Homebase is a British home improvement and garden store with 342 stores located in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Homebase along with its sister company Argos (750 stores) are part of the Home Retail Group. During 2009 and 2010, Homebase recorded sales stood at £1.57 billion.
Homebase was founded by the supermarket chain Sainsbury and Belgian retailer GB-Inno-BM in 1979, and the business was called Sainsbury’s Homebase. The idea behind this business was to bring the supermarket-style design into the British DIY market. The first store was opened on 3 March 1981 at Croydon. In 1995, Homebase bought out Texas Homecare (rival store group) from the Ladbroke Group plc. In December 2000, Sainsbury sold the Homebase chain in a £969 million deal to Schroder Ventures. At this time Homebase has 283 stores. However, two years later, Homebase was sold to the GUS plc for £900 million, and it then became part of the Argos Retail Group. After GUS had demerged with Experian and ARG, ARG was renamed as Home Retail Group under which Homebase now operates.
Homebase deals with a broad range of top quality home improvement and garden products, DIY, paint and décor, homewares, furniture, kitchens, outdoor living, and bathrooms. Homebase also has 15 stores in Ireland. The company also provides customers a wide range of choice when it comes to choosing brands.
