T&G Allan: The Pen Shop follows 'click & commute' trend

The Pen Shop is now open at London's St Pancras International railway station, offering a click & collect service aimed at commuters.Writing instruments retailer The Pen Shop has become the latest business to follow the trend for establishing 'click & commute' facilities at UK travel hubs.The specialist retailer has today (Monday 9 May) opened a store in London's St Pancras International railway station, with a dedicated area for shoppers to pick up their online orders. John Lewis coined the click & commute phrase with the opening of its first station store at the same railway hub, in October 2014.Customers visiting the new Pen Shop can also shop and browse in traditional manner, with a range of products from well-known brands stocked in store. The outlet situated alongside Fortnum & Mason and Jo Malone, as part of St Pancras's burgeoning retail offering.The Pen Shop managing director, Colin McClymont, commented: "It has been an exciting year for The Pen Shop and the opening of the new St Pancras shop firmly marks the beginning of the next stage in The Pen Shop's history."Our customers show us that they want different ways to shop that are most convenient for them and this has turned bustling transport terminals into real retail destinations. The Pen Shop St Pancras is our latest shop that will combine a convenient shopping location with our online reserve & collect service to meet our customers' evolving needs and serve the station's travellers."The St Pancras opening comes almost a year to the day The Pen Shop underwent a management buyout (MBO) when three directors purchased the group and its retail outlets from the Allan family for an undisclosed amount.Following the MBO, which transferred ownership from the Allan family shareholders to the newly-formed Fountain Group, the new leaders of the company are expected to modernise the brand and develop its digital offering.