Direct Group more than doubles its Swedesboro, NJ, direct mail production facility
greatly increasing capacity for customer mail
Swedesboro, NJ — Direct Group (DG), a leading provider in the premium high-volume, time-sensitive segment of the direct mail industry, will add more than a quarter of a million square feet of production space to its Swedesboro, NJ, facility.
DG has leased a former distribution center at 800 Arlington Boulevard in the Commodore Business Center, Swedesboro, NJ, from Malvern, PA, real-estate developer Liberty Property Trust. The 250,232-square-foot building is located on 27 acres just 1,500 feet from Direct Group’s existing production facility located at 100 Berkeley Drive.
At the same time DG signed the lease on the new building, the company extended its lease on the existing building. Together, the two will compose a 417,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art direct mail production facility less than two hours’ drive from the direct mail, financial, pharmaceutical and not-for-profit capitals of the United States.
“This expanded facility will let us plan from the ground up for an ideal workflow to process the nine million pieces of mail we can produce and dispatch daily,” said Manny Ortiz, Direct Group president and chief executive officer.
A home for DG’s expanded capabilities
In less than six months since DG senior management, together with funds advised by private equity firm Schroder Ventures US, acquired DG from Prinexus, Inc., DG has expanded substantially. DG purchased Coupon Service Corporation, a Jersey-City, NJ, direct mail company in June.
In addition, Direct Group has acquired more than two dozen brand-new IBM 4100 600-dpi MICR-capable production lasers, doubled its printing press capacity, and made numerous investments in bindery and inserting equipment, software, computers and other areas.
New expansion will mean new jobs
DG’s Swedesboro facility currently employs 572. Once the expansion is complete and the facility is in full operation, DG expects to employ more than 1,000.
At the facility, DG prepares multiple-part direct mail packages, many of which contain detailed personalization or other information that DG’s customers need to get out quickly, accurately and confidentially via the U.S. Postal Service. DG does similar work at its Jersey City and Robbinsville, NJ, facilities.
In addition, at Robbinsville, Direct Group offers complete fulfillment services for customers, picking, packing, assembling and dispatching samples, literature and other customized packages for customers in response to mail, fax, Internet or telemarketing requests. The facility is U.S. Food and Drug Administration-compliant and licensed for prescription drug sampling.
DG’s top 10 clients have been customers for an average of 13 years.
DG’s expansion needs accommodated within South Jersey
The Commodore Business Center, where DG’s Swedesboro facility is located, is owned by Liberty Property Trust, the largest owner and manager of office, industrial and flex space in the Delaware Valley. The lease at 800 Arlington Boulevard with DG was one of 10 leases Liberty signed with tenants during the month of September.
“September has been our strongest month year-to-date,” reported Rob Jones, vice president, Liberty Property Trust. “We executed 10 deals that involved more than 824,000 square feet of office and industrial space. About half those deals were renewals with expansions, which are always satisfying because it is a clear message that the customer is satisfied with our service. And it is gratifying to help a company such as DG grow and prosper in South Jersey.”
Francis T. Roddy, president of Roddy Inc., a Bensalem-based industrial and commercial real estate brokerage firm, handled both transactions for DG.
About the buildings
The 800 Arlington Boulevard property is a one-story building of 250,232 square feet featuring 30-foot clear heights, an ESFR sprinkler system, 31 cross-docked tailgate loading doors and two drive-in doors. The facility is expandable to 500,000 square feet and Direct Group reserves rights for such expansion.
The 100 Berkeley building consists of 167,000 square feet and features 30-foot clear heights, an ESFR sprinkler system, extensive tailgate loading doors and drive-in doors. The facility is expandable to 267,000 square feet and Direct Group reserves rights for such expansion.
The facilities are conveniently located adjacent to NJ Route 322 offering convenient access to Exit 11 of Interstate 295, the New Jersey Turnpike, Commodore Barry Bridge, Interstate 95 and the Blue Route.
About Direct Group
DG provides a full suite of direct mail services from prepress, print and personalization through lettershop, commingling and mail to telemarketing, response and fulfillment through long-term partnerships with world-class customers throughout the U.S. The company’s three operating facilities and corporate offices are in New Jersey. For more information about the company, visit www.directgroup.net.
About Liberty Property Trust
Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LRY) is a leading real estate company dedicated to enhancing people’s lives through extraordinary work environments. Liberty’s 57 million square foot portfolio of office and industrial properties offers exceptional locations, flexible design, thoughtful amenities, superior service, and state-of-the-art technology to the company’s 2,000 tenants. Liberty continuously increases the value of this portfolio through expert property management, marketing and development. For more information about the company, visit www.libertyproperty.com.
About Roddy Inc.
Headquartered in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, PA, Roddy Inc. is a marketer, manager and developer of industrial and commercial real estate throughout eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Clients include regional, national and international companies and financial institutions. For more information about the company, visit www.roddyinc.com.
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Release content available on line at http://www.directgroup.net/dg_news_browse.asp
Contacts:
For Direct Group For Liberty Property Trust For Roddy Inc.
Chris Ryan Rob Jones Francis T. Roddy
Executive Vice President Vice President President
856.241.9400 856-722-1000 215-245-2600
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