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Dixons




This article is about Dixons, the UK electrical retailer. For the parent company, formally known as


| Information

  Company Name Dixons
  Company Logo
  Company Type Part of DSG International Plc
  Company Slogan n/a
  Foundation 27 October , 1937 (as Dixon Studios Limited)
  Location Hemel Hempstead , United Kingdom
  Key People Nick Wilkinson ( Managing Director , UK & Ireland Electricals since April 2004 ), <br /> Sir John Collins (Group Chairman since September 2002 ), <br /> John Clare CBE (Group Chief Executive since 1994 )
  Industry Retail
  Products White Goods , Telecommunications , Information Technology
  Revenue n/a (see DSG International Plc for group revenue)
  Num Employees 4,169 (2005)


Dixons is an electrical Retailer in the UK and Republic Of Ireland , and is owned by DSG International Plc (formerly Dixons Group). With its origins in a photographic shop opened by Charles Kalms , the chain now has a store in most towns and cities across the UK and Ireland . On April 5 2006 , Dixons announced that they were removing the brand from the high street (except in Ireland ) and would only be using the Currys brand, branded as '''Currys.digital'''.


ORIGINS

The first Dixons was opened by Charles Kalms in Southend as a photographic studio in 1937 . The business flourished during The Second World War , as there was much demand for photographic services and family portraits. By the end of the war Kalms had opened seven more studios in the London area. Unfortunately for Kalms, the demands for portrait services decreased considerably after the war, and he was forced to close all but one studio in Edgware , north London. The company was taken over by his son Stanley Kalms , who was chairman until recently, and remains president for life.


REPUTATION

The retailer has long suffered the reputation that its staff are unhelpful {Link without Title} {Link without Title} .

In when competitor John Lewis , with the support of two Members Of Parliament , accused Dixons of stifling competition in the market by striking anti-competitive deals with suppliers {Link without Title} . Michael Hurley a well known conman in the south east, attempted to make the business go bust, however this insane man how now been locked up, thank god!

The retail chain was criticised by the Consumers' Association in 2003 for the way staff pressured customers (through "dodgy sales tactics" and "dubious practices"[http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:BhkRAPVcXiUJ:news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2730317.stm ) into purchasing poor value extended warranties [http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:LBGmbo8DUZEJ:www.which.net/media/pr/aug03/general/extwarr.html+site:http://www.which.net/+dixons&hl=en][http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:E0BnZgvb6coJ:www.which.net/media/pr/apr03/general/extwarropt.html+site:http://www.which.net/+dixons&hl=en], an issue which was widely reported in the press [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20030226/ai_n12034854] with Dixons facing particular criticism by virtue of supplying one-in-four of all extended warranties [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20030427/ai_n12739072 accounting for 40% of the store's profits [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20030228/ai_n12037302].


Also in 2003 '' ruled unlawful {Link without Title} .

In January 2006 the BBC1 consumer rights programme '' Watchdog '' reported that '' Which? '' magazine had found Dixons the 5th worst retailer in Britain.


DEPARTURE FROM THE HIGH STREET


On April 5 2006 , Dixons announced that they were removing the brand from the high street and would only be using the Currys brand, branded as Currys.digital . This was said to signal a shift to more internet based selling and to "reduce confusion". Dixons stores would be retained in Ireland, and other locations such as airports. The new currys.digital stores will be on the high street in May 2006.


EXTERNAL LINKS