Robert Dyas facts for kids
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| Private limited company | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | London, England (1872) |
| Founder | Robert Dyas |
| Headquarters | Wimbledon, London, England |
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Number of locations
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93 |
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Area served
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England (mainly southeast) |
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Key people
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Andrew Hart (Chief Operating Officer) |
| Products | Homeware, DIY, small domestic appliances, consumer electronics, gardening, ironmongers |
| Revenue |  £124 million (2017/18) |
| Owner | Theo Paphitis |
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Number of employees
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1300 (Dec 2013) |
Robert Dyas is a popular shop in the UK. It sells many useful items for your home. You can find things like kitchen tools, small electrical gadgets, and gardening supplies. They also have products for DIY projects and electronics. The company started in London way back in 1872.
Today, Robert Dyas has 93 shops. Most of these shops are in London and the South East of England. You can also shop for their products online. Since 2012, the company has been owned by Theo Paphitis. He is a famous businessman and was on the TV show Dragons' Den.
Contents
The Story of Robert Dyas
How It All Began
The founder, Robert Dyas, came to England from Ireland. He started his first shop in London in 1872. He began with only £5, which was a small amount of money even then! Robert Dyas worked hard and opened many shops. By the time he passed away at 66, he had 18 shops.
His sons took over the business after him. Later, his two grandsons continued to run the company. The family kept the business going for many years.
Facing Tough Times
Robert Dyas has faced many big challenges over the years. The company survived the Great Depression. This was a time in history when many people lost their jobs and money.
It also survived the Blitz during World War II. During the Blitz, many bombs fell on London. The company's main office, warehouse, and 18 shops were all destroyed. But Robert Dyas managed to rebuild and keep going.
In 1997, the main office and warehouse in Croydon burned down. The head office is now in Wimbledon, London. It used to be in Leatherhead, Surrey, for a while.
New Owners and Growth
In 2004, a company called Change Capital Partners bought Robert Dyas. This was a private equity firm. Later, in 2009, the company faced financial difficulties. Banks helped to keep the business running.
From 2010 to 2011, Robert Dyas made some changes. They improved their shops and made their online store better. They also added web kiosks and browsers in their shops. This helped customers find products more easily.
In 2011, the banks decided to sell the company. In July 2012, Theo Paphitis bought Robert Dyas. He is known for owning other retail businesses like Ryman.
Shops and What They Sell
Where to Find Robert Dyas Shops
Robert Dyas currently has 93 shops. Most of them are located in London and the south east of England. However, you can also find shops in places like Bristol and the West Midlands.
The shops come in different sizes. Some are quite large, while others are smaller. Even though the number of shops has gone down a little, Robert Dyas continues to serve many customers.
Shopping Experience and Products
In 2013, Robert Dyas started adding electronic screens to their shops. Now, many shops have these screens. They show videos about products and special offers. Some shop teams also use tablets to help customers. This makes shopping easier and more fun.
Robert Dyas sells a wide range of products for your home. Their main focus is on housewares. This includes items for your kitchen, like vacuums and other appliances. They also sell cleaning products and laundry supplies.
You can also find many items for your garden. They have tools and materials for DIY projects. Plus, they offer home office supplies and technology gadgets. During special times of the year, they also sell seasonal gifts.
Advertising
In December 2015, Robert Dyas got a lot of attention for their Christmas advert. It was a memorable advert that people talked about.
See also
In Spanish: Robert Dyas para niños
