Established in 2006, Austen Group is a respected market leader for a multitude of products, manufactured and designed in our high quality factories around the world.
Due to our exceptional range of high quality products, combined with our dependable service, we have secured and maintained accounts with most of the top retailers in the country. We maintain substantial stock holdings in our large warehouse and our motivated team ensure we always meet our customers delivery requirements, no matter how stringent. Our whole company is focussed on delivering exceptional support and our flexible offering ensures that we can meet all of our customer’s needs.
Timeline Of Events
| 2022 | Acquires AltonLadders.co.uk |
| Creates Winecoolers.co.uk | |
| 38 Employees | |
| Turnover £14million | |
| 2021 | Creates MegaAppliances.co.uk |
| Last Digital Photo Frame sold | |
| Additional Land Purchased at Babdown | |
| 2020 | Acquires ISO Covers |
| Acquires Ventac | |
| Appointed UK Distributor for ODE Products | |
| Appointed UK Distributor for Akustafoam | |
| Turnover £12million | |
| 2019 | Acquires Blokes Bags |
| Warehouse B Built | |
| 2018 | Warehouse D Built |
| Turnover £10million | |
| 2017 | Acquires Airwise Ventilation |
| Acquires Shield Decorators Apparel | |
| Turnover £8million | |
| 2016 | Appointed Distributor for Hills/Vileda Rotary Dryer |
| Creates RotaryDryers.co.uk | |
| 30 Employees | |
| 2015 | Acquires GardeningDelights.co.uk |
| Acquires LaundryCompany.co.uk | |
| Acquires Sinks.co.uk | |
| Purchases Babdown Airfield Site with Warehouse and WWII Hangar | |
| Turnover £6million | |
| 2014 | Aquires KidsRooms.co.uk |
| Acquires PremiumTaps.co.uk | |
| 25 Employees | |
| 2013 | Acquires CardCraft.co.uk |
| Acquires TheOrder.co.uk | |
| 2012 | Acquired CutPriceKitchens.co.uk |
| Acquired BinLinersDirect.co.uk | |
| Created Day Clock with Designability | |
| Day Clock wins Innovation Award | |
| 20 Employees | |
| Turnover £4million | |
| 2011 | Acquired RugHouse.co.uk |
| Created Wheelbarrows.co.uk | |
| Moved to larger premises at Cooper Road Thornbury | |
| 2010 | Acquired SimplyBarStools.co.uk |
| Acquired LaddersSalesDirect.co.uk | |
| Acquired SacktrucksDirect.co.uk | |
| Changed name of Business to DF Sales Ltd | |
| 10 Employees | |
| Turnover £3million | |
| 2009 | Acquired TV-Wall-Brackets.co.uk |
| 2008 | Purchased Unit D4 Ashville Park Thornbury |
| Turnover £1million | |
| 2006 | Started Trading as DigitalFramesDirect.com |
| Based in bedroom at Trench Farm | |
| 1st Employee joins Rob Austen |
Prior to starting this business Rob Austen had worked as a Turnaround Consultant and before that a senior manager at Orange. Rob heard of a “digital frame” from a friend and knew what one would be and how it would be an exciting opportunity for any early market leader. Rob researched the opportunity and sourced the first variants and then approached his good friend Nick Veitch to ask him if he wanted to partner Rob. Neither Rob nor Nick had any experience in E-Commerce and both were excited about the opportunity and the prospect of adding to their business knowledge. Rob would undertake all the operational and accounting activities and Nick would do the procurement and offer advice as required. Nick’s job as Managing Director of Eurocoin Ltd meant he had little time to dedicate to the business but with Rob winding down a Turnaround project he had more time available. The business was profitable from its first month and within 6 months Rob was working full time on Digital Frames Ltd, as it was then. With Nick being fully committed to Eurocoin the pair agreed in 2007 for Rob to buy out Nick’s shares. It is a testament to their relationship that they remain very best friends.