GREAT UNIVERSAL CATALOGUE

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History of Great Universal

Great Universal Stores (GUS) was a British catalogue and retail company that was founded in the early 20th century. It had a wide range of products and started as a mail order company, then expanded to retail stores and financial services. In the 1980s, the company was one of the largest retailers in the UK and had several well-known brands under its umbrella, including Argos, Homebase, and Burberry. However, in the 2000s, the company faced financial difficulties and ultimately split into two separate companies: Home Retail Group and Experian. Home Retail Group owned Argos and Homebase, while Experian focused on credit checking and consumer data services.

Great Universal Catalogue

The Great Universal Catalogue was a mail-order catalogue that was published by Great Universal Stores (GUS) in the United Kingdom. It was first published in the early 20th century and was one of the most popular catalogues in the UK, offering a wide range of products such as clothing, furniture, and household goods. The catalogue was also known for its easy-to-use layout and competitive pricing.

Customers could place orders through the catalogue by mail, telephone or online and could opt for home delivery or pickup from the store. The catalogue was published regularly and was known for its seasonal promotions and sales. The catalogue was an important part of GUS's business and helped the company to expand into retail stores and financial services.

In the 2000s, the catalogue was phased out in favour of online shopping and eventually discontinued.

Great Universal Website

The Great Universal website was an e-commerce platform created by Great Universal Stores (GUS) as a way for customers to purchase products from the company online. The website was an extension of the company's mail-order catalogue business and allowed customers to browse and purchase a wide range of products from the convenience of their own home.

Customers could browse products by category, such as clothing, furniture, and electronics, and could also search for specific items using keywords. The website also featured product reviews, recommendations, and a wishlist function to allow customers to save items for later purchase.

The website also included a range of other features, such as the ability to track orders, manage returns, and access account information. The website was available in multiple languages, and customers could choose to pay via credit/debit card, PayPal or other methods.

The Great Universal website was phased out in the early 2000s along with the catalogue as the company faced financial difficulties and eventually split into two separate companies: Home Retail Group and Experian.

Most Popular Great Universal Products

Some of the popular products that were available through the Great Universal catalogue and website included:

Clothing and fashion: GUS offered a wide range of clothing and fashion items for men, women, and children, including brands such as Burberry.

Furniture: GUS offered a wide range of furniture items, including sofas, beds, and dining sets, under the brand name "GUS Home Furnishings".

Electronics: GUS offered a wide range of electronic items, including televisions, DVD players, and home audio systems.

Home and garden: GUS offered a wide range of items for the home and garden, including kitchen appliances, bedding, and outdoor furniture.

Toys and games: GUS offered a wide range of toys and games for children, including dolls, action figures, and board games.

Sports and Leisure: GUS offered a wide range of sports and leisure items such as bikes, fitness equipment, and outdoor gear.

It is worth noting that the product range and popularity would have varied over time, depending on the season, trends, and company's strategy.

Great Universal PPI

Great Universal Stores (GUS) was a British catalogue and retail company that was involved in the Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) scandal, which affected millions of customers in the UK. PPI was an insurance product that was sold to customers along with credit products such as loans, credit cards, and mortgages. The purpose of PPI was to provide customers with protection in case they were unable to make payments due to unemployment, illness, or other reasons.

However, it was later discovered that many customers were sold PPI policies that they did not need or want, and that the policies were often mis-sold by not providing the customer with enough information about the product, or misleading them into thinking it was a requirement to take out the credit.

As a result of this scandal, GUS and other companies that sold PPI policies were required to compensate affected customers. This involved refunding the cost of the PPI policy, as well as any interest charges that were added to the customer's credit account.

It's important to note that GUS was split into two separate companies in the 2000s, Home Retail Group and Experian, and it is not clear which of the two companies was responsible for the PPI mis-selling.

Does Great Universal Still Exist? No, Great Universal Stores (GUS) is no longer in existence. The company was a British catalogue and retail company that was founded in the early 20th century, but it was dissolved in the early 2000s. The company faced financial difficulties and ultimately split into two separate companies: Home Retail Group and Experian. Home Retail Group owned Argos and Homebase, while Experian focused on credit checking and consumer data services. Home Retail Group was acquired by Sainsbury's in 2016 and Experian remains an independent, publicly traded company.

Does the Great Universal Catalogue Still Exist? No, the Great Universal Catalogue is no longer in existence. The catalogue was a mail-order catalogue that was published by Great Universal Stores (GUS) in the United Kingdom, it was first published in the early 20th century and was one of the most popular catalogues in the UK, offering a wide range of products such as clothing, furniture, and household goods. However, in the early 2000s, the catalogue was phased out in favour of online shopping and eventually discontinued. As Great Universal Stores (GUS) is also no longer in existence it is not possible to get the catalogue anymore.

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Front Cover Images of Great Universal Catalogue

Great Universal Catalogue cover from 28 June, 2010
Great Universal Catalogue cover from 20 April, 2010
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