Rumbelows
Encyclopedia
Rumbelows was an electrical and electronics retailer
in the United Kingdom
which once rivalled Currys
, Dixons and Comet
.
(which had merged with Thorn Electrical Industries
in 1968), and all the rental accounts were transferred to Radio Rentals. All 90 of the Fred Dawes high street stores became electrical retailers instead, and were renamed Rumbelows.
Several other regional chains were bought around this time period, including two chains that were already large and popular in Northwest England, NEMS, and Strothers. As with Fred Dawes, these stores too were renamed Rumbelows. Combining previously unrelated chains occasionally created competing Rumbelows stores within yards of each other. Unfortunately, none of the values that made these small chains so successful were retained. Centralized, dictatorial control was established from the Nantwich, Cheshire, headquarters, which suffered as much as it benefited as an early adopter of computerised accounting. Several of the former Strothers and NEMS stores also sold records, musical instruments and hi-fi equipment. The Rumbelows store in Whitechapel, Liverpool had been the heart of the NEMS Enterprises empire during the 1960s, when NEMS was owned by the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein
.
transferred all of Rumbelow’s rental accounts over to their Radio Rentals chain, bolstering its market position. With its core business removed, Rumbelows sought a new identity as a more conventional (non-rental) retailer, even adding computers to the product mix. But with their financial backbone and client base removed, it was perhaps predictable that they would not last long. In 1992, Thorn converted some of the remaining Rumbelows stores into DER, Multibroadcast or Radio Rentals branches. Few observers were surprised by the reduction in profitability that resulted from this 'unconventional' business tactic, and fewer still were surprised when Thorn closed the remaining 285 Rumbelows stores in February 1995. Some stores were sold to the German
PC retail chain Escom. Escom itself subsequently folded in 1996 following financial difficulties.
In the 1980s, Martin Dawes (born c.1945), Fred's son, would carry on the family name in the electrical and electronic retailing sector, with his telecommunications business (mobile phone
s), which he sold in 1999 for £130m.
and talking household goods.
, a professional association football competition.
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which once rivalled Currys
Currys
Currys is an electrical retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland and is owned by Dixons Retail plc. It specialises in selling home electronics and household appliances, with 295 superstores and 73 high street stores...
, Dixons and Comet
Comet Group Plc
Comet is an electrical retailer in the United Kingdom, which is owned by OpCapita and a series of investors, after its sale by Kesa Electricals. The group was founded in 1933 by George Hollingberry in Hull as Comet Battery Stores Limited...
.
History
Fred Dawes established the company as a chain of television and radio rental shops in the 1950s, naming it Fred Dawes. In 1969, the business was sold to Radio RentalsRadio Rentals
Radio Rentals was formed in 1932 to rent out radio sets by Percy Perring-Thoms with a turnover in the first year of £780. It later moved into televisions and ultimately video recorders. In 1965 it merged with RentaSet, Joseph Robinson's similarly formed company...
(which had merged with Thorn Electrical Industries
THORN Electrical Industries
Thorn Electrical Industries, Limited was an electrical engineering business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange but it merged with EMI Group to form Thorn EMI in 1979...
in 1968), and all the rental accounts were transferred to Radio Rentals. All 90 of the Fred Dawes high street stores became electrical retailers instead, and were renamed Rumbelows.
Several other regional chains were bought around this time period, including two chains that were already large and popular in Northwest England, NEMS, and Strothers. As with Fred Dawes, these stores too were renamed Rumbelows. Combining previously unrelated chains occasionally created competing Rumbelows stores within yards of each other. Unfortunately, none of the values that made these small chains so successful were retained. Centralized, dictatorial control was established from the Nantwich, Cheshire, headquarters, which suffered as much as it benefited as an early adopter of computerised accounting. Several of the former Strothers and NEMS stores also sold records, musical instruments and hi-fi equipment. The Rumbelows store in Whitechapel, Liverpool had been the heart of the NEMS Enterprises empire during the 1960s, when NEMS was owned by the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
.
Demise
Thorn EMIThorn EMI
Thorn EMI was a major British company involved in consumer electronics, music, defence and retail. Created in October 1979 when Thorn Electrical Industries merged with EMI, it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but it demerged again in...
transferred all of Rumbelow’s rental accounts over to their Radio Rentals chain, bolstering its market position. With its core business removed, Rumbelows sought a new identity as a more conventional (non-rental) retailer, even adding computers to the product mix. But with their financial backbone and client base removed, it was perhaps predictable that they would not last long. In 1992, Thorn converted some of the remaining Rumbelows stores into DER, Multibroadcast or Radio Rentals branches. Few observers were surprised by the reduction in profitability that resulted from this 'unconventional' business tactic, and fewer still were surprised when Thorn closed the remaining 285 Rumbelows stores in February 1995. Some stores were sold to the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
PC retail chain Escom. Escom itself subsequently folded in 1996 following financial difficulties.
In the 1980s, Martin Dawes (born c.1945), Fred's son, would carry on the family name in the electrical and electronic retailing sector, with his telecommunications business (mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s), which he sold in 1999 for £130m.
Notable advertising campaign
In the early 1990s an advert was created which consisted of a song telling the viewer that anyone shopping at Rumbelows would not 'Pay any more Mrs Moore', referring to paying more at another store if they did not come to Rumbelows. The commercial became popular in the UK for its use of computer-generated imageryComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
and talking household goods.
Football sponsorship
For two seasons, from 1990 to 1992, Rumbelows were the title sponsor of the English Football League CupFootball League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, a professional association football competition.