Dixons

occupation:
Consumer electronics retailer
Nationality:
British

One of largest electronic retailers in Europe; group includes (in the UK) Currys, Dixons (since 2006 an online only retailer) and PC World, with other subsidiaries around Europe; Dixons Studios Limited founded by Charles Kalms and Michael Mindel as a photographic studio in Southend in 1938; began selling cameras and photographic equipment in 1950; renamed Dixons Photographic Limited in 1962; 1972 acquired the Wallace Heaton chain of photographic equipment retailers; 1982 introduced the Saisho range of home-brand electronic equipment; acquired electronic equipment retailer Currys in 1984; in 1986 acquired Supasnaps specialist photography shops; acquired electronics and consumers goods retailer Wigfalls in 1988; sold off film processing division in 1989; 1993 bought Vision Technology Group Ltd (VTA), which operated PC World Superstores and a group of companies selling mail order computer equipment; 1997 acquired electronics retailer Henry Moore Limited; 1998 acquired Byte Computer Superstores Ltd; in twenty first century continued to expand by acquiring electronic retailers in Europe; Dixons Group plc changed its name to DSG international plc in 2005; Dixons became brand name for on-line only retailing in 2006.