Great Universal Stores Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Universal Stores
- Universal Stores (Manchester) Ltd
- Wolfson, Isaac
- Kay & Co Ltd
- Burberry Ltd
- Sloan, Alexander, Ltd
- Jays & Campbella Ltd
- Smart Brothers Ltd
- Morrisons Holdings Ltd
- Hope Brothers Ltd
- Argos
- GUS Plc
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
-
Distribution - retailing
Furniture, carpets, home furnishings, etc, retailing
-
Distribution - retailing
Mail order & catalogue retailing
-
Distribution - retailing
Wearing apparel, footwear, haberdashery, mercery, etc, retailing
Notes:
Traced origins to c1900 when established at Manchester as Universal Stores, a mail order business. Incorporated 1917 as Universal Stores (Manchester) Ltd. 1930 renamed Great Universal Stores Ltd and in 1931 converted to a public company. From 1930s led by Isaac Wolfson. 1937 acquired Kay & Co Ltd followed by many other mail order entities. From 1940s acquired retail outlets through acquisition of chain stores selling, inter alia, furniture, DIY, footwear, clothing, etc, including in 1955 Burberrys. 1950s acquired manufacturing interests in furnishing, clothing, ceramics, etc. Acquisitions included Alexander Sloan Ltd, Glasgow, in late 1930s; Jays & Campbella Ltd, furniture retailers, 1943; Smart Brothers Ltd, men's outfitters, 1954; Morrisons Holdings Ltd, women's fashion retailers, 1957; Hope Brothers Ltd, men's outfitters in 1954; etc. By early 1980s owned over 1,000 stores. 1998 acquired Argos. 2001 renamed GUS Plc. 2004 sold off mail order interests and in 2005 divested Burberrys. Continues
Publications:
- 'Ark of free enterprise' in G Bull & A Vice, Bid for Power by Bull, George, & Anthony Vice
- Great Universal Stores, 1932-1957. Twenty five years of progress by Unknown
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Universal Stores
- Universal Stores (Manchester) Ltd
- Wolfson, Isaac
- Kay & Co Ltd
- Burberry Ltd
- Sloan, Alexander, Ltd
- Jays & Campbella Ltd
- Smart Brothers Ltd
- Morrisons Holdings Ltd
- Hope Brothers Ltd
- Argos
- GUS Plc
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
- Distribution - retailing Furniture, carpets, home furnishings, etc, retailing
- Distribution - retailing Mail order & catalogue retailing
- Distribution - retailing Wearing apparel, footwear, haberdashery, mercery, etc, retailing
Notes:
Traced origins to c1900 when established at Manchester as Universal Stores, a mail order business. Incorporated 1917 as Universal Stores (Manchester) Ltd. 1930 renamed Great Universal Stores Ltd and in 1931 converted to a public company. From 1930s led by Isaac Wolfson. 1937 acquired Kay & Co Ltd followed by many other mail order entities. From 1940s acquired retail outlets through acquisition of chain stores selling, inter alia, furniture, DIY, footwear, clothing, etc, including in 1955 Burberrys. 1950s acquired manufacturing interests in furnishing, clothing, ceramics, etc. Acquisitions included Alexander Sloan Ltd, Glasgow, in late 1930s; Jays & Campbella Ltd, furniture retailers, 1943; Smart Brothers Ltd, men's outfitters, 1954; Morrisons Holdings Ltd, women's fashion retailers, 1957; Hope Brothers Ltd, men's outfitters in 1954; etc. By early 1980s owned over 1,000 stores. 1998 acquired Argos. 2001 renamed GUS Plc. 2004 sold off mail order interests and in 2005 divested Burberrys. ContinuesPublications:
- 'Ark of free enterprise' in G Bull & A Vice, Bid for Power by Bull, George, & Anthony Vice
- Great Universal Stores, 1932-1957. Twenty five years of progress by Unknown