so we’re really proud of our achievements and being recognised for doing some pretty innovative stuff.”

Tinyme products will be produced alongside the company’s new brand, Opiqo, which offers personalised homewares which are also made to order.

Excellent location

Simon Hain, director of ehB Reeves, said: “Tinyme’s directors flew to the UK from Melbourne to look for a production base and after visiting Northampton, Coventry and Birmingham, they settled on Leamington.

“We were delighted to be able to secure a really good site for them here and it has been fantastic working with Ben, Nick and the team to get everything over the line.

“Tinyme is a proven success story both Down Under and in the UK and we wish them every success as they grow their operation here in Warwickshire.”

For more information on Tinyme, visit www.Tinyme.co.uk.



Our Surveying Team

Oliver Shelley

Oliver joined us at the start of 2023, shortly after graduating from the University of Nottingham and Trent with a BSc (Hons) in Real Estate Management. Oliver started work in the agency department and also assists in aspects of asset management as well as professional services. Oliver will soon be starting his assessment of professional competence (APC) – the on-the-job training scheme graduates need to complete to qualify as a chartered surveyor. Oliver grew up in Solihull and attended Solihull School and outside of work, he enjoys playing tennis going to the gym and cooking healthy meals.

Simon Hain

Simon Hain has worked as a commercial property consultant in Leamington Spa since 1984 and has been very active within the local community and is a former chairman of Leamington and District Round Table and trustee of various local charities. Simon specialises in Commercial Agency, Development, Acquisitions and Corporate Property Advice and is a director of ehB Reeves.

Nick Evans

Nick is a Chartered Surveyor who has worked in Leamington Spa since 1992. Born in Warwick, Nick is a Fellow of the RICS, Registered Valuer, RICS Accredited Mediator and former Chairman of the RICS Coventry and Warwickshire Local Association. Nick generally concentrates on Valuation and Professional / Landlord and Tenant work as well as Investments and Corporate Property Advice for clients and is a director of ehB Reeves.  

Scott Blake

Scott is a Chartered Surveyor having worked in general practice surveying in the West Midlands area since 1991 and mainly within the Coventry and Warwickshire area. He has a wide range of experience dealing with commercial property matters including professional valuation services for private and corporate clients, other professional work including rent reviews, lease renewals, business rate appeals as well as commercial agency investment acquisitions and disposals. Scott is a director of ehB Reeves.

Stuart Gregory

Stuart heads our property management department working closely with clients to maximise returns from their property assets. He advises a number of private investors, high net worth individuals, property companies, pension funds and organisations with a charitable status, dealing with all aspects of the management of their property investments. Stuart is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years’ experience in Landlord & Tenant and general practice work in the West Midlands and Warwickshire. He joined Reeves & Partners in 2001 and is a Director of the firm.  

Robert Hawkins

Robert is a Chartered Surveyor with extensive experience in the property business, having worked on both sides of the fence, as adviser and client, in all market sectors and on properties and portfolios large and small. He enjoys dealing with all aspects of commercial property and acting for all types of client.

Phil Harvey

Having joined Reeves & Partners in 2011, Phil has over 18 years’ experience in the Property industry specialising in Commercial Property Management. Phil works closely with a wide range of clients including private investment companies, pension fund operators and religious organisations advising on all aspects of Property and asset management. Phil is an experienced and valued member of the Property Management team and has acted across a wide range of property sectors including residential, industrial, office and retail. Outside of the office, Phil enjoys music, reading and Formula One.

Nigel Grugeon

Nigel is a Chartered Surveyor with over 40 years' experience in General Practice. Originally with a background in commercial property he has for many years concentrated on providing general consultancy advice to his many charity clients throughout the UK, occasionally involving properties in Ireland, France, Belgium and Italy. Nigel’s work covers a wide range of activities associated with charity owned properties which include the sales and acquisitions of substantial Estates, of properties in the healthcare and education sectors as well as development land and conventional domestic residences. Formerly based in the City of London, Nigel joined Reeves & Partners in 2010 adding his many clients to the firm's already substantial charity client base.

Sam Hain

Sam Hain joined us in the summer of 2017, shortly after graduating from the University of the West of England, Bristol with a BA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations

Sam started work in asset management department, working as a graduate asset manager and is now very active in the agency department. Having obtained an MSc degree in Real Estate Management, Sam has started his assessment of professional competence (APC) - the on-the-job training scheme graduates need to complete to qualify as a chartered surveyor and hopes to qualify in the winter of 2023.

Sam grew up in Warwickshire and attended Warwick School and outside of work, he enjoys playing golf and football and is a Coventry City supporter.

Adam Boxer

Adam joined ehB Reeves in 2019 as Facilities Manager and forms part of the Property Management department.

 Adam’s primary responsibilities are to look after the reactive and planned maintenance for managed properties as well as understanding and reacting to their Health & Safety requirements. Adam also looks after all facilities management services to managed properties and has responsibility for a broad and diverse range of contracts across the portfolio.

 He is a member of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) and a Technical Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH).