N Brown Group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| N Brown Group plc | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Public (LSE: BWNG) |
| Founded | 1859 |
| Headquarters | Manchester, UK |
| Key people | Lord Alliance, Chairman Alan White, CEO |
| Industry | Home shopping |
| Revenue | £533.8 million (2007) |
| Operating income | £76.4 million (2007) |
| Net income | £45.7 million (2007) |
| Employees | circa 3,000 (2007) |
| Website | www.nbrown.co.uk |
N Brown Group plc (LSE: BWNG) is a major British home shopping retailer based in Manchester. It is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
Contents |
[edit] History
In 1859 James David Williams started in business operating three mobile shops.[1] The company continues to recruit employees to the JD Williams Group, leaving N Brown Group as the name by which the City know the business.
In 2004, in a joint venture with the Daily Express, the company launched the Express Shopping Channel.
In 2007 the company won the Manchester Evening News "Business Of The Year" title for businesses with a turnover exceeding £50m.[2]
[edit] Market positioning
The company focuses each of its brands on a section of the fashion-buying public traditionally ignored or poorly-served by the UK high street. The company's catalogues target women aged 30 and above, with a particular focus on those over 50, and usually those of a larger frame.
Current brands include Fashion World, Gray & Osbourn, House of Bath, Jacamo, Marisota, Oxendales, Simply Be and JD Williams.
[edit] Ownership
Two of the major shareholders, Lord Alliance and Nigel Alliance, sit on the board.
[edit] Location
The business has its operational Head Office in Manchester's Northern Quarter and has warehousing and distribution centres in Shaw and Hadfield.
Gray & Osbourn is based in London, House of Bath is based in Bath while Oxendales is based in Dublin.
