BT buys Dabs.com

The move forms part of BT aim to expand its online sales and service capabilities, particularly for small and medium-sized business and consumer products.

Along with Dabs’ IT and technology products, BT will integrate its full range of products and support services online.

Established in 1990 and employing more than 200 people, dabs.com processes about 75,000 customer orders each month and offers more than 15,000 products from leading IT manufacturers.

The Bolton-based retailer has around a million consumer and business customers across the UK, as well as a small operation in France.

In the year ended March 31, 2005, the company’s revenues were £180 million with gross assets valued at £42million.

Ian Livingston, chief executive of BT Retail, said: “Dabs.com’s outstanding expertise will boost BT’s online power to sell innovative, value for money, communication and converged IT products and offer great service to a wide range of customers.

“This purchase strengthens our online IT and digital products sales and service presence for small and medium-sized businesses as well as for consumer customers.”

Jonathan Wall, marketing director at dabs.com, said: “This is a very exciting time. We are delighted with this development and we’re confident that this will prove to be rewarding to both our business partners and our customers.

“The combination of our expertise in online retailing together with BT’s brand and product and service heritage offers tremendous opportunities.

The dabs.com business now becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of BT.