Dunelm is one of the most successful home furnishings retailers in the UK and is enjoying rapid growth.

Dunelm was founded over 25 years ago in Leicester by Bill and Jean Adderley. The first shops were relatively small high street units covering a number of towns in the East Midlands.

In more recent years, Dunelm has created a successful superstore format trading in out of town locations. Today's portfolio of 80 stores comprises mainly superstores, spread across the UK. The company has plans for significant growth over the coming years through further new openings.

Dunelm's success has been achieved by offering customers a wide range of soft furnishings and other homewares products, always at great value prices. The companys motto is "Simply Value for Money".

The main focus is on home textiles - curtains, bed linen, bath linen, cushions, fabrics, quilts, rugs and soft kitchen furnishings - which account for the majority of sales. In addition, larger stores offer a wide range of other homewares products such as kitchenware, tableware, lighting, storage solutions, gifts and other seasonal products. Dunelm also offers customers a made-to-measure curtain service, which is run from Dunelm's central curtain making facility in Leicester.

The majority of Dunelm's stores are located out-of-town, offering free parking, with the most recently opened superstores trading from around 25,000 to 30,000 sq ft, many including a coffee shop. In total, Dunelm currently trades from approximately 1.9 million sq ft of selling space.

In the three years to June 2005, Dunelm more then doubled its turnover. Sales in the 2005 financial year were £282 million, 18% ahead of the previous year.

Dunelm's success is built around the hard work and commitment of around 4,500 full and part time staff, as well as strong relationships with suppliers. Many suppliers have supported the company since its earliest days and so have shared in the successful growth of the business.

In 1996 Will Adderley took over full responsibility for the day to day running of the company from his father. More recently, a number of senior managers have been recruited from other retail businesses. These appointments have added depth to the management team whilst reinforcing the culture of tight cost control, meticulous buying and attention to detail in all aspects of the business.
As a result, Dunelm is now better placed than ever to maintain its absolute commitment to offering customers Simply Value for Money.

Visit the Dunelm website for more information.