Dunelm is a British homewares and furnishings retailer founded in 1979 by husband and wife Bill and Jeany Adderley. The business has been transformed as a result of the acquisition of the Worldstores Group – comprising the Worldstores, Achica and Kiddicare etail brands – towards the end of 2016, in an £8.5m deal that more than doubled the size of its online business. The main benefit from the acquisition was the access to technology and digital development capabilities. Importantly, it sees the technology platform acquired with Worldstores as a real asset. The retailer confirmed in December 2019 that it had successfully transitioned all of its customers to its new digital platform, completing the three-year technology transformation programme. This should enable the retailer to launch click and collect and improve delivery options. The retailer is also continuing to invest in staff training, including the use of tablets in store, as well as further investment in data insights to help improve the customer experience.
Dunelm has posted a sharp drop in sales during its fourth quarter despite hailing “significant” growth in its online business.
With the prospect of more local lockdowns on the cards, Retail Week explores how retailers can manage and plan for an uncertain future.
While many retailers have tightened their belts to counter the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, some have used the time to launch new concept stores to expand their reach.
Dunelm has opened a new concept store on Crawley High Street under the Dunelm Edit fascia.
As government regulations keep the UK housebound, many consumers have taken the opportunity to use their extra time and extra cash to improve their lockdown locations, giving the home and DIY sector a boost
Advertisement
