Catalogue Watch Spring 2013
We get a lot of emails along the lines of ...
do you know what happened to ...
where can I find ...
these emails gave us the idea for this section of the website.
Our aim is to inform you of the current names of your favourite catalogues. Let you know which companies are no longer around, and which have merged, and which have evolved into something new.
Do you have a question about a brand?
Or, do you have any information about what happened to one of your favourites, if so please
contact us, we love
getting your emails!
In June, 2011, the Shop Direct Group decided to merge Additions Direct with Very catalogue and Choice catalogue with Littlewoods.
Marshall Ward - is part of the Shop Direct group of Home Shopping catalogues and at the beginning of 2011 was rebranded as Isme
Empire Stores, Great Universal and Kays catalogue - are all part of the Shop Direct group of Home Shopping catalogues and at the beginning of 2011 were rebranded as K and Co.
Index - was owned by the Littlewoods Group, and has been bought by Argos and incorporated into the Argos Catalogue
Index Extra - Originally called Index Extra it subsequently changed its name to Littlewoods Extra, lately it's been known as LX Direct and more recently known as Littlewoods Direct. In 2009, the Shop Direct group decided to rebrand Littlewoods Direct to Very.co.uk. Very is similar to Littlewoods Direct in the range, quality and scope of their product range but very.co.uk has a greater emphasis on the latest trends and fashion advice from celebrities.
Janet Frazer, Burlington, Peter Craig, John Moores - All
catalogues part of the Littlewoods Group. For many years the same catalogue was produced for all Littlewoods
brands the only differnce being the catalogue cover. Eventually in the late nineties Littlewoods incorporated
all the brand into the one flagship brand
Littlewoods Catalogue.
However, Janet Frazer might still make reappearance... watch this space.
A great resource on the history of home shopping catalouges in the UK is thecatalogshop.co.uk, the history of Littlewoods from its inception to the present day. The site also has well written articles on other Major UK "Agency" catalogues such as Great Universal, Kays and Empire Stores. Direct catalogues such as Next Directory, and Littlewoods Direct are also covered in this comprehensive guide.
Argos Additions now known as
Additions Direct. Additions was launched by Argos when
it was part of the GUS group of companies which included catalogue names such as Kays, Great Universal,
Marshall Ward etc.
Argos has since broken away from the GUS group (which was subsequently bought by Littlewoods).
Additions Direct is now part of the Littlewoods Shop Direct group
of companies.
Innovations - Innovations has had many owners over the years, including Arcadia (the Burton Group), and Great Universal. Currently it is not trading, however don't be surprised if it makes a comeback.
Oli - Oli is a new womens fashion brand, part of the Freemans Grattan Holdings group, and aimed at the 25 to 35 year old category.Click here to view our full range of Home Shopping Catalogues websites