Dunelm Group

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Dunelm
Company typePublic (LSEDNLM)
IndustrySoft furnishing retailing & manufacturing (Homewares)
FoundedLeicester, Leicestershire, England 1979 by Bill Adderley & Jean Adderley
HeadquartersSyston, Leicestershire, UK
Number of locations
1,063 (February 2011)
Key people
Geoff Cooper, (Chairman)
Will Adderley, (Executive Deputy Chairman)
Nick Wharton, (CEO)
ProductsHomewares - Dining, Cookshop, Crafts, Utility, Pictures & Mirrors, Lighting, Storage, Flowers & Decor, Rugs & Doormats, Duvets & Pillows, Bathroom, Fabrics & Custom Made (Curtains, Blinds & Accessories), Bedlinen, Furniture, Seasonal, Pets, Cushions, Throws & Beanbags, Curtain Tracks & Poles, Dorma, Pausa Coffee Shop
Revenue£603.7 million (2012)[1]
£95.2 million (2012)[1]
£71.2 million (2012)[1]
Number of employees
over 6,600 (October 2011)
Websitewww.dunelm-mill.com

Dunelm Group plc, (formerly Dunelm Mill) is a major British-based home furnishings retailer with over 100 stores and over 40 implant Pausa coffee shops throughout the United Kingdom. One of the largest homewares retailers in the United Kingdom, Dunelm's headquarters are based in Watermead Business Park, Syston in Leicestershire. It also has its own UK factory for curtains, blinds and accessories also based in Leicester.

It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

History

Dunelm was founded in 1979 by Bill Adderley & Jean Adderley, initially trading in home textiles from a market stall in Leicester.[2] The first Dunelm store opened in Churchgate Leicester in 1984[2] with the first superstore opening in Rotherham in 1991.[2]

In 1996 Will Adderley took over full responsibility for the day to day running of the company from his father, Bill Adderley. The expansion of Dunelm continued with a new Head Office and Warehouse being established in 1991 in Syston, Leicestershire.[2]

In 2001 the Company ventured into manufacturing, acquiring Bellbird producing custom-made curtains, blinds and accessories, with the facility now being known as Dunelm's Manufacturing Centre. On reaching their 50th store (Walsall) Dunelm opened a new warehouse in Burton.[2]

Key appointments were made in 2003 with David Stead being brought in as Finance Director; this also coinciding with Dunelm's 60th store (Ilkeston) and the roll out of EPOS.[2]

2004 saw the company appointing Geoff Cooper as Non-Executive Chairman and Marion Sears as a Non-Executive Director. It also saw the opening of their 70th store (Trafford). Two years later Dunelm was seen to be continuing its expansion and opened not only its 80th store (Bradford), a new distribution centre in Stoke but also launched their online shopping facility, offering 13,000 homewares products and floated on the London Stock Exchange with it now being a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.[3]

2007 saw the appointment of Simon Emney as Non-Executive Director followed in 2008 with their 90th store (Plymouth) and the acquisition of the worldwide rights to the 'Dorma' brand, famous for bed linen, for £5m in July.[4] In 2009 Dunelm appointed Nick Wharton as Non-Executive Director and re-launched their online shopping website.[5] September 2009 saw the announcement that Nick Wharton would be taking over from Will Adderley as Chief Executive in March 2011 with Will Adderley still remaining heavily involved with the company as Executive Deputy Chairman.[6]

Operations

As of December 2013 Dunelm operated over 135 stores, spread across the UK and a webstore. The majority of the retail network is superstore based operating from an average net sales area of 29,000 sq ft.

Product ranges

The main focus for Dunelm is home textiles - bedding, curtains & blinds, cushions, fabrics, quilts, rugs, kitchenware, utility, dining, lighting, storage products, gifts and seasonal items. Dunelm also offers customers a made-to-measure service for Curtains, blinds and accessories which runs from Dunelm's factory in Leicester.

References

External links