JD Williams
N Brown Group · United Kingdom
JD Williams is a British online retailer founded in Manchester in 1859 and part of N Brown Group. It positions itself as an online department store for women aged 45 to 60, selling clothing, footwear and homewares.
| Founded | 1859 |
|---|---|
| Founder | James David Williams |
| Parent | N Brown Group |
| Headquarters | Manchester |
| Target customer | Women aged 45 to 60 |
| Website | jdwilliams.co.uk |
What is JD Williams?
JD Williams is a Manchester-based retailer and the oldest company within N Brown Group, the group that also operates Simply Be and Jacamo. In 2018 it was repositioned as JD Williams: The Life Store, a modern online department store for women aged 45 to 60.
History
James David Williams founded the business in 1859, starting with three mobile shops. In 1882 he used the new parcel post service to send products direct to customers, an early form of home shopping. N Brown Investments acquired the JD Williams group in a 1986 reverse takeover, which led to the N Brown Group plc name.
Products and positioning
JD Williams sells clothing, footwear and homewares, in line with the wider N Brown Group focus. Its sister brands target different customers: Simply Be focuses on women in sizes 12 to 32, and Jacamo on men of all body shapes.
Distribution
JD Williams trades online, with the group's operational head office in Manchester's Northern Quarter.
Why it matters
With roots in nineteenth century mail order, JD Williams illustrates the long transition of British home shopping from parcel post to e-commerce and its focus on an age-defined customer.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns JD Williams?
JD Williams is part of N Brown Group, the Manchester-based group that also runs Simply Be and Jacamo.
When was JD Williams founded?
JD Williams was founded in 1859 by James David Williams, who began by operating three mobile shops.