Private company

Dixons

Former online retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Dixons was a British high-street retailer of consumer electronics, originally founded in 1937 as a photographic studio by Charles Kalms. The company would later deal in many consumer electronics, with nationwide outlets in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In 1984, Dixons purchased rival Currys, retaining the separate brand identities for the two stores.2 It is headquartered in Hemel Hempstead.1 It ceased to exist in 2012.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1937Founded1

Dixons was a British high-street retailer of consumer electronics, originally founded in 1937 as a photographic studio by Charles Kalms. The company would later deal in many consumer electronics, with nationwide outlets in the United Kingdom and Ireland.2

The story

The first Dixons was opened by Charles Kalms in Southend as a photographic studio in 1937. The business flourished during the Second World War, as there was much demand for photographic services and family portraits.

By the end of the war, Kalms had opened seven more studios in the London area. The demands for portrait services decreased considerably after the war, and he was forced to close all but one studio in Edgware, north London. The company was taken over by his son Stanley Kalms, who was chairman until September 2002.

On 5 April 2006, Dixons announced that there would no longer be any Dixons shops in Britain; shops would henceforth be named Currys.digital. This was said to signal a shift to more Internet based selling and to "reduce confusion". Dixons stores were to be retained in Ireland, and in locations such as airports, and the Dixons website would continue.

The Dixons subsidiary in Ireland was discontinued in August 2008, renamed to Currys. A Dixons.ie internet site was set up. Dixons branches in airports were re branded as Dixons Travel from January 2009, and the new format was rolled out to many airports in the United Kingdom.

Closure

In October 2012, Dixons Retail announced that they would no longer trade using Dixons.co.uk website. Customers were then redirected to the Currys and PC World websites, where all remaining orders and agreements were honoured.

From Wikipedia’s article on Dixons (retailer), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Products and brands

  • major appliance

Listed on Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. Oct 9, 2012Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1937Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3