Staff at not-for-profit housing and care provider Pobl have been celebrating the launch of Pobl Homes & Communities with the help of family run Welsh sock manufacturer, Corgi.
The new business, which launched on July 1st manages almost 15,000 homes across 14 Local Authorities in Wales, spanning from Monmouthshire in the East to Pembrokeshire in the West.
Corgi were commissioned to supply staff with a pair of their traditional luxury socks but with a Pobl twist. With most staff still working from home under lockdown, they were connected by the surprise delivery of bespoke socks featuring the colourful Pobl logo.
Pobl Homes & Communities has been created via the coming together of three existing registered social landlords, Charter Housing Association, Derwen and Tai Gwalia, with almost 50 years’ experience of helping people find a great place to call home.
As Ashleigh Calnan, Culture & Communications Business Partner at Pobl explained, the business was keen to ensure the landmark was celebrated by staff who have continued to provide outstanding service to customers while working from home in recent months:
“We wanted to mark the three companies becoming One Pobl, but gifting two and a half thousand people comes with challenges. It was important that our gift to staff fitted with our values and our brand, was sustainable and, of course, Welsh. That is where Corgi came in.
“Corgi pulled out all the stops to help us bring our vision to life and we are delighted that our order helped Corgi bring their staff back to work. This collaboration has enabled us to create something truly unique for our colleagues.”
Chris Jones, Managing Director, Corgi, said:
“Everyone at Corgi is proud of our Welsh heritage and that all our products are made at our factory in Wales and this project was an amazing opportunity for us to link up with another great Welsh brand.
“Pobl are a company that share our values of caring for staff and the environment, and in working to make life in Wales better. The Pobl logo lent itself perfectly to us developing a fun and colourful design. We hope all the staff enjoy wearing them and pass on our thanks for their dedication and hard work during the current crisis.”
A family-run company combining traditional production methods with a contemporary approach to design, Corgi produces luxury socks and knitwear with a distinctly designer edge.
Established in 1892, the company is still located in the small Welsh mining village in which its story began. However, far from its humble beginnings as a sock maker for local miners, Corgi has gone on to develop a global reputation as the go-to luxury sock brand.
Throughout this, Corgi has remained fiercely proud of its history and heritage and maintains the commitment to quality that has always been at the heart of the brand.
In 1989, Corgi was awarded a Royal Warrant by HRH the Prince of Wales and continues to supply him and other members of the Royal family with socks and other knitted goods.
