DID Electrical is an Irish chain of electrical and electronics shops. It has 23 outlets throughout Ireland, employing some 400 staff.[3][4][5] It was founded in 1968, with a shop on Mountjoy Square, Dublin.[6][7] Its main competitors are Irish chain PowerCity and UK chain Currys.
 | |
 DID Electrical shop in Tallaght, Dublin | |
| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland |
Number of locations | 23[1] |
Area served | Ireland |
Key people | Gerry Houlihan (founder)[2] |
| Products | |
| Website | https://www.did.ie/ |
History
editThe business was founded by Gerry Houlihan in 1968, with a basement shop on Mountjoy Square, Dublin.[6][7][8][9] He called the shop Deliver, Install and Demonstrate (DID), in order to identify the service offered by the business and to assuage the concerns of potential customers of the late 1960s who may not have known how to use the items, given that many of them were buying electrical goods for the first time.[9][10][8]
Houlihan and his wife, Carmel, ran the business from their Mountjoy Square shop, buying washing machines and freezers in bulk in order to significantly undercut the prices charged by their competitors.[9]
The business was quickly successful, and less than two years after opening, Houlihan sold it for IR£60,000. He remained with the company as finance director. Some eighteen months later, the business was struggling, and Houlihan bought it back and returned it to profitability.[9]
By 2006, DID Electrical had had 12 outlets, with eight in Dublin and one each in Drogheda, Kilkenny, Newbridge and Tullamore.[8] By 2022, it had grown to a chain of 23 shops nationwide with some 400 staff.[11][12][13]
In November 2023, it was announced that Select Tech Group had signed a deal to acquire all 23 outlets, with the DID Electrical brand to be retained.[14][15][16][17][18] In December 2023, it was announced that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission had approved the deal.[19][20][21]
References
edit- ^ "Select Tech receives CCPC approval to acquire DID Electrical". The Irish Times.
- ^ Deegan, Gordon (5 January 2015). "Houlihan family reaps dividend". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "DID Electrical - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg News.
- ^ "DID Electrical chain recorded €557,430 loss last year". RTÉ.ie. December 2023.
- ^ Aughney, Jim (16 November 2008). "Where are they now: Gerry Houlihan". Irish Independent.
- ^ a b Electrical, D. I. D. "About DID". DID Electrical.
- ^ a b Cooper, M. (2023) 'Who Really Owns Ireland?: How we became tenants in our own land – and what we can do about it', Chapter 15.
- ^ a b c Beesley, Arthur (19 May 2006). "Profit Rises 25% at DID Electric". The Irish Times. No. 47285.
- ^ a b c d Keena, Colm (9 January 2004). "Hands-on boss learns how to be hands-off". The Irish Times. No. 46894.
- ^ Kehoe, Ian (3 December 2023). "The man behind DID Electrical (And much more besides): Rewinding the week that was". The Currency.
- ^ Sweeney, Chris (August 9, 2018). "DID celebrates 50 years with rewards for its customers". Echo.
- ^ Walsh, Emer (24 November 2022). "Family-owned business brings electricals southside as DID opens new Cork store". Cork Beo.
- ^ Deegan, Gordon (30 March 2022). "DID Electrical enjoys 'pandemic bounce' as revenues jump 32%". Breaking News.
- ^ "DID Electrical chain sold by Houlihan family". Independent.ie. November 20, 2023.
- ^ Goodbody, Will (November 20, 2023). "DID Electrical bought by Select Technology Group". RTÉ News – via www.rte.ie.
- ^ Walsh, Emer (20 November 2023). "Apple reseller Select to acquire DID Electrical". Irish Examiner.
- ^ O'Brien, Robert (20 November 2023). "Select Technology agrees to acquire DID Electrical". Business Plus.
- ^ McGuinness, Sarah (20 November 2023). "Select Technology Group acquires DID Electrical's UK and Irish stores". Business Post. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ Smyth, Ronan (14 December 2023). "Competition authority approves purchase of DID Electrical". Irish Examiner.
- ^ Goodbody, Will (14 December 2023). "Select Tech Group's takeover of DID chain completed". RTÉ News.
- ^ Haugh, Ben (14 December 2023). "Competition watchdog approves Select Tech Group's acquisition of DID Electrical". Business Post. Retrieved 15 December 2023.