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Dixons Retail

From Alfawiki
Dixons Retail plc
Company typePublic limited company
IndustryConsumer electronics retail
PredecessorDixons Studios Limited
Founded1937
FounderCharles Kalms and Michael Mindel
Defunct2014
FateMerged with Carphone Warehouse to form Dixons Carphone
Headquarters
Hemel Hempstead
,
England, United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom, Ireland, Northern Europe, Southern Europe
Key people
Stanley Kalms (former chairman), Sebastian James (CEO at merger)
ProductsConsumer electronics, audio-visual equipment, personal computers, household appliances, photographic equipment, communication devices, financial services, after-sales support
Number of employees
Not specified
ParentDixons Carphone (from 2014)

Dixons Retail plc was a prominent consumer electronics retailer in Europe that combined forces with Carphone Warehouse in 2014 to create Dixons Carphone, a name later changed to Currys plc in 2021. Within the UK market, its portfolio included brands such as Currys, Currys Digital, PC World—often co-branded as Currys PC World—Dixons Travel, and the service division Knowhow.

At the time of the 2014 merger, Dixons Retail operated 530 outlets throughout the UK and Ireland, alongside 322 stores across Northern Europe. Its operations in the Nordic and Central European regions were conducted under the Elkjøp brand, complemented by Kotsovolos in Greece. The company was publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

Formerly known as Dixons Group plc and DSG International plc, the firm specialized in widely accessible technology products including consumer electronics, audio-visual equipment, personal computers, household appliances, photographic items, communication devices, as well as related financial services and after-sales support like extended warranties, installation, and repair.

Early years

Dixons originated as a photographic studio founded by Charles Kalms and Michael Mindel on High Street in Southend, initially registered as Dixons Studios Limited in October 1937 with a capital of £100. The name Dixons was selected from the telephone directory due to its brevity fitting above the modest storefront. By the early 1940s, Dixons had expanded to seven studios around London but was reduced to a single location in Edgware by the conclusion of World War II. Stanley Kalms, son of Charles Kalms, joined the business in 1948 and pioneered direct sales through advertising combined with postal ordering and home delivery.

The company ventured into camera retailing in 1950. By 1957, it established a head office to oversee its 60,000 mail order customers and centralize procurement activities. In 1962, Dixons was first listed on the London Stock Exchange and rebranded as Dixons Photographic Limited. It acquired competitors Ascotts in 1962 and Bennetts in 1964. In 1967, it purchased a colour film processing facility located in Stevenage. Stanley Kalms succeeded his father as chairman in 1971. Further growth included acquiring Wallace Heaton in 1972 and inaugurating its distribution center at Stevenage in 1974.

1980s and 1990s

In 1984, Dixons took over Currys, an electrical and household goods retail chain with approximately 570 stores, maintaining Currys' distinct brand identity.

February 1993 saw Dixons acquire Vision Technology Group (VTG), which operated several stores under the PC World name. Later that year, Dixons divested VTG's mail order business, Dixons US Holdings Inc, along with Supasnaps. In 1994, it opened its inaugural duty-free outlet at Heathrow Terminal 3 and launched The Link phone stores (The Link), marking its entry into telecommunications retailing. The corporate headquarters relocated to Hemel Hempstead.

In November 1996, Dixons expanded by acquiring DN Computer Services and purchasing retail assets from Harry Moore Ltd, an Irish electrical retailer. In April 1997, Cellnet (O2) acquired a 40% stake in The Link; that same year marked Dixons’ launch of its website. In 1998, Dixons introduced Freeserve, a free Internet service later sold to France Telecom and rebranded as Wanadoo. European expansion continued with the acquisition of Norwegian retailer Elkjøp in November 1999.

2000s

In October 2002, Dixons expanded its portfolio by acquiring the Italian electronics retailer UniEuro along with the mobile phone service provider Genesis Communications. Earlier that year, in February, the company launched its inaugural Electro World outlet in Hungary. By October 2005, Dixons Group plc underwent a rebranding to become DSG International plc.

DSGi aimed to grow its presence in Eastern Europe through an investment in Eldorado Group, Russia’s leading electrical retailer, securing an option to purchase the remaining shares by 2011 for US$1.9 billion. However, this purchase option was later withdrawn in April 2007.

In May 2006, DSGi was honored with the Queen's Awards for Enterprise. The firm announced a strategic shift whereby the Dixons brand would be retained exclusively for online sales, while all physical stores were rebranded under Currys.digital. Additionally, DSGi acquired a 75% ownership stake in the French photographic company Fotovista. By January 2008, DSGi discontinued sales of analogue televisions to facilitate consumer transition ahead of the UK’s digital switchover.

In May 2008, DSGi revealed plans to shut down 77 out of its 177 Currys.digital stores across the UK as their leases expired over a five-year period.

2010s

In May 2010, the company secured near-exclusive distribution rights for the Apple iPad. The following month, June 2010, DSGi rebranded itself as Dixons Retail plc.

Merger with Carphone Warehouse

In May 2014, Dixons declared a merger with Carphone Warehouse, forming a combined business valued at roughly £3.8 billion. Post-merger, Dixons became a fully owned subsidiary under Dixons Carphone Holdings Limited and was renamed Dixons Retail Group plc. Sebastian James, who had served as Dixons’ CEO since 2012, was appointed CEO of the newly formed Dixons Carphone.

Operations

By 2014, Dixons managed a network of 530 stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland and maintained 322 outlets throughout northern Europe. The company’s organizational framework reflects its international reach and diverse brand lineup:

United Kingdom and Ireland

This market contributes approximately 40% of overall sales and holds the dominant market share within the UK and Ireland:[1]

  • Currys / PC World – specializing in consumer electronics and household appliances.
  • Team KnowHow – providing after-sales support and product services.
  • Dixons Travel – operating retail locations at major airports across the UK and Dublin International Airport.
  • DSGi Business – delivering IT solutions tailored to business and public sector customers.

Northern Europe

Representing about 32% of sales, this segment commands leading market positions in Nordic countries and the Czech Republic:[1]

  • Elgiganten – retailing home electronics and appliances in Denmark and Sweden.
  • Elkjøp – offering home electronics and appliances throughout Norway.
  • Elko – serving customers in Iceland.
  • Gigantti – operating within Finland.
  • Electro World – electrical superstores located in the Czech Republic. The Polish branch of Electro World is no longer part of Dixons’ holdings.[2]

Southern Europe

Accounting for 13% of total sales, the brand presence is strongest in Greece:[1]

  • Κωτσόβολος ("Kotsovolos") – specializes in consumer electronics within the Greek market.

Product brands

As of 2013, Dixons Retail operated various proprietary brand names:

  • Essentials[3] – Comprises both Currys Essentials and PC World Essentials lines.[4]
  • Logik[4][3][5] – Registered trademark since 1989, positioned as dependable, efficient, and cost-effective alternatives to leading brands.
  • Advent[4][3] – A PC World brand focusing on computers and related accessories.
  • Sandstrøm[4] – Aimed at premium consumer electronics featuring Scandinavian-inspired aesthetics.[3]
  • Goji[4][3] – Offers computers, smartphones, audio equipment, bags, and storage solutions; distributed by the Dixons Group.

Previously used brands included:

  • Prinz/Prinzsound/Prinztronic – Dating back to the 1950s, these were applied to Japanese-manufactured products customized for Dixons.[6]
  • Miranda – Acquired in 1981 for camera products; remained owned but inactive as of 2011 with intentions to divest.[7]
  • Saisho – Launched in 1982 as a high-end technology brand; plans for disposal were underway in 2011.[8][7]
  • Matsui – Introduced in the 1980s by Currys for UK-assembled electronics using imported parts; branded with Japanese motifs but without Japanese manufacturing or components. Phased out in 2010 during brand consolidation.[9]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
  • Carlton – Utilized by Currys for its own line of white goods.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Former businesses

Entities once owned or affiliated with Dixons include:

  • Mastercare Commercial Services, an IT support call center business later rebranded as Knowhow.
  • Freeserve, an ISP acquired by France Télécom and renamed Wanadoo in 2000 (subsequently merged into Orange).
  • The Link, a UK mobile phone retailer sold to O2 in June 2006.
  • Freetalk, a VoIP service provider whose clientele was transferred to US-based Vonage in August 2006.
  • Pixmania, a French e-commerce retailer acquired by Dixons Retail in 2006 and divested in 2013.
  • @Jakarta, a computer gaming store sold to Gameplay.com in August 2000.

Financial results

The following table outlines DSG International plc's financial outcomes over recent years:

DSG International plc financial results
Fiscal year 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
Fiscal year end date 30/04/13 28/04/12 01/05/11 01/05/10 02/05/09 03/05/08 28/04/07 29/04/06 30/04/05 01/05/04 03/05/03 27/04/02 28/04/01 29/04/00 01/05/99 02/05/98
Turnover (£ millions) 8,213.9 8,186.7 8,154.4 8,531.6 8,227.0 8,545.9 7,929.7 7,072.0 6,982.0 6,491.0 5,750.5 4,888.2 4,688.2 3,889.9 3,156.3 2,791.9
Profit before tax (£ millions) (115.3) 70.8 (224.1) 112.7 (140.4) (192.8) 295.1 302.9 336.8 366.2 278.6 282.3 647.1 [lower-alpha 1] 472.1 [lower-alpha 1] 231.3 213.3
Profit for the period (£ millions) (168.1) (194.4) (245.3) 57.3 (219.3) (259.7) 2.4 211.7 243.1 289.4 207.8 211.2 602.6 413.7 186.2 166.4
Basic earnings per share (pence) (4.4) (4.3) (6.6) 1.7 (10.2) (14.5) 10.9 11.7 12.6 14.4 10.7 11.0 31.5 22.5 41.1[lower-alpha 2] 36.9[lower-alpha 2]


See also

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named structure
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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named announce_2010
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named reg_new_brands
  5. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named corp_history_5059
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Oates
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named corp_history_8089
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Lohr


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