Welcome to British Catalogues - the best in UK Home Shopping!
Brand History
Year Historical event
1895 Kays and Company founded by Kilbourne Kay
1900 Universal Stores founded by Abraham Rose
1927 Universal Stores shares floated on stock market
1936 Marshall Ward catalogue acquired
1937 Kays catalogue acquired by GUS
1971 Opening of Universal House, Ardwick, Manchester - head office for kays catalog
1972 A.S. Henry (including John Noble) acquired
1982 Vedia SA (Switzerland) acquired
1982 Kays trading Name changed to The Great Universal Stores plc
1990 Joint venture with TNT Transport makes White Arrow Uk's biggest parcel delivery system
1994 Introduction of Shopper's Universe internet site
1996 Experian Information Solutions acquired
1997 Innovations, McCord, Stocking Fillas, Home Free, Brainwaves and Gift Box acquired
1998 Argos plc acquired 1999 Metromail (USA) acquired
2000 Argos Retail Group founded
2000 Reality.com acquired
2000 Jungle.com acquired
2001 Name changed to GUS plc
2001 Launch of new brand, abound
2002 GUS Home Shopping move to the Arndale Centre, Manchester new head office for Kays
2002 GUS Home Shopping changes its name to ARG Equation
2003 Business sold by GUS plc to March UK Ltd
2003 ARG Equation changes its name to Shop Direct Group Limited
2004 Shop Direct including kays catalogue to March UK Ltd approved by UK Government following referral of shops direct catalogues to the Competition Commission
An indepth history of Littlewoods Catalogue Home Shopping from the 1930s to the present day can be found at Littlewoods - The Catalog Shop
