Dillons Booksellers
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2007-11-16T11:57:56Z
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[[Image:WaterstonesGowerStreet.jpg|thumb|Dillons on Gower Street; now a branch of Waterstone's]]
:''For the [[CTN]] stores see [[Tesco]] and [[TN Retail]]''
'''Dillons''' was a bookshop and subsequently a bookselling chain, based in the [[United Kingdom]], which traded from 1932 to 1999.
Founded by [[Una Dillon]] (1903–1993) in 1932, Dillons was for most of its history most closely associated with its signature building on [[Gower Street (London)|Gower Street]] in [[London]], near [[University College London]], which Dillon bought out from a previously failing bookseller in 1936. She subsequently sold the company to the [[University of London]] in 1956.
Back in private hands by the mid-1980s, the store undertook a major makeover and modernization, announcing its relaunch with the cheeky advertising poster "Foyled again? Try Dillons" – displayed prominently on the bus shelter opposite its London rival [[Foyles]].
Inspired by the success of [[Waterstone's]], demonstrating the potential for large modern bookshops with a depth of stock, the new owners rapidly rolled out the format across the country, ultimately building up a chain of 75 stores. However the holding group Pentos PLC had overreached itself financially, and in 1995 the Dillons business was acquired by [[HMV]].
In 1998 HMV also acquired the larger Waterstone's chain, and the next year the Dillons brand ceased to exist as a separate entity. The majority of branches were rebranded as Waterstone's, while a remainder were sold on to the smaller chain [[Ottakar's]], which itself was later taken over by Waterstone's.
== References ==
* {{cite book |last=Maher |first=Terry |title=Against My Better Judgement: Adventures in the City and in the Book Trade |year=1994 |publisher=Sinclair Stevenson |location=London |id= ISBN 1-85619-518-X}}
[[Category:British bookshops]]
{{UK-retail-stub}}