Buy it Direct Group, one of the UK’s largest online consumer goods retailers, has acquired hot tub and swim spa specialist, Outdoor Living, one of the UK’s best known and highly admired retailers of hot tubs, swim spas, saunas and gazebos, Already home to a number of leading eCommerce brands, including Appliances Direct, Laptops Direct, Better Bathrooms and Furniture 123, the Buy it Direct Group has seen impressive growth in recent years, increasing its turnover by more than 20% year on year to £436m in the year ending March 2021.
“We are really pleased to be adding Outdoor Living to our growing lifestyle offering. We were really impressed by Outdoor Living’s customer-focused approach which has seen it become one of the UK’s leading hot tub retailers,” commented Nick Glynne, CEO of Buy it Direct Group. “Outdoor Living’s product range perfectly complements our existing brands and it is very easy to see how our infrastructure, combined with Paul’s expertise and knowledgeable team, will quickly unlock its full potential,” he continued. “Our focus now is to scale the business together, building on its strong supplier relationships and maintaining its excellent reputation for customer service.” Outdoor Living founder Paul Margerison and his team of 42 will be remaining at the firm to oversee the next chapter of its development.
KEY ROLE
Thinking he might be able to turn selling hot tubs into a living, it was in 2004, Paul borrowed £10,000 from his Dad to approach his bank with the germ of a business idea. That bank manager was Kevin Newby who eventually gave up his job to join Paul to play a key role in building an Outdoor Living brand that went on to enjoy an annual turnover around the £6m mark. The pair put the company up for sale as Kevin felt it was time to retire. Buy it Direct Group stood out from a competitive field of potential buyers.
“We have worked hard to become the go-to hot tub retailer in the North, by offering the latest technology at affordable prices and supporting our customers throughout the entire life of their hot tub,” said Paul, who has seen Outdoor Living win multiple industry accolades. “We’re very excited to become part of the Buy it Direct Group, which will enable us to significantly expand our reach, bringing our high-quality products and personal service to even more customers across the UK,” he continued. “The business prides itself on its customer experience, providing unrivalled support and selling both Jacuzzi® and own-brand products out of our two premium showrooms in Hull and Leeds,” says Paul who reflected: “I lost my Dad two years ago but I like to think he would be pleased about that initial start up loan and would be a proud man.”
Outdoor Living
Tel. 01482 212322
www.outdoorlivinghottubs.co.uk
