Dunelm Group

Dunelm was founded in 1979 by Bill Adderley and Jeany Adderley, trading in home textiles from a market stall in Leicester.{{cite web|url=http://www.dunelm-mill.com/cm/AboutUs.htm|title=Company Profile|author=Dunelm|work=dunelm-mill.com|access-date=28 March 2015}} The first Dunelm store opened in Churchgate Leicester in 1984 with the first superstore opening in Rotherham in 1991. In 1996, Will Adderley took over 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 1999 in Syston, Leicestershire.

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. 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. 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 opened its 80th store (Bradford), a new distribution centre in Stoke, and launched their online shopping facility, offering 13,000 homewares products and floated on the London Stock Exchange.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/family-pocket-163100m-in-dunelm-float-420892.html Family pocket £100m in Dunelm float] The Independent, 20 October 2006

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' bed linen brand, for £5 million in July.[http://www.retail-week.com/News/2008/07/dunelm_buys_dorma_for_5_million.html Dunelm buys Dorma for £5m] Retail Week, 29 July 2008 In 2009 Dunelm appointed Nick Wharton as a non-executive director and re-launched their online shopping website.[http://www.screenpages.com/ecommerce/archives/000323.html Homewares retailer Dunelm re-launches website to make Internet its largest store] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313065932/http://www.screenpages.com/ecommerce/archives/000323.html |date=13 March 2010 }} Screenpages In September 2009, the company announced that Nick Wharton would be taking over from Will Adderley as Chief Executive in March 2011 with Adderley remaining at Dunelm as Executive Deputy chairman.[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/978aa92e-c1d6-11df-9d90-00144feab49a.html Dunelm chief to step down to deputy position] Financial Times, 16 September 2010

In September 2014, Dunelm Group plc announced that Nick Wharton had resigned his position as Chief Executive and was stepping down from the Board. Will Adderley, previously Executive Deputy chairman, resumed the role of Chief Executive with immediate effect.[http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/dunelm-mill/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=43&newsid=444140 Dunelm Board Changes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023455/http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/dunelm-mill/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=43&newsid=444140 |date=4 March 2016 }} Investis, 11 September 2014 On 28 November 2016, the company purchased WorldStores and its subsidiary Kiddicare for £8.5 million.{{cite news|last1=Briggs|first1=Fiona|title=Dunelm Group acquires World Stores Kiddicare and Achica|url=http://www.retailtimes.co.uk/dunelm-group-acquires-worldstores-kiddicare-achica/|access-date=29 November 2016|work=Retail Times|date=29 November 2016}}

On 30 August 2017 Dunelm Group plc announced that John Browett was stepping down with immediate effect as Chief Executive after two years in the role.[https://www.ft.com/content/51b91e24-8d6e-11e7-9084-d0c17942ba93 Homewares retailer Dunelm parts ways with chief executive] Financial Times, 30 August 2017

In September 2020, the company reported a large rise in sales for the months of July and August. The increased sales were a result of the increase in remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and investing in their living spaces.{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9b92b7ff-c1e3-4f17-8a34-7ed8ac80f48a |title=Dunelm benefits from home spending boom |work=Financial Times |last=Nilsson |first=Patricia|date=1 September 2020 | url-access=subscription}}

In November 2020, the company was criticised by shareholders for renominating Paula Vennells to its board, despite her responsibility for the British Post Office scandal, during which her leadership was accused of having been "both cruel and incompetent" by a Conservative peer and various MPs.{{cite web |last1=Witherow |first1=Tom |title=Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells is under fire at Dunelm |url=https://expressdigest.com/ex-post-office-boss-paula-vennells-is-under-fire-at-dunelm/ |website=expressdigest.com |date=3 November 2020 |access-date=12 December 2020}} Her resignation from the board was announced on the morning of 26 April 2021 after all the remaining convictions of subpostmasters had been quashed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56882496|title = Post office scandal: Ex-boss quits director jobs after scandal|work = BBC News|date = 26 April 2021}}

In November 2024, Dunelm announced its acquisition of Home Focus, a soft furnishings brand with 13 stores in the Republic of Ireland. Dunelm viewed the acquisition as an attractive opportunity to expand its reach in Ireland’s £1bn (€1.2bn) homewares market. This move underscores Dunelm’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the region while enhancing the customer experience through a broader selection of homeware products.{{cite news|last=Smyth |first=Ronan |title=UK retailer Dunelm to acquire Home Focus |date=20 November 2024 |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41520455.html |access-date=20 November 2024}}

File:Dunelm, Garston.jpg]]

As of 18 March 2025 Dunelm operated 200 stores,{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Bryana |date=2025-03-12 |title=Dunelm set to open in Merthyr Tydfil retail park |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/dunelm-set-open-merthyr-tydfil-31181349 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Wales Online |language=en}} spread across the UK, and a webstore. The company operates a factory for curtains, blinds and accessories in Leicester, England.{{Cite web |last=Pegden |first=Tom |date=2019-07-06 |title=Dunelm creates 40 new jobs at blinds and curtains factory |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/dunelm-creates-40-jobs-leicestershire-3058734 |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}

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• [https://www.dunelm.com Official Website]

{{British Royal Warrant holders}}

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Category:Arts and crafts retailers

Category:Companies based in Leicestershire

Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Retail companies established in 1979

Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange

Category:Companies in the FTSE 250 Index

Category:1979 establishments in England

Category:1979 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Companies established in 1979