Bathstore
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bathroom Retailer |
| Founded | 1990 Croydon, London |
| Headquarters | Milton keynes, England, United Kingdom |
Key people | Ian Penney (Director) |
| Products | Bathroom |
Number of employees | 140 (2019, post buy out by Homebase) |
| Website | www |
Bathstore.com Ltd., trading as bathstore is a specialist bathroom retailer, and is the largest in the United Kingdom.[1]
History
Bathstore was originally started in the beginning of the 1990s by Patrick Riley and Nico de Beer, with the idea to bring quality design led bathrooms into a wider retail arena. The company published one catalogue that contained all its products for the complete bathroom, with real retail prices.[2]
The ethos was to focus on the home owner, rather than the trade buyer. In June 2014, bathstore was sold as part of a management buy out led by chief executive[3] In June 2003, bathstore was acquired by in the United Kingdom.[4] Mr Watson announced plans to sell off Bathstore in November 2017.[5]
It launched its first television advertising campaign in December 2006. In November 2007, its television advertisements used CGI technology for the first time, incorporating water animation to bring life and movement to the products being showcased. These advertisements were voiced by the star from Spooks and Cold Feet, Hermione Norris.[6]
A period of rapid expansion and brand development under the leadership of executive chairman Nick Nearchou established the business as a speciality bathroom retailer, with more than 150 showrooms in the United Kingdom by the end of 2007.[citation needed] In 2009, the warehousing and delivery operation was transferred to DHL Supply Chain, at their facility at the Daventry International Railfreight Terminal near Crick.[citation needed]
In May 2012, bathstore was acquired by the turnaround specialist company Endless LLP from Wolseley PLC, as a non core asset acquisition for £15 million cash.[citation needed]
In June 2014, bathstore was sold as part of a management buyout led by chief executive Gary Favell. In April 2017, bathstore branched out into kitchens and bedrooms. They opened two new fascia Haus Stores in Farnborough and Lakeside, having acquired two former Betta Living premises on 14 April 2017.[7]
On 26 June 2019, bathstore went into administration.[8] At the time, bathstore had 135 stores in the United Kingdom, employing over five hundred people.[8] In July 2019, it was announced that Homebase had purchased over forty four stores, and that all remaining stores would cease trading once stock was sold.[9]
Awards and recognition
The company was nominated and shortlisted for the Retail Week Awards, as the Best Specialist Retailer in 2007 and 2008.[10]
References
- ^ bathstore largest specialist retailer in the UK bathstore.com
- ^ bathstore founded in 1990 bathstore.com
- ^ "American Billionaire Backs Bathstore Buyout". Telegraph.
- ^ Wolseley acquires bathstore Archived 20 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine www.wolseley.com, 2003
- ^ "Wolseley to sell off Bathstore". theguardian.com. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ Bathstore Makes a Splash creativematch.co.uk, 29 November 2007.
- ^ "Bathstore branches out into kitchens and bedrooms with new fascia Haus Store". Retail Week. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Retailer Bathstore collapses into administration as jobs hang on the line". 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ^ "Homebase successfully buys Bathstore out of administration". www.retailgazette.co.uk. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Retail Week Awards 2008". retailweek-awards.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2016.