Domain News & Press

As a both a leader and trendsetter in the home fashions industry, Domain has always received substantial press coverage. In addition to Domain Home Fashions, the charitable and entrepreneurial activities of the founder of Domain, Judy George, have won the company plaudits as a civic leader and as an advocate of women entrepreneurship. Below are just a few of the recent press releases and other articles written about Domain.

DOMAIN HOME FASHIONS ACQUIRED BY PREMIER U.K. LIFESTYLE COMPANY

Aga Foodservice Group Selects Home Furnishings Leader To Extend World Class Brands to the U.S.

Norwood, MA – March 19, 2002 – Aga Foodservice Group PLC (“AFG”), the brand leader in the U.K. for consumer and commercial kitchen related products, is expanding its lifestyle driven businesses to the U.S. through the acquisition of East Coast based furniture retailer, “Domain Home Fashions.” The combined company will be the first specialty retailing chain in the U.S. to offer upscale consumers a total approach to the home, combining Domain’s exclusive home furnishings for the living room, bedroom and dining room and AFG’s premium brands in kitchen, tiles, paints, flooring and more. The acquisition brings AFG a major presence in key U.S. East Coast retail markets with an established retailer that has a loyal customer base. This acquisition follows a year of expansion for Domain in the U.S. and will result in the introduction of larger retail stores that showcase both companies’ products. These new format stores will address a market that is increasingly focused on “nesting” at home as Americans achieve record levels of home ownership, spend over $164 billion on home renovations and expansions and the housing market remains relatively strong. Both companies have created dominant lifestyle brands in their respective markets that serve affluent, sophisticated consumers with a passion for their homes. In addition, AFG and Domain share a similar approach to retailing in inspirational retail formats and invest in “customers for life” through a series of direct marketing, web and advertising vehicles that reinforce their aspirational brands. Compatible marketing programs and initiatives will provide the ability to maximize return on marketing programs. Both AFG and Domain focus on enticing customers, gaining their trust, and making the shopping experience so pleasant that customers are proud of their choice and tell others about it. Domain brings to AFG a successful and experienced retail team, a well known and loved retail design, and a customer base that is a natural audience for AFG’s upscale products. Thousands of consumers walk through Domain stores each week looking for inspirational ideas for their home. Domain was founded in 1986 by current Chairwoman and CEO, Judy George. It designs, sources and retails exclusive European-inspired home furnishings for affluent East Coast consumers. Based in Boston it has 25 stores in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania with a concentration in some of the most prestigious shopping malls and premier retail locations. Domain’s average store size is around 6,000 square feet, has a loyal customer database of 165,000 consumers and achieves one of the highest levels of sales per square foot of any U.S. furniture retailer. Domain has won numerous industry and consumer awards for its unique retail brand and store format, including Outstanding National Furniture Store Chain. Aga Foodservice Group PLC, with $425 million in market capitalization, designs, manufactures, and retails successful consumer and commercial brands. The premier brand in the consumer portfolio is the legendary Aga stove. Well known in the UK for superior craftsmanship, timeless design and consumer led product development, Aga enjoys tremendous brand recognition and has a rich heritage dating back over 70 years. With the US and other international markets contributing to the brand's UK success, today there are over 700,000 Aga cookers in use worldwide. Sharing company with Aga on the consumer side in the AFG portfolio are Elgin & Hall, manufacturers of luxury fireplace surrounds, and Britain's leading interior finishes retailer, Fired Earth. William McGrath, Chief Executive, Aga Foodservice Group said, “Domain is an excellent business in its own right and provides the platform for our strong consumer products led by Aga. It provides retail experience and a fast and cost-effective way of obtaining a significant presence in the US market.” According to Judy George, Chairwoman of Domain, “This is a fantastic opportunity to change the retail landscape and offer consumers a way to create their dreams about home and hearth, and be able to do it with exclusive, premium products all found at one store. Domain redefined furniture retailing through its innovative format of decorator looks at affordable pricing. We plan to bring the same level of innovation to our new retail formats. Our team is very excited about growing both brands in the future.” Further information on Domain Home Fashions can be obtained from Domain’s website, www.domain-home.com and on Aga Foodservice Group PLC from www.agafoodservice.com.

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