Nick Wilkinson, ceo of Dunelm, is retiring from the company and full-time executive life after seven years in the role.
“It is a real privilege to lead a business I love and being part of Dunelm’s growth story which is as fulfilling now as it was on day one,” commented Nick. “However, personally, it feels like I’m approaching the right time to step away from full-time executive life.
“There is a lot of magic in this business, from its market stall heritage to its unique business model, but the real power is in the quality of my colleagues. It is fantastic to work with such an incredible group of people who support each other so well.
“While this will be the final stage of my Dunelm journey, I’ve never been more confident in the opportunities ahead from this special brand. There remains lots to do and much to learn, as Dunelm continues to grow and develop. So, for now, it’s business as usual for me.”
The board will start a formal recruitment process for Nick’s successor, considering both internal and external candidates. Nick will remain in the role until a successor is appointed, continuing to drive business performance and ensure a smooth and orderly transition.
“Nick has been a tremendous leader for Dunelm and among his many achievements, he has successfully guided the group through a global pandemic, driven a step-change in the digital offer, established strategic capabilities across the business including in tech and data and maintained the unique, entrepreneurial culture which makes Dunelm so special,” stated Alison Brittain, chair of Dunelm.
The news comes as Dunelm reports its results for the 26 weeks to 28 December. During the first half of the year, the retailer grew sales by 2.4% year-on-year, to £893.7m. The gross margin increased 10bps to 52.8% during the period, while the digital percentage of total sales grew 3ppts to 39%.
Market share increased to 7.8%, up 30bps on a calendar year basis, while active customers grew by 4.3% in 2024.
The group remains confident in its business model and is progressing with strategic. plans, while staying mindful of a challenging sector backdrop and a cautious consumer and is encouraged by early trading in H2.
Nick commented: “Our performance over the first half reflects the growing attraction of the Dunelm offer for a wide range of customers and the quality and resilience of our business model. Amid a challenging backdrop for retail, those attributes have helped us deliver increased sales, a strong gross margin and both customer and market share growth.
“We have also pressed ahead with our strategy. Whether our customers prefer maximalist prints or neutral plains, the elevation of our product is apparent through the diverse range of styles on offer for all tastes.”
He continued: “Our thriving total retail system is connecting that product with more customers and we saw further growth in our increasingly personalised digital channels, as well as some exciting firsts for our store portfolio. We arrived in inner London at Westfield, acquired 13 stores in Ireland and we will open our 200th store in the second half.”
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