Since its founding in 1887, Faultless has become America’s oldest, most respected spray starch brand, and now includes seven additional subsidiaries, including Bon Ami, Kleen King and Trapp Fragrances. After surviving floods and fire threats through the decades, the company celebrated the opening of its historically renovated headquarters in Kansas City’s West Bottoms in 2009. Occupying the first three floors, the company owns the five-story, 58,000-square-foot building (also known as the Sewall Paint Building) and hired an outside broker to lease floors 4 and 5 for them.

With little success attracting other companies to the property, especially as the West Bottoms continued to undergo a revitalization and transformation, Faultless sought another office leasing broker, Copaken Brooks, to assist in securing tenants.

Faultless hired Copaken Brooks as an owner’s representative. The Copaken Brooks office leasing team began analyzing the local market and neighborhood trends to identify high-probability tenants for the property—looking specifically at creative companies that may gravitate to the artistic resurgence of the historic district.

Copaken Brooks facilitated a lease agreement with A2 Advertising, a marketing communications agency that relocated from Overland Park. The firm occupies more than 4,000 square feet on the fourth floor of the building. “We were looking for a space that represented who we are as a company,” said Mary Sherwood, executive vice president at A2. “The building has a great creative look and is part of a vibrant location which moves us closer to all of the activity happening in and around downtown.”

Scott Brown, General Counsel at Faultless, said he chose Copaken Brooks because of their experience, market knowledge, and character of the team.

“I’ve enjoyed my relationship with Copaken Brooks over the years, and the people who do the work,” he said. The company appreciates the effort made by Copaken Brooks to bring them attractive tenants and guide them through the process of making the best deal for them. A large part of that, Brown said, was finding the right match for the property and the district.

“As the landlord, we’re considerate about our tenant mix and want to make sure tenants are a good fit with the building,” Brown said. “We’re excited to welcome A2 and know they will add to the creative energy of the building and the West Bottoms.”