Several brands can trace their history back over many years, but few go back quite as far as Kays. In 1794, J.M. Skarrat established a jewellers in Worcester. In the early 1870s, William Kilboune Kay took work at Skarrats, which was now run by the founder’s grandson. In 1886, Kay left Skarrats to form a partnership, Kay, Jones & Co of Worcester, with a local architect called George Jones. In 1890, Kay had taken sole control and the business became known as Kay’s of Worcester, and also began to sell jewellery and watches via catalogues. In 1895, the business became Kay & Co Ltd, and was registered at companies house. The 20th century saw increased demand for goods via mail order, and with Kays being pioneers in this area, the company was well placed to profit from it. Kays was taken over by Great Universal Stores plc in 1937, and big changes in the retail marketplace in the late 20th and early 21st century, saw the brand became part of the Shop Direct group. Kays still issues seasonal catalogues with launches of Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter catalogues, along with associated product updates on its website, being important times of year for the brand.
"Kays makes life easier by offering everything you need for the family, your home and yourself all in one place, and with easy interest-free payments. The Kays book and website provide all the latest fashion, with big brands including Morgan, Ben Sherman, Firetrap and Levi's as well as a huge range of sportswear with all the latest from Nike, Adidas, Puma and Reebok. In Kays there's everything for the home with great deals on furniture and the latest electricals. Our free advice service makes buying all the latest gadgets and gizmos simple and with free delivery and free returns, it's the hassle free way to shop."
The range of watches and jewellery is now only a tiny fraction of what Kays offers today. As well as extensive ranges of fashions for all ages, all manner of household goods are also available.
Kays maintains an Offers section on their website, containing all the latest offers and discounts.
Standard delivery from Kays is free and takes 48 hours, for orders placed before 11pm, with an option for next day delivery or specific delivery slots for £3.95. Kays also offer a 14 day approval guarantee.
"When I had a problem with the Beko washing machine I bought from Kays last year, I was very impressed with their service. Even though I didn’t have any of the original paperwork, their customer services team were able to speak to the manufacturer and arrange for it to be collected, repaired and returned to me at no cost."
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