Courts Plc

Sectors:

  • Distribution - retailing Furniture, carpets, home furnishings, etc, retailing

Notes:

Traced origins to 1850 and the establishment at Canterbury of a general store by Albert Court. Developed as a general merchants, selling household supplies such as hardware, and furniture and home furnishings retailer. Early on traded as Court Brothers. 1931 reorganised into two businesses, Court Bros (Builders Merchants) Ltd and Courts Bros (Furnishers) Ltd. Furniture business, when still very small, sold in 1945 to Cohen family who grew the business nationally; in 2001 it was UK's fifth largest furniture retailer with c88 stores. Developed a consumer finance business which was sold in 1980s. In late 1950s expanded overseas to West Indies and in 1960s to Australia and Far East. By 1990s had a major presence in Southeast Asia and West Indies as well as in UK. UK operations then struggling as Courts Plc and closed 2004 when overseas business continued and prospered, by then selling electronic goods

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