Gifting firm to open HQ for meetings and events

Gifting company Colleague Box is opening up the doors of its headquarters for meetings, parties and corporate events.

The firm’s Derby base – known as The Smile Factory – is now available to hire, with customers able to take advantage of a fully-stocked bar, wide range of snacks and the hospitality of husband-and-wife Adam and Natalie Bamford, who founded Colleague Box.

Taking centre stage in The Smile Factory’s 4,500 sq ft warehouse is Colleague Box’s latest venture; a tent hideaway that can seat up to 15 guests.

Colleague Box has hosted events at its city centre headquarters in the past, most notably when former Derby County and Denmark international Jacob Laursen spoke about his career to an audience of Rams fans.

It is hoped that similar events will be held at The Smile Factory in the future.

Natalie said: “We have exciting plans to open up our space not only for corporate events and parties, but for community groups, too.

“The Smile Factory is a huge space and boasts a fully-stocked bar, special offers on food and drink and our show-stopper; a six-metre bell tent that can also be hired out for private hire at the weekend, along with our mobile bar.

“The aim is to create a space where colleagues, friends and family can gather to connect, chat, drink, laugh, eat and shop in a quirky and relaxed setting.

“We feel that our latest venture is a natural extension of Colleague Box’s mission to bring smiles to people’s faces.”

Colleague Box creates bespoke gift boxes for a wide range of local and national organisations such as Ward, delivery company dpd and the University of Lincoln.

It ships thousands of gift boxes a month and already has several orders placed ahead of the busy Christmas period.

Natalie said: “Christmas is always a fun and hectic time for us and I’m proud of the wide range of choices that we are offering this year, from boxes that are ready to go – with no minimum amount – to bespoke and build your own gift boxes, with added sparkle.

“Personalised gifting has become a big deal since the pandemic and it shows that you’ve put some effort and thought in, whether it’s Christmas, an employee milestone or celebration.

“A curated box of goodies and gifts, company branded with a personalised message, is far more likely to be remembered.”

Marketing Derby is set to hold a Bondholder Social event at The Smile Factory on Thursday, 9 November. Invites to the event will be sent out soon.