Labrador puppy Frank proved a lucky mascot for his owner who specialises in commercial property lettings on the South Coast.
The dog helped seal two occupancy deals in the UK’s booming pet care sector for Alex Gauntlett, a Partner at property consultancy Vail Williams.
“That wasn’t my thinking when Frank arrived in my hands as a puppy,” Portsmouth-based Alex said.
“But soon enough, with Frank at my side, I was, for the first time, involved in two property deals related to the care of animals – a veterinary clinic and a pet store.
“Before the arrival of Frank, I’d never been involved in a lettings deal in the pet care sector, which, given that Britain is a nation of cat and dog lovers, is reportedly worth billions.”
One of the largest veterinary groups in the UK, CVS Group, signed a 10-year lease on 7,325 sq ft Monaco House, a detached warehouse/industrial building with an office and secure yard at Painter Close, Portsmouth.
Hot on the paws of that signing, with Alex acting for Monaco House’s landlord, he represented the owner of Portfield Trade Centre, which has nine trade counter/warehouse units in Bognor Road, Chichester, West Sussex.
An end-terrace trade counter of 4,228 sq ft, 2WN, was let to pet superstore Jolleys.
Alex said: “We just need to manifest a letting involving an indoor training centre for dogs, then Frank would have got the hat-trick of pet care deals licked.”
According to government figures, the vet services market is worth an estimated £5 billion a year and, based on figures from the Office for National Statistics, nearly £12 billion was spent on pets and related products last year.
“We anticipate more pet care sector companies moving into trade centres and industrial/warehouse sites in cities and towns across the South, given these spending dynamics,” added Alex.
