In 1979 our founder, Bill Adderley, saw an opportunity in textiles, so he and his wife Jean decided to invest in a batch of second-hand, ready-made curtains, ‘seconds’ curtains and bedding, and slippers. They set up their stall at Leicester Market, and by the early 1980s had opened their first high street shop. Our story really does begin at home. Dunelm is, in fact, the name of the house where Bill, Jean and family lived when they first started on the market stall.