Dunelm Group has acquired Homefocus Group Ltd (Home Focus), a soft furnishings retailer which trades under the Home Focus at Hickeys brand, with 13 stores trading across the Republic of Ireland.
The business also operates online, providing home delivery and a Click & Reserve option for customers to collect products in-store.
With a focus on fabrics, the brand specialises in specific home categories including curtains and bedding.
"We look forward to welcoming Home Focus’ c.140 colleagues to the Dunelm family," states the group.
"The acquisition is an attractive opportunity for Dunelm to connect with more customers by entering a new geography, with a homewares market of more than £1b. The acquisition immediately provides the group with good coverage across the Republic of Ireland, through Home Focus’ portfolio of smaller stores (less than 10,000 sqft).
"Dunelm sees potential to offer a broader range of products in Home Focus stores, in line with the group’s existing smaller-format stores in the UK, giving customers more choice and a more comprehensive offer for the home.
"Dunelm also sees opportunity to introduce a more comprehensive online proposition and, over time, will assess new store opportunities across Ireland.
"The acquisition will not be material to Dunelm’s financial performance, and the group will utilise its existing operations, capabilities and supply partners to strengthen the customer offer of Home Focus."
Nick Wilkinson, CEO of Dunelm, comments: “In Home Focus we have found a high-quality and complementary business, with a shared heritage in home textiles and strong values which stem from family ownership. We’ve really enjoyed getting to know the team and look forward to welcoming them to the Dunelm family as we work together to further develop and invest in their specialist home proposition.
“We see a clear opportunity to introduce more choice and value into the offer which Home Focus has built for its customers. With an established national store footprint and expertise in mutual growth areas like made to measure, we’re confident that Home Focus will help us to continue unlocking our full potential.
“We’re proud to be embarking on this journey with Home Focus and investing in the next stage of its story, where we look forward to providing further opportunities for colleague development, creating additional jobs, and supporting local communities.”
Ian Donnelly, MD of Home Focus, adds: “With around 80 years in business, we have been looking for a new custodian to take Home Focus into its next chapter. Dunelm immediately struck us as having a clear cultural fit, with a strong team guided by sound values and focused on investing for long-term growth.
“We’re confident that Dunelm’s experience as a multichannel retailer, together with its ability to offer a wider assortment of products across multiple home categories, will offer both our colleagues and customers an even better proposition as we move forward.”
