At Home

In 1878, Mr Harry T. Rodgers opened a small ironmongery business in Stockton and in 1925 Alice Dicken, Great Grandmother to Marcus Dicken, the current Managing Director, took over the business. She opened a second shop, managed by her son Harry. In 1960 Albert Dicken, the father of Marcus, entered the company, joining his brothers Robert and Terrence. They moved onto a 1 acre site in Portrack Lane, Stockton, which is now the site of the present At Home Furnishings store. They also purchased a 9 acre farm opposite and began to develop buildings which eventually formed the popular DIY Hypermarket, which attracted thousands of customers from all around the area, as this was the forerunner of today's large DIY stores.

In 1970, Dickens began aggressive TV advertising and, in 1976, ran the first 2 minute TV commercial (with a guest appearance from Marcus Dicken at 6 years old), still a rare event today.