GUS (retailer)

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GUS plc was a FTSE 100 retailing, manufacturing and financial conglomerate based in the United Kingdom. GUS was an abbreviation of Great Universal Stores, the company's name before 2001, while it was also known as the Glorious Gussies amongst stockbrokers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company started out as Universal Stores, a mail order business created by the Rose family.<ref name=cc83 /> In 1931, Isaac Wolfson joined the mail order company and would, through a series of takeovers, turn it into a retail, manufacturing and financial conglomerate,<ref name=Aris/><ref name=sentinel>Template:Cite news</ref> becoming Europe's biggest mail order firm<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and with over 2,700 physical stores.<ref name=sentinel/> His son, Leonard Wolfson, followed him as chairman, to be succeeded by his nephews David Wolfson (1996–2000)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and Victor Barnett (2000–2002).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the 1980s, the business divested much of its physical retail and manufacturing subsidiaries under Leonard Wolfson to concentrate on mail order, property and finance.<ref name=magiccarpet/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=leonard>Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2006, the company was split into two separate companies: Experian which continues to exist, and Home Retail Group which was bought by Sainsbury's in 2016.

History

Universal Stores was founded in 1900 as a mail-order business in Manchester, England by Abraham, George and Jack Rose. A private company, Universal Stores (Manchester) Ltd, was set up to manage the business and the company was incorporated in 1917.<ref name=cc83 /> In 1930, the company changed its name to Great Universal Stores Limited. The next year it was listed on the London Stock Exchange. At this stage, it was the leading mail order business in the UK, with a single catalogue, Great Universal. A second catalogue, John England, was launched later in 1933.<ref name=cc83 /> The company set up a chain of department stores in a joint venture with American businessman Charley Nicholls called New Universal Stores.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 1931, Isaac Wolfson was invited to join the company as merchandise controller after impressing director George Rose at a trade fair in Manchester, accepting no wages in return of share options.<ref name=Aris>Template:Cite book</ref> The flotation of the company was not a huge success, and with an ill-advised move to London the share price dropped.<ref name=Aris/> Wolfson, using money borrowed from his father in law, purchased a large amount of shares and became the joint managing director a year later with George Rose,<ref name=Aris/> who subsequently resigned in 1934 leaving Wolfson in sole charge.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1933 the company had made a loss of £55,000, but Wolfson's reorganisation turned this around to a profit of £330,000 in 1934.<ref name=Aris/> He was chairman from the late 1940s until his retirement in 1987. Wolfson grew GUS by offering 'A' ordinary shares, which had no voting rights,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> or by selling the premises and leasing it back.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Through his wealth gained at Great Universal Stores, he established the Wolfson Foundation in 1955.<ref name="frs">Template:Cite journal</ref> By 1983 the company had expanded its range of operations significantly. Catalogue mail order was by far the company's primary business but the company was also engaged in retailing through shops, the manufacture of clothing and household goods, financial services, property investment and travel.<ref name=cc83>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Until 1997, GUS had 48 years of consecutive profit growth.<ref name=argos/>

UK mail order catalogues growth

Great Universal acquired Kay & Company Ltd in 1937, and continued to run its catalogue, Kays, as a separate title. Based in Worcester, Kay & Company began life in the 1880s and was an established mail order company at the time of the GUS takeover.<ref name=cc83 /> Two further mail order firms were purchased in 1938, Trafford Warehouse and Samuel Driver.<ref name=td/>

After World War II, the expansion of the mail order business restarted with the purchase of Morses in 1947.<ref name=td/> This was followed by the purchase of the famous mail order business of Pryce Pryce-Jones, The Royal Welsh Warehouse, which was acquired in 1954.<ref name=td/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company further expanded the mail order business during the 1960s by buying rivals Bollin House (1961),<ref name=td/> Dyson and Horsfall (1962)<ref name=td/> and Chorlton Warehouse (1963).<ref name=td/>

GUS acquired A & S Henry & Co group in 1971 after a battle with fellow retailing group United Drapery Stores.<ref name=icseg1971>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This group was primarily a group of paper pulp and carpet manufacturing businesses and a mail order unit trading as John Noble. This was followed in 1976 by the acquisition of the retail business of S & U Stores Ltd, a 120 chain store holding company which operated catalogues, Greenbank and Meridien;<ref name=parl>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1977 the business of Henry Wigfall & Son Ltd catalogue business of All Yours, Wigfalls at Home and Choice Mail Order were purchased,<ref name=parl/> and in 1981 GUS acquired the John Myers Home Shopping catalogue business from UDS Group plc.<ref name=rb275>Template:Cite periodical</ref> All of these mail order businesses became part of the GUS subsidiary, the British Mail Order Corporation Ltd (BMOC) and were run separately from Kay & Company Ltd.<ref name=cc83 /> However, in 1983 the Monopolies & Mergers Commission vetoed a merger of GUS with rival Empire<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> which GUS had already purchased 36% of the shares in.<ref>Template:Cite periodical</ref> Two thirds of the shares in Empire was sold to a Dutch company, Vendex, with GUS retaining a 12% holding.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> UK operations were grown in 1997 with the purchase of most of Arcadia Group's catalogue business, which included the catalogues Innovations and McCord.<ref name="Business AFM Challenge">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=guard17403>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Thomas Derdak, Jay P. Pederson 1999 30">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

European mail order catalogues growth

From the 1960s, GUS grew its presence on continental Europe. This started with the purchase of the Wehkamp mail order business based in Holland.<ref name="Managing Closed-Loop Supply Chains">Template:Cite book</ref> This was increased by Swedish catalogue Hallens I. Barrasford which was purchased in 1966<ref name="Hollander, S.C 1970 112">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="The New Dawn">Template:Cite book</ref> and the Austrian mail order firm Universal Versand in 1968.<ref name="Austria">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Major Companies of Europe">Template:Cite book</ref> The last purchase was Verdia in Switzerland, which was purchased in 1982<ref name="Moody's International Manual">Template:Cite book</ref> The Wehkamp catalogue was expanded by its parent company, GUS Holland BV, by purchasing smaller Dutch rival Bertels in 1970,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> moving into the Belgium and Germany markets<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and offering separate catalogues selling everything from flower bulbs to furniture and holding a third of the mail order market in Holland.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> GUS expanded Halens catalogue into the Finnish market in 1997.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Furniture business growth

In 1934, Great Universal started to grow its furniture business by purchasing the Midland and Hackney chains.<ref name=ce/> This was followed in 1943 by the purchase of the Jays and Campbell chains for £1.2 million from its owner Sir Julien Cahn,<ref name=ce/> and British and Colonial Furniture Company in 1945, along with its Cavendish, Woodhouse and Dale chains for £1 million<ref name=ce/> and the manufacturing business of Tyne Plywood Works.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Smart Brothers furniture chain was added in 1948 for a further £1 million.<ref name=ce/> In 1946, a Working Party report stated its concerns about GUS purchases:<ref name=ce/> <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

A large group has recently acquired control of several well known multiple house furnishing businesses and now owns 480 stores throughout the country. In addition it has still more recently obtained control of several large manufacturing units and one plywood plant... so it's clear... this organisation will be in a position to exercise very considerable influence on the trade{{#if:|

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They continued to buy furniture stores, with Oetzmann & Co. purchased in 1954,<ref name=nd1956p9/> Godfrey and James Broderick stores added.<ref name=lr55/> The biggest name purchased was Waring & Gillows in 1953, however a large share of the business was sold to rival furniture chain "John Peters", run by Manny Cussins for cash and shares in 1960.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> During 1955, GUS furniture factories were hit by the UK government's restrictions to hire purchase, with Tyne Furniture Works, one of Europe's biggest furniture factory's, having to go on short time due to the fall in orders.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1957, GUS funded research by the Furniture Development Council into blooming caused by lacquers used on furniture products.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1968, GUS purchased the combined furniture and menswear group Times-Willerby, adding The Times Furnishing Company to its furniture retail portfolio,<ref name=shopkeep/> while also purchasing the Welsh-based furniture retailer S. Aston & Sons in 1968.<ref name=egpg39/> During the same year GUS was taken to Court by Cheltenham department store Cavendish House about using the Cavendish name on the former Dale furniture store.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1985, GUS combined The Times Furnishing Group, and its remaining furniture businesses that had been consolidated under Cavendish-Woodhouse, and branded them under the Times name.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The 375 store business was sold to Harris Queensway in 1986, for an exchange of a 20% shareholding in Harris Queensway.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=magiccarpet/>

Department stores and Draperies

In 1937, Charley Nicholls, the part owner of New Universal Stores sold his shares to Zellers, the Canadian retailer,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> who took over management of the chain and renamed it Hills & Steele. The business was making a loss and GUS took over management of the business in 1939, but sold it to British Home Stores in 1944.<ref name="New Dawn">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> GUS however did not pull out of this market, and went on a purchasing spree. The first bought was Cardiff based store, Leslie Stores and its subsidiaries, John Dyer in Southsea,<ref name=nd56p10>Template:Cite book</ref> London House in Newport was purchased in 1940.<ref name=agendapg49>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="HM Treasury 1952">Template:Cite book</ref> World War II briefly slowed the growth, but after the war Bainbridges of Lincoln, Lincolnshire & Wisbech was purchased in 1949,<ref name=td/> quickly followed by J Robb & Co of Belfast in 1951.<ref name="archiseekrobb">Template:Cite news</ref> GUS subsidiary, Kays purchased the Kidderminster store Attwoods,<ref name="Kays Heritage Group">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while in 1954 Bladons of Hull<ref name=lr55/><ref name=nd1956p9>Template:Cite book</ref> and Jones & Higgins Peckham were acquired.<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Chambers, R. J 2006 168">Template:Cite book</ref> The company added Pim Brothers (Dublin)<ref name=agendapg49/><ref name="Cartel">Template:Cite periodical</ref> and Darling & Co. Edinburgh in 1955,<ref name=cartel1955>Template:Cite journal</ref> Ben Evans in Swansea in 1955, Houndsditch Warehouse, Houndsditch, London in 1958<ref name="The Great Universal Stores Limited">Template:Cite news</ref> and Beavans in Byker in 1964.<ref name="Chronicle Live">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref><ref name="Beavans Switch Sales Aporoach">Template:Cite news</ref> Other department stores acquired during this time included Butterfield and Massies of Barnsley,<ref name=lr55/><ref name="Universities & Left Review">Template:Cite book</ref> Webbers of Maidenhead,<ref name="books.google.com">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Wickhams<ref name=lr55>Template:Cite journal</ref> and Pyne Brothers both of London.<ref name=agendapg49/> GUS also purchased during this period smaller Drapery Stores, many of which offered credit to their customers. These included W. Brydson & Co of Perth,<ref name=nd63/> Evans and Allen of Newport,<ref name=cartel33/> Garrett & Co of Woolwich,<ref name=cartel33/><ref name=nw54>Template:Cite journal</ref> Rees Howell in Glamorgan,<ref name=nd63/> R. W. Pritchard in Shepherd's Bush,<ref name=nd56p10/> the Taylor-Nottidge Group which included the subsidiaries:<ref name=nd56p10/> F. Taylor & Sons (Lambeth), J. T. Nottidge (Islington), Gergels (Gravesend), Beck Jones (Lewisham), John Williams & Co (Rotherhithe), Heywoods (Manor Park). The biggest purchase was Penberthys of Oxford Street in 1955.<ref name=td/>

However the age of the department store and drapery was starting to falter, and GUS sold, closed down or repurposed the stores. Darling & Co. was sold to House of Fraser in January 1961.<ref name="Scotland in Modern Times – William">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite book</ref> J Robb & Co was closed in 1973, as was Pim Brothers in 1967, both being rented out by GUS Property before being redeveloped.<ref name=archiseekrobb/> Jones & Higgins was closed as a department store in 1980, becoming a branch of Houndsditch Warehouse before it eventually closed in 1984,<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite journal</ref> with Houndsditch itself closing in 1986 and being redeveloped by GUS Property as 133 Houndsditch, an office development.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Garrett & Co in Woolwich was closed 1972 and replaced by a Times Furnishing store,<ref name="Survey of London: Woolwich">Template:Cite book</ref> while the likes of Bainbridges<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Butterfield and Massies<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=glancingback>Template:Cite news</ref> were converted into Thoms discount stores.<ref name=glancingback/>

Early Do it yourself stores

In 1958, GUS purchased Art Wallpapers, a chain of paint and wall covering stores.<ref name=td/> The business was grown by adding more stores, as well as purchasing further DIY retailers Great Clowes Discount Warehouse,<ref name="Obituary: Herman Martyn MBE">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Fallon, Ivan 1988 118">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Great Clowes Discount Warehouse">Template:Cite news</ref> and Home Charm.<ref name="Steve Baron 1991 231">Template:Cite book</ref> By the 1980s the business had 175 stores, but was sold to Harris Queensway in exchange for shares as part of the same deal that Harris had acquired Times Furniture.<ref name=magiccarpet/>

Grocery retail business

In 1962, the business moved into the grocery business by buying William Cussons, a northern based chain,<ref name=econcusson>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> which operated a further 40 Carline Supermarkets and the high end grocery chain Hodgson & Hepworth in Doncaster.<ref name=guardian24862/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These businesses were sold to Associated British Foods grocery business Fine Fare in November 1968.<ref name=investabf>Template:Cite periodical</ref>

Clothing retail

After the Second World War, Wolfson expanded GUS into the world of clothing retailing. It purchased the retail chains, Jays of Regent Street in 1946;<ref name=jays>Template:Cite news</ref> ladys outfitters Wilsons in 1947<ref name=td/> followed by Jax in 1949.<ref name=td/> During 1954, men's tailoring chain John Temple<ref name=td/> was purchased along with Rego Clothiers.<ref name=cartel33/> Two high end retailers, Burberry and The Scotch House were added to the company's portfolio in 1955<ref name=cc83 /> along with national chain Weaver to Wearer.<ref name=cartel33/> Two years later GUS purchased the multiple retailer Morrisons Associated Companies, which included its subsidiaries,<ref name=td/><ref name=bid/><ref name=nd63>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ashley Russell;<ref name=td/> Audrey;<ref name=nd63/> Cliftons;<ref name=bid/><ref name=nd63/> Edgar Allen;<ref name=nd63/> Graftons;<ref name=td/><ref name=nd63/> Irene Adair<ref name=bid>Template:Cite book</ref> and Paige.<ref name=td/> It also added in 1957 the men's tailoring stores of Neville Reed.<ref name=td/> The following year saw GUS expand its clothing empire by buying the men's tailoring chains of Hector Powe and Hope Brothers<ref name=td/> (which included subsidiary John Maxwell)<ref name="The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Je">Template:Cite book</ref> and ladies outfitters J.Marksmith & Co. with its subsidiary<ref name=nd63/> Vogue Fashions.<ref name=nd63/> Headrow Clothiers, a manufacturing and clothing retail business was purchased in 1962, with the manufacturing business being sold onto Manny Cussins company, John Peters, but with GUS retaining the 88 Hipp/Tailorfit stores.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Isaac Wolfson - the man and his man">Template:Cite periodical</ref> As part of the purchase of Times Willerby, a furniture and men's tailoring business in 1968, the Willerby tailor stores were added to the GUS portfolio.<ref name=shopkeep/> The company expanded into European markets in 1972 by purchasing the French men's retailer 100,000 Chemises.<ref name="Vision; the European Business Magaz">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Hammwr, Alexander. R">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=jane1975/> During the 1970s, the clothing operations management were consolidated under Morrisons Associated Companies, with the company rebranding it's men stores under the Just Pants Plus brand, while the womenswear brands were reduced to Paige, Wilsons and Jax.<ref>Template:Cite periodical</ref><ref name=times83>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1986, the 246 Paige stores were sold to retail group Combined English Stores.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Footwear Retailers

In addition to clothing retailers, Isaac Wolfson expanded GUS retail portfolio into the world of Footwear. The first purchase was in 1956 when they acquired the Flateau Group, which included the subsidiaries<ref name="Tax Cases Reported Under the Direct">Template:Cite book</ref> Henry Playfair, Metropole Shoes and the Metropolitan Boot Co. This soon added to by the purchase of manufacturer and retailer Greenlees & Sons in 1957, whose subsidiaries included<ref name=nd63p135/> Easiphit; Dicks; J.W. Haylock; Peter of Durham; K. Stanton & Sons and Sandra. In 1973, the business was grown further by the purchase of Lennards.<ref name="nytimes.com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Mount, Ferdinand 2021 47">Template:Cite book</ref> The businesses were merged into a new company called Greenlees Lennards Ltd.<ref name="Jane's Major Companies of Europe">Template:Cite book</ref> The combined company was sold to Charterhall during 1988.<ref name="Morris, Richard 2018 336">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Smith, Terry 1992 35">Template:Cite book</ref>

Electrical retailers

Great Universal Stores expanded into the High Street electrical retail market in 1948 by buying Boyds, a radio and television retailerand rental company.<ref name=td/><ref name=B109/> This area of the business was further expanded by 1955 with the purchase of W H Barnes,<ref name=cartel1955/> but it was not until 1971 that further expansion occurred with the purchase of J & F Stone Lighting and Radio Ltd.<ref name=B109>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Trade and Industry">Template:Cite book</ref> The 100 stores of the J & F Stone brand were sold in 1975 to Thorn Electrical Industries who combined them into their existing Rumbelows chain,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> while Boyds was sold to the Electronics Rental Group in 1974.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Other retail and manufacturing growth

GUS developed its manufacturing businesses in the 1950s, with products including clothing, bedding, upholstery, textiles and pottery.<ref name=cc83 />

A joint venture started in 1984 between commercial delivery firm Lex Wilkinson and GUS Transport, better known as White Arrow.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> During the 1980s, Leonard Wolfson divested much of the companies retail and manufacturing business, to concentrate on mail order, Burberry, finance and property sectors.<ref name=leonard/> While divesting the retail businesses, GUS kept hold of the freeholds of the properties and added them to their property business GUS Property Management, leasing the properties back to the purchasing businesses.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1995, Marks and Spencers and GUS discussed a merger but it was eventually blocked by the M & S board.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1997, Great Universal Stores appointed Rose Marie Bravo as the new CEO of Burberry given the task of improving the company, which had been hit by the Asian crisis.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The company acquired Argos in 1998 in a hostile takeover bid<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=argos>Template:Cite news</ref> and the UK's second largest online retailer at the time, Jungle.com, in 2000 for £37 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Argos Retail Group (2000–2006)

In 2001 the company changed its name to GUS plc using the identifier GUS on the London Stock Exchange. In November 2002, Homebase was acquired by GUS plc for £900 million, where it formed part of the Argos Retail Group. The previous month, GUS had announced that the Jungle.com business was also to be merged into the ARG division of the business and run from Argos' Milton Keynes headquarters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From early in the year the Home Shopping division also embarked on a successful turnaround strategy helped by advisers managed by Rob Wherrett of Zymolysis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Canadian operations

With the purchase of British & Colonial Furniture in 1945, GUS gained ownership of their first Canadian business, Woodhouse & Co.<ref name=macleans/> Great Universal Stores of Canada Limited was expanded with the further purchases of Legare Co., C. W. Lindsay, Forsts and Adams Furniture Co.<ref name=macleans/> In 1953, Isaac Wolfson investigated a merger of his Canadian operations with Canadian department store Robert Simpson but withdrew from the deal at the last minute.<ref name=macleans/> By 1964, GUS operated 125 furniture and appliance stores across Canada.<ref name=nytdec64/> Charles Wolfson, Isaac's brother was formerly president,<ref name=macleans/> became chairman as of 1 January 1963, and John P. Adderley became president and chief executive officer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The businesses included:

  • Woodhouse & Co (purchased 1945)<ref name=macleans>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Legare Co.<ref name=macleans/>
  • Adams Furniture Co.<ref name=macleans/>
  • C. W. Lindsay and Co.<ref name=macleans/>
  • Forst's Ltd. (purchased 1955)<ref name=macleans/>

In the early 1990s the Canadian company was fined $45,000 (Canadian) for misleading advertising, the largest total fine during that fiscal year. At that point, the company was doing business under the name of Légaré Woodhouse in Montreal and elsewhere in Quebec.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The business was sold at a loss of £1.7 million in 1998, as GUS pulled out of the Canadian retail market.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

South African operations

In 1947, Isaac Wolfson visited South Africa on a fact finding mission for investments and purchased shares in the newly public issued furniture retailer Lewis Stores, which operated 8 stores<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Lewis Stores share holding was grown to take ownership of the business, and further investments were made in manufacturing businesses Workwear, Sweet-our, Lydbrook and Durban Bag Company.<ref>Template:Cite periodical</ref> By 1956, Lewis Stores had grown to a 45 store chain<ref name=macleans/> including the brands Lewis Stores, Baron Furnishings, Excelsior Meubels and a credit clothing store called Universal Stores.<ref name=lewis>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By 1964 the retail business had grown to 120 stores.<ref name=nytdec64>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1972, Universal Stores were sold to South African rival Edgars, while 50 furniture stores were purchased from Edgar's and renamed Dan Hands, and the business opened stores in Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland.<ref name=lewis/> During the 1990s the furniture stores were rebranded under the Lewis brand, and the electrical retailer Best Electricals was started up.<ref name=lewis/> The retail business by 2003 had a total of 395 stores under the Lewis and Best Electrical brands.<ref name="GUS plans South African float">Template:Cite news</ref>

GUS were put under pressure during the apartheid years regarding their investments,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> including pressure from Wolfson College, Oxford, which had been set up by a grant from the Wolfson Foundation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2003 it was announced the South African business would be partially floated on the Johannesburg market as part of the divestment of non core business.<ref name="GUS plans South African float"/> The remaining shares of the business were sold in 2005.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

America plans

In 1949, GUS applied to the UK government asking to extend their dollar facilities to £750,000 to invest in the US to increase the sale of British goods.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1954, GUS made an approach to purchase the US mail order and department store group Montgomery Ward with a plan to invest $100 million in the business, however the bid was rejected by Montgomery Ward's board.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In December 1964, Isaac Wolfson announced they planned to expand into both the retail and manufacturing trades in the US,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> however no purchases were made. GUS did set up Great Universal Stores Development Company Inc. in 1964<ref name="International Management">Template:Cite book</ref> to work with two American partners on property development, and in 1968 set up a new subsidiary, BRAMBEC, as a commercial furniture contractor for its manufacturing businesses, working in partnership with Holiday Inn.<ref name="More Mergers, Diversification">Template:Cite news</ref>

Travel & holiday business

In 1956, GUS purchased Global Tours, Europe's biggest coach tour company that had been formed by Harry Rosenthal, Joe and Harry Shuman<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> adding Overland Tours later that year.<ref name=td/> GUS added a further business to its Global subsidiary, Sunlight Holidays in 1962.<ref name=td/> By 1969, the Global business had grown and was delivering 150,000 Tours annually, in the areas of air, coach rail and cruise tours.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Great Universal was a large shareholder in British Caledonian Airways,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and Global formed a strong partnership with a time charter arrangement.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite periodical</ref> By 1977, Global was offering low priced tours leaving from 10 different airports in the British Isles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company however suffered from a blacklisting from Arab countries due to the company chairman being Lord Mancroft, and the companies links to Israel.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1985, as part of Leonard Wolfsons divesting plans, Global, along with its brands Overland and Golden Circle were sold to rival tour company Intasun.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

GUS Property

GUS Property divisions started out as an investment company developing modern office blocks, including Dale Street in Manchester,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Chatworth House,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in partnership with Gerald Ronson.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company also invested in retail developments, including the 1985 development of St Nicholas Centre<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> while redeveloping the former Robb department store in Belfast into the Donegall Arcade.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 1980s, GUS started selling off its physical retail businesses, but retained the freehold and leaseholds, changing the company to GUS Property Management. The company continued to invest in property by purchasing The Forge shopping centre in Glasgow from Arlington Retail for £35 million in 1993<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the Connswater Shopping Centre in Belfast for £23.25m in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1997, GUS set up a joint company with British Land to manage the £900 million property portfolio held by GUS Property Management. Called BL Universal, British Land paid £230 million for its half share of the joint company.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The new business sold or relinquished 894 properties, either reinvesting in new property, such as retail parks,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> or returning cash to the share holders. In 2003, British Land purchased the remaining 50% shareholding from GUS for £120 million, and paid off a £43 million loan that GUS had provided to BL Universal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Finance business

GUS purchased Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co, a British owned department store chain located in the far East in 1957.<ref name=td/> The business included several finance arms including General Guarantee Corp Ltd, a company dealing in equipment leasing and hire purchase financing. In 1964, Great Universal started selling motor insurance via their catalogues.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1997 General Guarantee purchased the vehicle leasing company Highway Vehicle Management.<ref name=fleetnews>Template:Cite news</ref>

The finance business was sold as part of the company refocus under David Wolfson and Victor Barnett.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Highway Vehicle Management was sold to First National, a division of Abbey National for around £170 million in 2000,<ref name=fleetnews/> with K.C Finance, its Channel Island subsidiary of General Guarantee Finance sold for £54 million.<ref name=annualrep2001/> The remaining part of General Guarantee Finance was closed down in 2000 with the loss of 600 jobs after failing to find a buyer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Whiteaway Laidlaw Bank was then transferred to the Home Retail Group, and was sold in 2007 to the Manchester Building Society.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Credit agency and direct marketing business

In the 1970s, the Midland Household stores division of GUS developed a credit referencing system to help against bad debt on credit provided in its furniture stores. It was such a success that it was offered to other parts of the GUS group, and it grew and developed into direct marketing, credit management and store cards.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1980, GUS sought assistance from IBM, who recommended that they sold its products to others, thus the department became a separate organisation called Commercial Credit (Nottingham) (CCN), which sold its products to organisations outside of the GUS group.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> During 1984 GUS purchased Manchester Guardian Society for the Protection of Trade.<ref name="COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1986, CCN bought US business MDS (Management Decision Systems), a specialist company developing credit scoring models.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In November 1996, TRW sold their credit agency unit TRW Information Systems and Services Inc, that operated under the name Experian to Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Just one month later, the two firms sold Experian to Great Universal Stores.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> GUS merged the business with CCN and renamed the business Experian.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1997, GUS purchased US direct marketing company Direct Marketing Technology for $246 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2000s divestment and demerger

The company started divesting its business by selling its Universal Versand business in April 2001 to the Otto group for £23 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=annualrep2001>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its luxury brand The Scotch House was put up for sale, but no buyer could be found and so the business was closed down in 2001 and its Knightsbridge store transferred to Burberry.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The company expanded into new markets by buying the Reality Group, a Web design, hosting and e-commerce consultancy business it had acquired for £35 million and merging it with its GUS Transport business, known as White Arrow, naming the combined business Reality.<ref name="postandparcel.info">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="thenorthernecho.co.uk">Template:Cite news</ref> Later on in 2001, Breathe.com, at the time Britain's 4th largest internet service provider was purchased from near bankruptcy, but was sold just three months later at a profit to Affinity Internet Holdings.<ref name="irishexaminer.com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2004, the company sold its traditional home shopping (catalogues) division in the UK and Scandinavia and its Reality business, which included the White Arrow business to the Barclay twins for £590 million,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who later merged the Littlewoods mail order operations into it.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This included the iconic Great Universal Stores catalogue, from which the company took its name, and completed the departure of GUS from its original business areas. Around the same time, the Barclays announced the closure of the Littlewoods Index catalogue showroom chain, the principal rival to Argos in the UK, selling around 35 stores to Argos.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Following a reorganization led by Barnett, it was announced in May 2005 that GUS would divest its stake in Burberry by distributing Burberry shares to its own shareholders. In October the Wehkamp business was sold to Swedish investment company Industri Kapital for 390 million euros, selling the last remnant of the companies mail order business.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> The Burberry demerger was completed in December 2005.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> GUS plc ranked as the highest-spending online advertiser in the US, according to Nielsen NetRatings, spending over $US659m in 2006.<ref name=nielson>The Most Tivo'd Shows: Naughty or Nice for Advertisers?</ref> The next-ranked online advertiser, Vonage, had sales of just over $US294m.<ref name=nielson/>

On 28 March 2006, it was announced that the company would split into two separate businesses, Home Retail Group and Experian, with both companies listed separately on the London Stock Exchange as of 11 October 2006.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> GUS plc became a wholly owned subsidiary of Experian plc after the demerger and was renamed Experian Finance plc.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Operations pre 1998

Mail order catalogues in United Kingdom

  • Great Universal<ref name=cc83 />
  • John England (1933)<ref name=cc83 />
  • Marshall Ward (1936)<ref name=td/>
  • Kay & Co. Purchased 1937.<ref name=cc83 />
  • Trafford Warehouse purchased 1938<ref name=td/>
  • Samuel Driver purchased 1938<ref name=td/>
  • Morses purchased 1947<ref name=td/>
  • The Royal Welsh Warehouse purchased 1954<ref name=td/>
  • Bollin House purchased 1961<ref name=td/>
  • Dyson and Horsfall purchased 1962<ref name=td/>
  • Chorlton Warehouse purchased 1963<ref name=td/>
  • John Noble purchased 1971<ref name=icseg1971/>
  • Greenbank and Meridien purchased 1976<ref name=parl/>
  • All Yours, Wigfalls at Home and Choice Mail Order purchased 1977<ref name=parl/>
  • John Myers purchased 1981<ref name=rb275/>
  • Innovations purchased 1997<ref name="Business AFM Challenge"/><ref name=guard17403/><ref name="Thomas Derdak, Jay P. Pederson 1999 30"/>
    • McCord's<ref name=guard17403/>

Mail order catalogues in Europe

  • Wehkamp (Holland) purchased 1962.<ref name="Managing Closed-Loop Supply Chains"/>
  • Universal Versand (Austria) purchased 1968<ref name="Austria"/><ref name="Major Companies of Europe"/>
  • Hallens I. Barrasford (Sweden)<ref name="Hollander, S.C 1970 112"/> purchased 1966<ref name="The New Dawn"/>
  • Verdia (Switzerland) purchased 1982<ref name="Moody's International Manual"/>
  • Family Album (Republic of Ireland)<ref name="irishtimes.com">Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Celtic Hampers (Republic of Ireland) purchased 1998<ref name="irishtimes.com"/>

Department stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland

  • New Universal Stores - chain of 10 department stores, renamed Hills & Steele in 1939 before being sold to British Home Stores in 1944.<ref name="New Dawn"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Leslie Stores and subsidiaries purchased 1940:<ref name=agendapg49/><ref name="HM Treasury 1952"/>
    • John Dyer (Southsea)<ref name=nd56p10/>
    • London House (Newport)
  • Bainbridges (Lincoln, Lincolnshire & Wisbech) purchased in 1949<ref name=td/>
  • J Robb & Co (Belfast) Purchased in 1951. Closed in 1973.<ref name="archiseekrobb"/>
  • Attwoods (Kidderminster) bought by Kay & Co. in the 1950s.<ref name="Kays Heritage Group"/>
  • Bladons (Hull) purchased 1954.<ref name=lr55/><ref name=nd1956p9/>
  • Jones & Higgins (Peckham) acquired in 1954. Closed in 1980,<ref name="auto"/><ref name="Chambers, R. J 2006 168"/> before re-opening as the Houndsditch before closing in 1984.<ref name="auto1"/>
  • Pim Brothers (Dublin) purchased 1955<ref name=agendapg49/><ref name="Cartel"/>
  • Darling & Co. (Edinburgh) purchased in 1955.<ref name=cartel1955/> Bought by House of Fraser in January 1961.<ref name="Scotland in Modern Times – William"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/>
  • Ben Evans (Swansea) purchased in 1955
  • Houndsditch Warehouse (Houndsditch, London) purchased in 1958.<ref name="The Great Universal Stores Limited"/> Closed in 1986.
  • Beavans (Byker) bought in 1964.<ref name="Chronicle Live"/><ref name="Beavans Switch Sales Aporoach"/>
  • Butterfield and Massies (Barnsley)<ref name=lr55/><ref name="Universities & Left Review"/>
  • Webbers (Maidenhead)<ref name="books.google.com"/>
  • Wickhams (London)<ref name=lr55/>
  • Pyne Brothers (London)<ref name=agendapg49/>

Department stores outside the United Kingdom

  • Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co. purchased 1957.<ref name=td/> Operating stores in Far East and Kenya.

Drapers

  • W. Brydson & Co (Perth)<ref name=nd63/>
  • Evans and Allen (Newport)<ref name=cartel33/>
  • Garrett & Co (Woolwich)<ref name=cartel33/><ref name=nw54/> Closed 1972 and replaced by a Times Furnishing store.<ref name="Survey of London: Woolwich"/>
  • Rees Howell (Glamorgan)<ref name=nd63/>
  • John Dyer (Southsea)<ref name=nd56p10/>
  • R. W. Pritchard (Shephards Bush)<ref name=nd56p10/>
  • Taylor-Nottidge Group including subsidiaries:<ref name=nd56p10/>
    • F. Taylor & Sons (Lambeth)
    • J. T. Nottidge (Islington)
    • Gergels (Gravesend)
    • Beck Jones (Lewisham)
    • John Williams & Co (Rotherhithe)
    • Heywoods (Manor Park)
  • Penberthys of Oxford Street purchased 1955<ref name=td/>

Clothing retailers in the United Kingdom

  • Jays of Regent Street purchased 1946<ref name=jays/>
  • Wilsons purchased 1947<ref name=td/>
  • Jax purchased 1949<ref name=td/>
  • John Temple purchased 1954<ref name=td/>
  • Rego Clothiers purchased 1954<ref name=cartel33/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=nw54/>
  • Burberry purchased 1955.<ref name=cc83 />
  • Scotch House purchased 1955.<ref name=cc83 />
  • Weaver to Wearer purchased 1955.<ref name=cartel33>Template:Cite periodical</ref>
  • Morrisons (and subsidiaries) purchased 1957<ref name=td/><ref name=bid/><ref name=nd63/>
    • Ashley Russell<ref name=td/>
    • Audrey<ref name=nd63/>
    • Cliftons<ref name=bid/><ref name=nd63/>
    • Edgar Allen<ref name=nd63/>
    • Graftons<ref name=td/><ref name=nd63/>
    • Irene Adair<ref name=bid/>
    • Paige.<ref name=td/> Sold to Combined English Stores in 1986.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Neville Reed purchased 1957<ref name=td/>
  • Hector Powe purchased 1958.<ref name=td/>
  • Hope Brothers purchased 1958.<ref name=td/>
    • John Maxwell <ref name="The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Je"/>
  • J.Marksmith & Co. purchased 1958 with subsidiary:<ref name=nd63/>
    • Vogue Fashions<ref name=nd63/>
  • Headrow Clothiers purchased 1962. Manufacturing business sold to Manny Cussins company, John Peters, but retained the 88 Hipp/Tailorfit stores.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Isaac Wolfson - the man and his man"/>
  • Willerby purchased 1968<ref name=shopkeep/>

Clothing retailers in Europe

  • 100,000 Chemises purchased 1972<ref name="Vision; the European Business Magaz"/><ref name="Hammwr, Alexander. R"/><ref name=jane1975/>

Footwear Retailers

  • Flateau Group purchased 1956. Subsidiaries included:<ref name="Tax Cases Reported Under the Direct"/>
    • Henry Playfair
    • Metropole Shoes
    • Metropolitan Boot Co.
  • Greenlees & Sons purchased 1957. Subsidiaries included:<ref name=nd63p135/>
    • Easiphit
    • Dicks
    • J.W. Haylock
    • Peter of Durham
    • K. Stanton & Sons
    • Sandra
  • Lennards purchased 1973.<ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref name="Mount, Ferdinand 2021 47"/> Sold to Charterhall during the 1988.<ref name="Morris, Richard 2018 336"/><ref name="Smith, Terry 1992 35"/>

(Businesses were merged into Greenlees Lennards Ltd.)<ref name="Jane's Major Companies of Europe"/>

Grocery business

  • William Cussons purchased 1962<ref name=econcusson/>
    • J.C. Carline Supermarkets subsidiary of Cussons<ref name=investabf/><ref name=guardian24862>Template:Cite news</ref>

Discount retailers

Furniture retailers

  • Hackney and Midland purchased 1934<ref name=ce/>
  • Jays purchased 1943<ref name=jeff/><ref name=ce/>
  • Campbells purchased 1943<ref name=ce>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • British and Colonial Furniture Company purchased 1945<ref name=jeff/> with subsidiaries:
    • Cavendish
    • Woodhouse
  • Baron Furnishers purchased 1947<ref name=td>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Smart Brothers purchased 1948<ref name=jeff>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=ce/>
  • Jackson Stores purchased 1949<ref name=jeff/><ref>Template:Cite periodical</ref>
  • Waring & Gillow purchased 1953<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Partially sold 1960.

Furniture contractors

  • BRAMBEC<ref name="More Mergers, Diversification"/>

Australian operations

Electrical retailers

  • Boyds purchased 1948<ref name=td/><ref name=B109/>
  • W H Barnes<ref name=cartel1955/>
  • J & F Stone Lighting and Radio Ltd purchased 1971<ref name=B109/><ref name="Trade and Industry"/>

DIY stores

  • Art Wallpapers purchased 1958<ref name=td/>
  • Great Clowes Discount Warehouse<ref name="Obituary: Herman Martyn MBE"/><ref name="Fallon, Ivan 1988 118"/><ref name="Great Clowes Discount Warehouse"/>
  • Home Charm<ref name="Steve Baron 1991 231"/>

Travel Agents and Tour Companies

  • Globe Tours purchased 1956<ref name=td/>
  • Overland Tours purchased 1956<ref name=td/>
  • Sunlight Holidays purchased 1962<ref name=td/>

(Brought together under Global name)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Manufacturing

  • Myers & Morris (furniture) purchased 1937<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Tyne Plywood Works purchased 1945<ref name=nd2956p10>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Tyne Furniture Works purchased 1945<ref name=nd2956p10/><ref name=lr55/>
  • Rylands & Sons purchased 1953<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and subsidiaries:
    • Dacca Mills
    • Lintex
    • Vyse Sons & Co
    • Stapley & Smith
  • Victoria Mill purchased 1954.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Burberry purchased 1955.<ref name=cc83 />
  • Polikoff (clothing) purchased 1948<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • JF Willis (Cinderella Shoes) purchased 1960<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Universal Furniture Products<ref name=lr55/>
  • Gill & Reigate (furniture manufacturers)<ref name=lr55/>
  • Joseph Johnstone (furniture manufacturer)<ref name=lr55/>
  • Northern Bedding<ref name=lr55/>
  • Commercial Plastics Ltd<ref name=nd63p135>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • W.C. Grace & Sons (Carpets)<ref name=nd63p135/>
  • John Woodrow & Sons (Silk Goods)<ref name=nd63p135/>
  • Joseph Johnson of Lichwinnoch (Furniture)<ref name=nd63p135/>
  • T.G. Hunt & Sons (Footwear)<ref name=nd63p135/>
  • Munn and Felton (Footwear)<ref name=nd63p135/>
  • Barretts of Staffordshire (Pottery) purchased 1948<ref name=nd63p135/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Sherrion (Hosiery and Knitwear)<ref name=nd63p135/>
  • Greenlees & Sons (Footwear)<ref name=nd63p135/>
  • Scottish Textile & Manufacturing Company purchased 1965<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Finance and credit data business

Printing and Photography business

Property Management and Development

Operations 1998 onwards

The company had three main divisions:

  • ARG – The Argos Retail Group, subsequently demerged to become Home Retail Group, which consisted of several subdivisions, including
    • Argos (previously an independent company, once owned by British American Tobacco) – the UK's largest catalogue retailer
    • Homebase (formerly owned and founded by J Sainsbury) – a DIY (home improvement) retailer
    • ARG Financial Services – provider of store card services, such as the Argos Card and Argos insurance products.
  • Reality Group - merger of GUS Transport business, known as White Arrow, and Reality Group, a Web design, hosting and e-commerce consultancy business it had acquired for £35 million.<ref name="postandparcel.info"/><ref name="thenorthernecho.co.uk"/>
    • Breathe.com - Internet service provider purchased in 2001, selling it three months later.<ref name="irishexaminer.com"/>
  • Experian – a credit reporting agency

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

  • Great Universal Stores, 25 years of progress: 1932 The Growth and Activities of the Great Universal Stores Limited under the direction of Mr. Isaac Wolfson. London, 1957

Template:Authority control

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