A SHIPLEY-based online retailer has opened a new £2.5 million hub to support the firm’s continued growth.

SportsShoes.com has now opened its creative and tech hub next to its head office and warehouse facilities in the district.

The £2.5m investment has seen a manufacturing warehouse building being refurbished to create the 10,750 sq ft hub, which can accommodate 100 people across its two floors.

It is part of the retailer’s ongoing strategic growth plan and now houses the company’s digital, marketing, commercial and management teams.

Established in 1982, SportsShoes.com is an online running shoes, running clothing and outdoor gear retailer, offering customers more than 17,000 products from 150 brands.

These include running brands Asics, Nike, Adidas, Hoka and New Balance, as well as outdoor brands Haglöfs, Montane, Rab and Patagonia.

Called Unit 2, the refurbishment has been designed by architects, building consultants and interior designers Bowman Riley, so that the interior and exterior embody the SportsShoes.com brand and provide an immersive, collaborative experience.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: SportsShoes.com managing director Brett Bannister at the new hubSportsShoes.com managing director Brett Bannister at the new hub (Image: SportsShoes.com)

The interior concept is based on the run, gym and hike elements of the business. Running is represented by a racetrack and trainer tree for display, gym is recognised by climbing ladder references in reception and hiking by bleacher seating that leads to a social space called Park Life.

Unit 2 also incorporates quiet working pods, a showroom, meeting rooms, boardroom, photography studio, kitchen and café.

Externally, the building features stealth lighting and new windows that flood the internal mezzanine with natural light to help reduce energy demands.

Brett Bannister, SportsShoes.com managing director, said: “It was our vision to have a creative and tech hub that provides the very best environment for our people and brand partners to collaborate and enjoy.

“Unit 2 is just that and is a truly outstanding facility and reflects the innovative, creative streak we have here at SportsShoes.com.

“Its completion comes shortly after we celebrated our 40th anniversary, and we’re excited to see how it will help drive us forward over the coming years to enable our continued expansion.”

As a converted warehouse building, Unit 2 has a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to a newly built site and there are also solar panels on its roof.

These initiatives are part of SportsShoes.com’s intention to become the world’s most sustainable running equipment retailer by 2025.  The company recently announced that it has offset all the carbon emissions it has directly generated since it was founded.