Dunelm acquires soft furnishing retailer Home Focus
Homewares retailer Dunelm has acquired the Irish soft furnishing retailer Home Focus.
Trading under the ‘Home Focus at Hickeys’ brand, the business has 13 stores in the Republic of Ireland and specialises in specific home categories, including curtains and bedding.
It also operates online, providing home delivery and a ‘Click & Reserve’ option for customers to collect products in-store.
Dunelm said the acquisition will enable it to attract more customers by entering a new geography and will immediately provide it with good coverage across the Republic of Ireland through Home Focus’ portfolio of smaller stores, which are under 10.000 square feet.
In addition to broadening the company’s online proposition, Dunelm will also look at offering a wider range of products in Home Focus stores, in line with its own existing smaller format stores in the UK.
Nick Wilkinson, chief executive of Dunelm, said: “In Home Focus we have found a high-quality and complementary business, with a shared heritage in home textiles and strong values which stem from family ownership
“We see a clear opportunity to introduce more choice and value into the offer which Home Focus has built for its customers.
“With an established national store footprint and expertise in mutual growth areas like Made to Measure, we’re confident that Home Focus will help us to continue unlocking our full potential.”
The move will see 140 staff transfer to Dunelm’s employment.
Home Focus has six stores in Dublin and one each in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny. The business also has a head office and warehouse facilities in Dublin.
Wilkinson added: “We’re proud to be embarking on this journey with Home Focus and investing in the next stage of its story, where we look forward to providing further opportunities for colleague development, creating additional jobs, and supporting local communities.”
