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OUR HISTORY
1905
FREEMANS FOUNDED
The offices consisted of two rooms in a terraced house in Lavender Sweep, London employing 12 staff. Catalogues had around 200 pages and goods were illustrated using black & white drawings.
1912
GRATTAN FOUNDED
Grattan founded by John Fattorini, selling mainly jewellery. When the business began to flourish, he started to sell through catalogues to increase the customer base.
1943
WAR SHORTAGES
In 1943 war shortages meant that no household items were available, only clothing. Coupon rates were introduced as a way to pay for Freemans clothes.
1950
FREEMANS GROWTH
Freemans had expanded rapidly with the post-war boom, with over 7000 parcels a day being dispatched, many paid for on credit. Freemans was by now competing with the leading department stores of the day, selling a wide range of consumer goods in its full colour catalogue of over 1000 pages.
1963
GRATTAN & FREEMANS DEVELOP
The Grattan main office was built at Anchor House, on Ingleby Road in Bradford. Freemans became a public company and the following year installed its first computer.
1969
FREEMANS SUPPLY CHAIN GROWS
Freemans opened an automated distribution centre at Peterborough, the largest warehouse in Europe at the time. They then became the first company to post goods in plastic packaging.
1979
MORE INNOVATION AT FREEMANS
Freemans became the first home shopping company in the UK to introduce a telephone ordering service for its agents.
1986
GRATTAN ACQUIRED
Grattan was bought by Next plc for £300 Million.
1988
FREEMANS ACQUIRED
Freemans was acquired by Sears plc and became one of the country’s largest retail organisations.
1991
ENTER OTTO
In the 1990s Grattan was the UK’s fourth largest mail order firm. However following a postal strike and the recession of the early 1990s, its parent company Next put Grattan on the market. In 1991 Otto Versand outbid Sears plc to acquire Grattan.
1997
FREEMANS GOES DIGITAL
Freemans launched its shopping website freemans.com
1999
OTTO ACQUIRES FREEMANS
Otto Versand paid around £150 million to acquire Freemans from Sears plc.
2000
FGH IS BORN
The administration divisions of the Otto Group’s two British subsidiaries, Freemans & Grattan, were joined under the umbrella brand OTTO UK in 2000. Otto UK is re-branded to Freemans Grattan Holdings.
2011
CURVISSA LAUNCHED
Curvissa is launched, providing style for women sized 14-32 with the simple aim to help our customers feel good every day.
2012
SWIMWEAR 365
Swimwear365 is launched, offering the UK’s largest online swimwear range and holiday fashion essentials for all the family.
2013-16
MORE BRANDS LAUNCHED
Clearance 365, Lascana and Gifts365 are launched, providing discounts on many fabulous fashion, Lingerie and Gifts all year round.
Look Again is re-launched, packed with inspiration for a fashionable wardrobe and home.
2020
FREEMANS REBRAND
Freemans undergoes an exciting re-brand and launches an exclusive collection with renowned fashion designer Julien Macdonald, with STAR By Julien Macdonald.
2021
EXCLUSIVE BRANDS
Freemans launches exclusive homes designer ranges with Julien Macdonald, Henry Holland, Abigail Ahern and Siobhan Murphy, offering customers unique pieces that they can’t find on the high street.
2021
KALEIDOSCOPE REBRAND
Kaleidoscope undergoes an exciting re-brand in 2021, relaunching as a vibrant digital boutique with a new creative identity and product that is Different by Design for our customers today, at home and on the go.
