Our History
Quality & choice for a beautiful living
A true family business
Founded in 1984, Cousins was the brainchild of two brothers Robert and Edward Shotton, along with their cousin William. With great endeavour, drive and commitment, they opened the first Cousins furniture store in Tyseley, Birmingham in 1985.
1984
Origins
The original family business had been established in 1921 and specialised in the trading of items and materials reclaimed from household demolitions. Reclaimed timber, 19th Century fire surrounds and roll-top baths were just a number of things sold to builders as well as to private customers keen to do their own home improvements. The business then developed into a builders’ merchants initially selling building materials and aggregates and later included new fireplaces and baths alongside reclaimed items. One of the highlights was the private zoo on-site, which proved a huge attraction for all ages and was an innovative marketing tool for the firm. The business later evolved to include the retail of household electrical items and furniture, which forged the future of the business. They opened their first purpose-built furniture showroom in 1981.
1921
Origins
The original family business had been established in 1921 and specialised in the trading of items and materials reclaimed from household demolitions. Reclaimed timber, 19th Century fire surrounds and roll-top baths were just a number of things sold to builders as well as to private customers keen to do their own home improvements. The business then developed into a builders’ merchants initially selling building materials and aggregates and later included new fireplaces and baths alongside reclaimed items. One of the highlights was the private zoo on-site, which proved a huge attraction for all ages and was an innovative marketing tool for the firm. The business later evolved to include the retail of household electrical items and furniture, which forged the future of the business. They opened their first purpose-built furniture showroom in 1981.
1921
Tyseley
The first Cousins’ furniture store opened in Tyseley, Birmingham on 17 August 1985. It was converted from former plumber’s merchants, GR Francis’s warehouse and trade showroom and retailed from a 50,000ft² shop with adjoining offices and warehouse.
The store was officially opened by the famous comedienne and impressionist Faith Brown to a blaze of publicity. It showcased many brands that are still displayed today including Parker Knoll, GPlan and Ercol. The interiors were innovative, inspirational and displayed the latest collections in beautifully accessorised room settings. The new venture was a resounding success and the warehouse was soon relocated to a new site, allowing the showroom to be expanded by over 30%.
1985
Dudley
By 1995, a second retail site was acquired when they purchased the freehold of the landmark Tesco building in Dudley, in the West Midlands. This was transformed into a 90,000ft² furniture showroom, with its own customer restaurant. The store was opened on 17th August 1996, by Jack and Vera Duckworth from Coronation Street, bringing the town centre to a standstill. It marked a return to the Black Country for this local family. A second, separate 12,000ft² unit was developed on the same site, opening in 1998, selling budget ranges, special purchases and end of line furniture.
1995
Dudley
By 1995, a second retail site was acquired when they purchased the freehold of the landmark Tesco building in Dudley, in the West Midlands. This was transformed into a 90,000ft² furniture showroom, with its own customer restaurant. The store was opened on 17th August 1996, by Jack and Vera Duckworth from Coronation Street, bringing the town centre to a standstill. It marked a return to the Black Country for this local family. A second, separate 12,000ft² unit was developed on the same site, opening in 1998, selling budget ranges, special purchases and end of line furniture.
1995
New Head Office
With business booming, the head office, warehouse and distribution functions were centralised to a 4 acre plot in Oldbury. The site, on the side of the M5, had been purchased by the company from B.P. Oils and opened in September 1997. The new 65,000ft² warehousing facility utilised a palletised, computer-generated order picking system and pioneered the use of articulated fork-lift trucks in the furniture industry.
The relocation of the main offices from Tyseley to Oldbury allowed fresh expansion and the subsequent refurbishment of the original Tyseley showrooms in 1999 - to its existing size of 70,000ft², complete with a new customer restaurant.
1997
A family influence
April 2011 saw a significant change in the running of the business with the appointment of John Shotton (Robert's eldest son) to Managing Director and Matthew Shotton (Robert's youngest son) to Retail Director. Robert now assumed the position of Chairman, further strengthening the family influence on the direction of the business.
2011
A family influence
April 2011 saw a significant change in the running of the business with the appointment of John Shotton (Robert's eldest son) to Managing Director and Matthew Shotton (Robert's youngest son) to Retail Director. Robert now assumed the position of Chairman, further strengthening the family influence on the direction of the business.
2011
Venturing into online
The company continued to evolve with increasing focus placed online with the internet and various social media channels. With significant commitment and investment by Cousins toward enhancing their online presence and customer satisfaction, their new website launched at the end of 2012. The website as well as the creation of our social media channels allowed for a seamless multi-channel shopping experience that mirrored the unprecedented levels of service provided in store.
2012
Photography Studio
With an increasing emphasis on the imagery of the website, the company recruited an in-house photographer and built a dedicated studio, with 360 spin me technology, at their Dudley store. A new visual merchandiser was also appointed in 2016 to help further enhance the visuals, room settings and in-store experience.
2016
Photography Studio
With an increasing emphasis on the imagery of the website, the company recruited an in-house photographer and built a dedicated studio, with 360 spin me technology, at their Dudley store. A new visual merchandiser was also appointed in 2016 to help further enhance the visuals, room settings and in-store experience.
2016
Innovative new website
In 2018, Cousins moved to e-commerce platform Magento and built a new website, incorporating all their new photography, product and in-store information, further enhancing their company brand.
With a strong online presence, Cousins also completed an extensive store refurbishment project with more stylised room settings to help customers envisage new looks in their home. With a team of interior designers, visual merchandisers, decorators and electricians they enhanced the overall level of shopping experience in each store incorporating the latest trends in home fashions. 2019 saw Cousins launch a new, innovative and design-led website, as the potential for further online growth increased as retail continued to advance. They continue to build their online strategy and pioneer new techniques within the interiors sector to further enhance customer experience.
2018
Cousins Bespoke
Just before Christmas 2019, Cousins unveiled their very first Bespoke upholstery studio, in their Dudley store, where customers are able to design and specify their very own made-to-measure sofas and chairs. Carefully handcrafted in the West Midlands, Cousins Bespoke has proven to be popular with the addition of a studio in their Shrewsbury store, as well as an addition to Bespoke Beds & Bedroom Furniture!
Cousins Consolidate & Expand
At the end of 2019, Cousins were made an offer to purchase and redevelop their Manchester site that they simply couldn’t refuse. This enabled them to consolidate back in the West Midlands base whilst looking for future opportunities. Whilst still retaining their north west distribution centre to continue servicing their customer base in this region.
During Lockdown 2020, Cousins were offered a fantastic opportunity to expand their store portfolio, close to their West Midlands base.
They purchased the landmark 4 acre site of the flagship former Alan Ward Furniture store in Shrewsbury, which for 50 years had been the number one furniture shopping destination in Shropshire. Along with their former store in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Both stores opened in August, to a blaze of positive publicity at a time when most retail and economic news was negative. They will both be re-branded and refurbished to enhance the shopping experience of the furniture-buying public of Shropshire and Staffordshire.
This makes Cousins the largest family-run independent furniture retailer in the Midlands. Comfortably the largest stockists of world-renowned brands such as GPlan and Parker Knoll. Benefiting from the various economies of scale associated with such expansion.
2019