Headquartered in nearby Bolton, DRL has established a solid business, and its bosses expect revenue growth to continue in 2013 and beyond. There is scope for up to 160 staff to work for the company from City Tower, where it now rents 8,600 square feet of offices.
City Tower is among Manchester’s tallest and most recognisable office space buildings, and it sits at the heart of the city’s traditional business hub, Piccadilly.
DRL’s business efforts focus primarily on selling household appliances like washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators. The retailer has ambitious growth plans, including taking its sales revenues from £207 million in 2012 to more than £1 billion by 2017.
“We are delighted to have opened our new office in City Tower. It will provide a great base for us to continue our rapid growth,” said DRL’s chief operating officer, Steve Caunce.
“We always wanted to keep our team on a single floor plate, and our new office has enabled us to do this and produce a fantastic place for our team to work,” he said.
Until its recent relocation, DRL’s Manchester-based staff worked at the Riverside office development by the banks of the River Irwell, which, like City Tower, is owned and operated by the property firm Bruntwood.
Another sizable office space relocation is planned for central Manchester in the first half of 2013. The property advisor, GVA, recently agreed to occupy 15,750 sq ft of newly refurbished Grade A offices at Norfolk House for the next 15 years.
Editor’s notes: DRL rebranded as AO.com in 2013. The company, which was founded in 1999, has counted Marks & Spencer, Next, Shop Direct Group, Screw Fix, Argos and B&Q as clients and turned over £1,138.5 million in 2023.
City Tower is also owned by Manchester-based office landlord Bruntwood and is utilised as the family-owned company’s headquarters.
In August 2024, AO was no longer based in City Tower – its northwest office was in Lostock in Bolton.