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DSG International (retailer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

DSG International plc
Type Public (LSE: DSGI)
Founded 27 October 1937 (as Dixon Studios Limited)
Headquarters Flag of United Kingdom Dixons House
Maylands Ave.
Hemel Hempstead
Herts
England
HP2 7TG
Key people Lord Kalms of Edgware (President)

Sir John Collins (Chairman since September 2002),
John Clare CBE (Group Chief Executive since 1994),
Kevin O'Byrne (Group Finance Director since 19 July 2004)

Ben Bengougam (Group Director of Human Resources since January 2006)
Industry Retail and E-Tail
Products Brown Goods,
White Goods,
Telecommunications,
Information Technology,
Digital photo processing,
Pre-Recorded Media,
Childcare Equipment
Revenue £7,072 million GBP
(2006)[1]
Operating income £261.9 million GBP (2006)
Net income £211.7 million GBP (2006)
Employees 42,000+ (2006)
Slogan n/a.
Website http://www.dsgiplc.com/

The United Kingdom based company DSG International plc aka DSGi (formerly Dixons Stores Group plc) is one of the largest consumer electronics retailers in Europe. The company operates the Dixons, Currys, Currys.digital and PC World stores along with many other brands across Europe. DSGi is also a member of the FTSE 100 Index.

The Group's main focus is to specialise in the sale of high technology consumer electronics products, Audio Video equipment, PC's, small and large domestic appliances, photographic equipment, communication products and related financial and after sales services (e.g. extended service agreements). Alternate products and services provided by the group included electrical products spares accessories and repairs, mobile services, On-Line Digital photo processing, pre-recorded media and even childcare equipment.

Contents

[hide]

[edit] History

[edit] 1937-1949

Charles Kalms opened the first Dixons photographic studio at 32 High Street, Southend. The business was incorporated as a private company called Dixon Studios Limited and registered on 27 October 1937 with share capital of £100.

Charles Kalms had been selling advertising space on the London Underground when he met Michael Mindel, who had a small photographic studio in Oxford Street but was keen to expand. They became the first directors of the company.

When the first studio opened in Southend, the shop front could accommodate a name of no more than six letters. The solution was found in the telephone directory - "Dixons" was short enough to fit over the door[2].

Throughout the war years there was an unprecedented demand for portrait photography, particularly from service personnel and their families. The company flourished and set up seven studios in the London area. But by the end of the war, the market contracted as dramatically as it had expanded and the company was reduced to a single studio in Edgware, north London.

But Stanley Kalms, who joined the business in 1948 at the age of 16, capitalised on the interest in photography which had resulted from the war. The company began advertising new and secondhand photographic products in the trade, local and national press.

This laid the foundations for a mail order division, which coupled with "make your own terms" credit agreements, ensured that Dixons would become the number one photographic dealer.

[edit] 1950-1959

In 1957 Dixons expanded so rapidly it was forced to find a new head office to accommodate the growing number of employees dealing with 60,000 mail order customers and provide administrative back-up for six stores. Soon the 20,000 sq ft premises in High Street, Edgware became a buying centre too when Stanley Kalms started regular trips to the Far East. He forged vital links with Japanese manufacturers who supplied Dixons directly with products often made to the company's own specification and sold under the brand name of 'Prinz'. Hard bargaining and bulk buying, predominantly in Japan, gave Dixons a competitive edge over its rivals.

[edit] 1960-1969

In 1962 Dixons had 16 branches and was listed on the London Stock Exchange under the name of Dixons Photographic Limited. A rapid expansion of the store portfolio followed throughout the 1960s, including the acquisition of major competitors Ascotts (1962) and Bennetts (1964) which added 13 and 29 retail outlets respectively to the Dixons chain.

In 1967 Dixons diversified into developing and printing by taking control of an 85,000 sq ft colour processing laboratory in Stevenage, the most up-to-date in Europe at the time. Again mail order on a massive scale became key to the company's success. Also Japanese audio and hi-fi units were also introduced into the Dixons range.

In the mid sixties, Dixons took over a photo processing company called Contaprint. Quality of prints was never very good and eventually it closed down.

A manufacturing Company was also also bought, originally called Granville, I believe, making movie lights and the infamous Titlemaster titling unit. Sales were poor and unit was closed.

A big success was the purchase of the unsold stock of the Miranda camera company which enabled Dixons to offer some high Quality goods at very low prices.

In late sixties Dixons moved into Holland with the purchase of the Rink chain. This venture failed and was sold off although the buyer retained the Dixon brand.

[edit] 1970-1979

In 1971 Charles Kalms stood down as Chairman and was succeeded by his son Stanley. Charles became Life President of the Group.

In 1972 the 15 Wallace Heaton shops in the London area were acquired. The gradual reduction in the working week meant more leisure time for everyone. A number of Dixons stores included sports departments and photography as a hobby boomed, increasing sales of cameras year on year throughout the decade.

In 1974 the main Stevenage Distribution Centre opened on a seven acre site with 163,000 sq ft of floor space, computerised control and conveyor belt stock handling. At the time it was the largest computerised warehouse in Europe.

In 1978 Charles Kalms President of the Group died at the age of 80.

During late seventies Dixons also took over the Greens Photograpic chain. New products experimented with included Burgler alarms, metal detectors and skate boards.

[edit] 1980-1989

In 1982 Dixons introduced their Saisho own-brand range of electronic goods spanning audio, TV and video products, since rebranded Advent. Dixons and Currys currently also sell a range of own brand goods under the Matsui brand.

In 1984 the Currys Group was acquired adding 613 retail outlets to the Group together with Mastercare, the nationwide electrical appliance service organisation with 41 depots and 900 engineers. Also part of the deal was Bridgers, a chain of white and brown goods discount stores which formed the basis of today's Currys Superstores. Further acquisitions over the years have included a number of similar chains, such as Orbit and Greens.

In 1986 the Group acquired the Supasnaps chain of 337 specialist photo shops.

In 1987 in its 50th Anniversary year, the Group acquired Silo, the US's third largest power retailer with 147 stores.

In 1988 the acquisition of Wigfalls brought into the Group a further 106 shops, trading mainly in the Midlands and north of England. Dixons and Currys head office departments and support with John Clare appointed Managing Director, functions were integrated into a single entity, Dixons Stores Group. The two chains, however, retained separate brand identities.

In 1989 the film processing division was sold to its management.

[edit] 1990-1999

In 1993 the Group bought Vision Technology Group Ltd (VTA), which operated four PC World Superstores and a group of companies selling mail order PCs, peripherals, software and accessories to companies, educational institutions and private individuals. VTG's PC World Superstores were based in Croydon, Lakeside Retail Park at West Thurrock, Brentford and Staples Corner, north London. The Group sold VTG's mail order division and focused on the retail side of the business.

The Group also sold Dixons US Holdings Inc, Silo's parent company, to Fretter Inc in which it retained a 30 per cent stake. Supasnaps was sold to Sketchley plc.

In 1994 the Group announced the pilot of a new shopping format called The Link, which would sell the latest generation of communication services and products. Later that year the first Dixons tax-free store opened at Heathrow Terminal 3 in July of 1994.

In 1995 the Group opened the largest electrical superstore in Europe (at the time), A 32,000 sq ft Currys Superstore at Junction 9 off the M6 in Birmingham.

In 1996 Group Chairman Stanley Kalms was awarded a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List in recognition of his services to electrical retailing.

The Group also acquired DN Computer Services plc (DNCS), the computer reseller business, which became part of the PC World division. DNCS enabled PC World to establish a strong position in the £3 billion business-to-business market. The group followed by launching PC World Business Direct in 1997, a new IT mail order service incorporating the brand strength of PC World and the sector expertise of DNCS.

In 1996 the Group opened the first out of town Dixons store at Fosse Park retail centre, Leicester and its first store in the Republic of Ireland. The next year the Group acquired the retail assets of Harry Moore Ltd, the Ireland-based electrical retailer, allowing the group to strengthened its presence in Ireland, opening a third Dixons store in Dublin and the first PC World store (and the largest computer superstore) in the Republic.

In 1997 Telecom Securicor Cellular Radio Limited (Cellnet) bought a 40 per cent stake in The Link.

In October 1997 the Group launched Dixons Online website. Customers were offered guaranteed next-day delivery on mainland UK of over 2,000 products. Followed by new e-commerce sites for PC World Business Direct and PC World Software in 1998.

In 1998 Currys became the first UK electrical retailer to stock Plasma Flat TVs in widescreen format. Later in the year, Currys and Dixons were among the first retailers to sell Integrated Digital TVs.

In September of 1998 the Group launched Freeserve, the UK's first fully-featured internet service available free with no registration or subscription fees. This was later sold to France Telecom and renamed Wanadoo.

In January 1999 Dixons Group Retail Properties Limited was established to manage and develop the Group's retail portfolio.

Also in 1999 The Link sold its millionth mobile phone after just four years of trading. Freeserve also announced a milestone - its millionth subscriber.

Dixons Select was lauched in October 1999. This shopping channel was launched on Open, the first integrated digital television shopping service.

In December 1999 the Group made an offer for leading Nordic electrical retailer, Elkjøp ASA. Within six weeks the deal was complete.

[edit] 2000-Present

In 2004, Dixons announced they would stop selling VCRs when their existing stock ran out as there was no longer sufficient demand for them, compared to DVD Players. On 8th August, 2005 Dixons followed this move by announcing they would stop selling non-digital cameras.

In 2005 the group also acquired an interest with an option to buy the Eldorado Group[3], the largest electrical retailer in Russia and Ukraine by 2011 at a fixed price of $1.9 billion (£1 billion GBP). With plans of further expansion into the European market, by entering one new country each year either through acquisition of an existing business or start up of a new one.

In late 2006 the group were awarded The Queen's Award for Enterprise, to celebrate all employees were offered a congratulations medal.

In 2006 the group announced that their Dixons brand presence would continue purely online and that all high-street Dixons stores would be rebranded as Currys.digital.

In January 2007, Dixons subsidiary PC World announced they would no longer carry floppy drives after current stock runs out.

In March 2007 DSG said it had identified a "significant fraud operation" at the Parisian warehouse operations of its unit Fotovista SA, and warned it expects the issue to offset profit contributions from its new businesses this year.

[edit] Group structure*

[edit] Overview of Business Brands

Dixons logo

Dixons
Retail and E-commerce

Dixons logo

Dixons Tax Free
Retail

Currys logo

Currys
Retail and E-commerce

Currys.digital logo

Currys.digital
Retail and E-commerce

PC World logo

PC World
Retail and E-commerce

Electroworld

Electro World
Retail

Uni euro

UniEuro
Retail

Gigantti logo

Gigantti
Retail

Elkjøp logo

Elkjøp
Retail

Lefdal Lavpris logo

Lefdal Lavpris
Retail

Partmaster

Partmaster
Spares

pixmania

PIXmania.com
Retail and E-commerce

MacWarehouse.co.uk

MacWarehouse.co.uk
E-commerce

microwarehouse.co.uk

microwarehouse.co.uk
E-commerce

inmac.co.uk

inmac.co.uk
E-commerce

coverplan

Coverplan
After sales service

The TechGuys

The TechGuys
Repairs and Service

Genesis Communications

Genesis Communications
B2B

PC World Business

PC World Business
B2B

DSG Insurance Services

DSG Insurance Services
Insurance

El-Giganten

El Giganten
Retail

elko

Elko
Retail

pc city

PC City
Retail

Kotsovolos

ΚΏTΣOBOΛOΣ(Kotsovolos)
Retail

mypixmania.com

myPIXmania.com
E-commerce

Markantalo

Markantalo
Retail

fotovista

Fotovista

primashop.com

primashop.com
E-commerce

emerchant.com

e-merchant.com
E-commerce

whateverhappens

whateverhappensâ„¢
After sales service

[edit] Electricals Division


Dixons Tax-Free

Dixons Tax-Free operates at airports and other locations around the UK, selling items without the 17.5% VAT charge.


Currys

The Currys group, including Mastercare, was purchased by Dixons in 1984, then adding an extra 613 stores, 41 depots, and 900 engineers to the Group. Currys claims to be the UK's largest electrical retailer, with a total of 547 stores (including the Currys.digital brand), 302 out-of-town superstores, 42 Currys high-street and 190 Currys.digital high-street shops employing a total of 9204 staff (2006). They also have 4 stores in the Republic of Ireland (as of 19 August 2006). The company's primary market is white and brown goods, but they also sell small kitchen appliances, computers and mobile phones. Currys specialise in home electronics and household appliances. Their annual sales for year ending April 2006 were £1,985 million and £1,852 million year ending April 2005.


Currys.digital

Currys.digital is the rebranded name for Dixons retail outlets in the UK excluding Ireland and the Dixons Tax Free stores operating from UK airports. In April 2006 the Group decided to move its focus for the Dixons chain from the high street and concentrate purely on e-commerce. The stores were subsequently renamed Currys.digital as an extension of Currys (also part of the Group's retail outlets) to allow Dixons to break free from the high street. The rebranded Currys.digital markets itself as a specialist division of Currys aimed at the technology-focused consumer with product ranges such as cameras, personal computers, audio and video equipment - as Dixons had in the past - while offering a range of large and small domestic appliances that the traditional Currys stores sell.

In an interview with the independent newspaper on 18th January 2007, John Clare admitted that the future of its 200-odd high street stores was in doubt. He said the group would not be renewing the leases on its Currys.digital stores because of the upward pressure on rents.

It's not a policy decision to move away from the high street, Moving away is a consequence of high rents.

John Clare CBE (Group Chief Executive).


DSG Insurance Services

DSG Insurance Services offers a service for the provision of electrical goods and claims handling services to the UK insurance replacement market. An end to end service is offered, from initial call handling and claim validation, through to repair or replacement – either with replacement goods or an insurance replacement voucher – and after-sales support. The insurance replacement voucher is a process that gives customers direct access to the Group's wide range of products and services. The vouchers are redeemable at any branch of Currys, Currys.digital and PC World.


Distribution

This was done by Mastercare Ltd a division of DSGi.

As of mid 2006 Mastercare's repair division name was changed to "The Tech Guys", and Distribution division changed to Currys Distribution.

Distribution to customers is done throughout 2 different routes, First being a collection of X Docks supplying larger items through out the Country such as Epsom, Erith and Perivale. All of which are supplied by 2 main stock centres (HUB's) based in Newark and Bristol. The second route CDC (Customer Distribution Centre) supplies smaller items direct to customers via a third party courier.

Distribution to stores is also done via 2 different routes, First being RDC's (Regional Distribution Centres) supplying larger items, Based at the sames sites in Newark and Bristol covering the North and South on the country respectively. The second route occurs from the companies NDC (National Distribution Centre) warehouse based in Stevenage supplying small domestic appliances and other smaller stock items. The NDC also handles the companies standard returns of faulty items. The Stevenage NDC operation is closing in April 2007.


DSG Ireland

DSG Ireland have stores in the major centres of the Republic of Ireland. As of April 2006 there are eight Dixons stores, four Currys and nine PC World outlets. DSG Ireland have announced that they will not be adopting the new "Currys.digital" branding for high-street stores, instead retaining the traditional Dixons branding, with Currys being used exclusively for large-format superstores.


Elkjøp

Elkjøp retails in the Nordic region. Elkjøp operates 6 retail chains stores across Norway (Elkjøp, El Giganten, Gigantti, Lefdal Lavpris, Markatalo and Elko) in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Elkjøp currently operates 221 stores employeing a total of 5105 staff (2006), These stores sell white goods, brown goods, consumer electronics, PCs, communications products and related services through. Their combined annual sales for year ending April 2006 were £1,155 million.


El Giganten

El Giganten is a retail brand operated under Elkjøp. There are 51 El Giganten stores in Sweden, 26 in Denmark and three in the Faroe Islands, specialising in mixed electricals in out of town locations.


Gigantti

Gigantti is a retail brand operated under Elkjøp. There are currently 21 superstores in Finland under the Gigantti brand. The first opened in September 1999.


Lefdal Lavpris

Lefdal Lavpris is a retail brand operated under Elkjøp. There are 8 Lefdal Lavpris operating across Norway.


Markantalo

Markantalo is a retail brand operated under Elkjøp. In January 2006, the Group acquired the 22 store portfolio of Markantalo


Electro World

Electro World is DSG international’s chain of electrical superstores in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. It now has 18 stores and employs 1089 people in the region. Electro World annual sales for year ending April 2006 were £119 million.

Hungary

The first 43,000 sq ft hyperstore opened in Budaörs, Budapest in 2002, prompting incredible customer interest with long queues on the motorway. During the following four years, a further six stores have opened - one in Pecs, one in Debrecen and another four in Budapest. The most recent store was opened in May 2006 in Campona shopping mall in Budapest.

Czech Republic

In 2002, the first Electro World store opened in Zlicin. Seven further stores have since opened. There are now three hyperstores in Prague, three stores in Moravia, one in East Bohemia and one in South Bohemia.

Electro World is very highly regarded and was voted Electrical Retailer of the Year by shoppers in 2004, and has twice featured in the Czech 100 Best Companies list, in 2004 and 2005.

Poland

The first Electro World store to open in Poland was in October 2005 at the Targowek commercial center in Warsaw. Sales on the opening day topped one million Euros and the store welcomed more than 15,000 customers. Two stores have since opened, one in Janki just outside Warsaw city centre, and most recently in Gdansk in May 2006.

Central Europe Distribution Centre

Currently, 85% of Electro World goods pass through the company's Central Europe distribution centre just outside the city of Brno. The warehouse, completed in a record six months, is 28,000 square feet in size, making it the largest warehouse facility for non-food goods in the Czech Republic. The centre dispatches 15 trucks daily, and this number doubles during peak season.


UniEuro

Acquired by the Group in 2001, UniEuro currently operates 110 stores employeing a total of 2507 staff (2006), mainly in out of town locations and concentrated in the north west and north east of Italy.

The stores sell a mixture of high technology consumer electronics, personal computers, domestic appliances, photographic equipment, communication products and related services. The proposition is focused on competitive prices, customer service and new technology. Their annual sales for year ending April 2006 were £633 million.


Κωτσοβολος (Kotsovolos)

Kotsovolos is an electrical retailer in Greece. DSG international acquired a 15% stake in the company in April 2000 and became the majority owner September 2004.

Kotsovolos began as a single store in Athens in 1950. Today it trades from 77 stores and more than 56,000 sq meters of selling space. It employs nearly 2,000 people and operates the Kotsovolos, Radio Athinae (brown and white goods and computers), and One Way brands (mobile telephony equipment).Their annual sales for year ending April 2006 were £263 million.

[edit] Computing Division


PC World

PC World (retailer) is a specialist chain of computer superstores. The chain has 150 stores across the UK and a further 6 in Ireland employeing a total of 5872 staff (2006).Their annual sales for year ending April 2006 was £1,369 million.


PC World Business

PC World Business, part of DSG international plc, is a leading specialist provider of IT solutions to business and the public sector.

The company employs in excess of 2,000 people and supplies products and services to more than one third of all UK businesses and public sector organisations.

PC World Business offers dedicated business account managers and highly-qualified technical experts to provide, manage and maintain business IT systems. As an independent reseller, the company boasts an unrivalled range of more than 100,000 products, all detailed in the industry-respected Definitive Buyers’ Guide.

The company offers a unique multi-platform approach to account management in order to offer the best in convenience to its customers. It has specialist Business Centres in each of more than 150 PC World stores across the country, offering immediate access to around 5,000 products. In addition, the company offers access to its whole range – many with next day delivery - from its web site www.pcwb.com; by telephone and through a direct fax service.


PC City

PC City exists in continental Europe as an extension of the group's PC World chain. Beginning with the acquisition of Ei System in Spain, the company has expanded in the intervening years and now has a presence in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Sweden.


The Tech Guys

The Tech Guys is a merger of the repair division of the former Mastercare and PC ServiceCall, which provides IT technical support on PCs and technical repair services on home entertainment for customers of the companied under the DSG International Plc umbrella. The Tech Guys is also the name given to the PC World in-store technical and data engineers. The Nottingham-based Tech Guys call centre is presently run by Capita, though this is the only part of the operation that is not presently run directly by DSGi. The field engineers, workshops etc have not been affected by this change.
The TechGuys Support Site


Genesis

Genesis Communications is the UK's largest independent mobile service provider, operating in the business to business sector.

Acquired by the Dixons Stores Group in 2002, Genesis Communications has partnerships with the UK's major mobile networks, and offers a full wireless service, including hardware, customer account management and billing. Genesis is also the UK's leading supplier of wireless data services to the SME market, including 3G and Blackberry solutions.

The company was formed in 1995 and now has more than 35,000 business customers, 170,000 subscribers and over 500 employees.

Genesis has 12 regional offices across the UK and a state-of-the-art head office in Bury, Lancashire.


DSG Business Services

[edit] New Businesses Division


Dixons

The first Dixons photographic studio was located at 32 High Street, Southend. The business was incorporated as a private company called Dixon Studios Limited and registered on 27th October 1937 . When the first studio opened in Southend, the shop front could accommodate a name of no more than six letters. The solution was found in the telephone directory - "Dixons" was short enough to fit over the door! and from this beginning grew the Dixons Stores Group (now named DSG International PLC)
On 5th April 2006, it was decided that all Dixons-branded retail stores were to be replaced by Currys.digital - an extension of Currys on the high street - with the intention of making the Dixons brand primarily an e-commerce business, allowing them to react to market changes more quickly. In 2006, Dixons was the first of the group's companies to extend its price promise to include on-line competitors. The Dixons name still remains as an online retailer, trading in Ireland (6 stores), and as a tax free airport outlet brand (21 stores) employing a total of 380 staff (2006). Their annual sales for year ending April 2006 were £680 million


Pixmania

Pixmania is a pan-European e-tailer of digital photographic and consumer electronic goods. It trades in 26 countries through bespoke transactional websites. It has four million customers and 1,600 employees. In 2006, DSG international acquired a controlling 77% stake in its parent company, Fotovista. In addition to Pixmania.com, the business includes mypixmania.com (a site specialising in online digital photo processing), primashop.com (childcare equipment) and e-merchant.com (a B2B service site enabling brands and retailers to run e-commerce businesses across Europe). Unaudited management accounts for the year ended 31st March 2006 show sales of over Euro 450 million.

In March 2007 DSG announced it has identified a "significant fraud operation" at the Parisian warehouse operations of Pixmania. They are estimated to have lost £8m worth of electronic goods. Franch police are investigating.[1]

[edit] Subsidiaries

Coverplan

Coverplan is the extended warranty service available to most DSGi products through the call centre located in the Sheffield area and is currently run by Capita. This service insures alien products (items bought outside the DSGi group, though only within 3 years of the products original purchase date)[citation needed] and also issues new policies upon the necessity repair (known as repair and protect agreements)[4]. New policies can also be purchased for products bought from the Dixons website.


whateverhappensâ„¢

Whateverhappens is the rebranded successor of 'Coverplan' within the Currys chain. Currys stopped selling Coverplan on the 9 February 2005, launching the improved whateverhappens policy the next day as the replacement of Coverplan.
The product support is offered on most electrical purchases from Currys and now Currys.digital. For most small electrical items such as kettles, irons and toasters, customers are offered the option of a three year cover that extends the manufacturers guarantee by 2 years. Within the three years, policy holders are able to receive an instant replacement in-store if their product is faulty. The WhateverHappens product support is also offered on more expensive electrical items such as large flat screen TVs, washing machines and American style fridge-freezers (N.B. American style freezers are only insured when bought from the Dixons group).
The customer can choose to pay in monthly installments, in one bulk payment or ten installments that total the bulk payment. The support package ensures that in case of a fault with the product, the customer can expect an engineer to call out within guaranteed two working days and if the product isn't repaired within 21 days of the engineer's first visit then the item is replaced.


Fotovista group

The French based FotoVista group was founded as Studio National in 1970 by brothers Pierre and Jean-Claude Rosenblum.

On April 12, 2006, DSG International plc gained a 75% interest by acquireing LMBO Group's controlling stake in the company and shares from the Rosenblum family and a handful of managers, for €266 million (approximately £185 million)[1]. Under the deal agreed DSGi has an option to buy out the remaining 25 per cent from the family over the following three to five years. The acquisition was subject to approval by the European Union Competition Authority. After receiving approval the company completed the acquisition of 77% of the Fotovista Group for €261 million (approximately £184 million).


Omni Source

Omni Source, a new Group company was created to focus on the sourcing of own brand and directly sourced products for the Group's European retail market.

2006 Omni Source/DSGi announced the use of Tradocs to handle supply chain documents electronically. Tradocs is a global trading system that enables businesses to trade electronically by quickly exchanging documents, such as purchase orders and invoices, securely over the Internet.


Partmaster Direct

Partmaster offers a large range of accessories and spares for electrical products. Partmaster stocks more than 300,000 products and receives around 750,000 calls a year.

[edit] Former business brands and companies

Mastercare Commercial service

Mastercare Commercial Services offer IT services to the commercial IT industry. A call centre can provide telephone and email support, and a team of field based technicians and engineers will provide repairs to businesses on desktop PCs and laptops, insurance inspections for companies like Norwich Union, install small, medium or large networks (ethernet or wireless) and are also involved with projects with Flagship (on behalf of the Royal Navy), AtosOrigin, the Meat Hygiene Service and the National Health Service.

In late 2005 the company also began to offer a service to wall-mount the slimline plasma and LCD televisions, and provide surveys for wall mounted or ceiling mounted projectors.

The whole of Mastercare Commercial service was rebranded The TechGuys in September 2006.


The Link

The Link is a UK mobile phone retailer of which, before June 2006, DSG had a 60% stake, the other 40% having been owned by O2 plc. The Link had, at its trading peak, 295 stores throughout the UK (as of January 2006).

In June 2006 DSGi sold the entirety of its stake in the link to O2. O2, having the controlling stake in the Link, reported in August 2006 that it would rebrand just under 100 of The Link stores throughout the UK to O2 stores. The remaining stores would continue to trade under their current management structure until a new buyer for the stores could be sought.

As of November 2006, the majority of stores not rebranded as O2 stores have been sold to other mobile phone retailers and networks, such as Orange SA, T-Mobile, and The Carphone Warehouse. A number of stores in areas with little demand for further mobile phone retailers have either been closed or sold to unrelated companies (such as Costa Coffee). The Dixons group are still honouring all contracts that exist with the Link though are no longer issuing new insurance covers on mobile phones.


Freeserve

Dixons Stores Group (as they were known at the time) also founded the UK Internet Service Provider Freeserve, which was later purchased by Wanadoo, now a subsidiary of France Télécom, and rebranded as Wanadoo. Freeserve was one of the key internet bubble stocks in the UK, and Dixons made large profits by selling much of its stake close to the top of the market. Wanadoo has since been rebranded again in the UK under the Orange brand.


WHSU International Inc. (MicroWarehouse)

WHSU Inc. and WHSU International Inc. (together known as MicroWarehouse) was acquired by the DSGi on 4th June 2004. On 9th October 2003 MicroWarehouse filed Bankruptcy[5] which ultimately lead to purchase of the MicroWarehouse by the Group. When MicroWarehouse was acquired by the group it became a division of PC World Business[6], MicroWarehouse is one of the UK's largest and longest established direct resellers of branded IT products and services to business. MicroWarehouse owns and operates the domain names Inmac.co.uk, MacWarehouse.co.uk and MicroWarehouse.co.uk. All three are on-line, web-based, computer hardware and software retailers.

[edit] Own brand products

Matsui

Matsui is the brand name of a line of electrical items introduced in the 1980s.


Advent
Advent started out in 1982 under the name Saisho, and was later rebranded as Advent.


Ei System


Logik


PC Line


Swordfish


Carlton


Miranda


Patriot


Freetalk


Saisho

[edit] Corporate affairs

[edit] Corporate structure

[edit] President

Life President
Lord Kalms of Edgware (since 2002)

[edit] The Board

Sir John Collins, Chairman
John Clare, Group Chief Executive
Kevin O'Byrne, Group Finance Director
Count Emmanuel d'André, Non-Executive Director
Rita Clifton, Non-Executive Director
Andrew Lynch, Non-Executive Director
John Whybrow, Non-Executive Director

[edit] Senior Management

Ben Bengougam - Group Human Resources Director
Per Bjørgås - Group Managing Director - UK and International Electricals Division
Ronny Blomseth - Managing Director Elkjøp
Kai Boschmann - Group Director of Corporate Affairs
Geoffrey Budd - Company Secretary
Steve Campbell - European Managing Director, PC City
Corrado Colli - Managing Director, Business Development, Spain
Keith Jones - Managing Director - PC World Stores Group
Peter Keenan - Managing Director UK & Ireland Electricals
David Lloyd-Seed - Group Director of Investor Relations
Jerry Roest - Managing Director DSGi Business
Mark Rollmann - Managing Director UniEuro
Declan Ronayne - General Manager DSG Ireland Ltd
Steve Rosenblum - Divisional Director, e-commerce Division
Milan Ruzicka - Managing Director CE, Electro World
John Thorp - Group Chief Information Officer
Simon Turner - Group Buying Director
Nick Wood - Managing Director - Group Communications Division
Fernando de Vicente - Managing Director Kotsovolos

[edit] Financial results

DSG International plc financial results
Fiscal Year 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
Fiscal Year End Date 29/04/06 30/04/05 01/05/04 03/05/03 27/04/02 28/04/01 29/04/00 01/05/99 02/05/98
Turnover £ 000,000 7,072.0 6,982 6,491 5,750.5 4,888.2 4,688.2 3,889.9 3,156.3 2,791.9
Profit before tax £ 000,000 302.9 336.8 366.2 278.6 282.3 647.1 * 472.1 * 231.3 213.3
Profit for the period £ 000,000 211.7 243.1 289.4 207.8 211.2 602.6 413.7 186.2 166.4
Basic eps (p) 11.7 12.6 14.4 10.7 11.0 31.5 22.5 41.1+ 36.9+

*The above trend profits for 2000 and 2001 were primarily attributable
to profits on disposal of Freeserve shares. +Pre stock split.

[edit] Annual Shareholder Reports

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Footnotes


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