history

EVERYDAY ITEMS TAKE CENTRE STAGE ANDWE ENTER THE COMPUTER AGE.1980 After a buying andmerchandising review,Wilkinsons stops sellingbig, bulky items suchas lawnmowers andgreenhouses and insteadconcentrates on sellingeveryday items that canbe taken home in ashopping bag.19801981 IBMintroducesthe first PC.1987 Tony sets up theEmployee Trust Fund tosupport employees who faceunexpected financial hardshipsand to help with the educationand training of their children.The Hardware TradeJournal names WilkinsonsRetailer of the Year.Wilkinsons now has a range of13,000 products selling to24 million customers.1980s In the early-to-mid 1980s – after 20years of bringing up her children – Barbarabecomes more involved in the business byvisiting every store on the estate.Wilkinsons opens a total of 42 storesin the 1980s.1985 Live Aidconcerts take placein London andPhiladelphia.1989 TimBerners-Leeinvents theWorld WideWeb.198978 storesnow openaround the UKturning over£81 millionannually.WE CELEBRATE TWO IMPORTANT MILESTONESAND SAY A SAD GOODBYE.1990 Wilkinsonscelebrates 60 yearsin business by slashingprices for customers.1992 Tony unveils the company’s ‘Vision ofthe Future’ at a seminar for 300 managershosted by John Humphrys. Tony sets thetarget for Wilkinsons to become “the leaderin its field by the turn of the century”.19901991 Gordon Brownjoins as HR Director.1992 The 100thstore opens.1995BarbaraWilkinsonappointed tothe Boardof Directors.Computers andan updated EPOSsystem installed.Gordon Brownbecomes fourth MD.1996 A new St. Helen’sstore opens withthemed areas and40,000 product lines.1993 BrianFairhurst retires.Barbara becomesinvolved with newstore openings,something that shecontinues to do.1997 JK Wilkinsonpasses away inDecember.Wilkinsons awardedthe Investors in Peoplestandard, which hasbeen held ever since.1999 152 stores nowopen around theUK with an annualturnover of£564 million.1995 A new distribution centreopens in Manton Wood, housing thefastest sorting system in the UK.A new head office building calledJK House is constructed in 1998.1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 19991994ChannelTunnelopens.