| TL;DR: B&M (company no. 01357507), Argos (company no. 01081551) and Dunelm Group plc (company no. 04708277) are three distinct UK home retail entities at different positions on the price-service spectrum. B&M is in-store only with the lowest entry prices. Argos operates online and in-store with structured returns (30 days, £30 large item collection charge). Dunelm is online and in-store with the widest furniture range, free delivery over £60, and up to 100,000 product lines. |
Who are these three retailers?
B & M RETAIL LIMITED (Companies House number 01357507, registered at The Vault, Dakota Drive, Estuary Commerce Park, Speke, Liverpool, Merseyside, L24 8RJ) is the UK retail subsidiary of B&M European Value Retail S.A. (LSE: BME). It operates as a discount variety retailer with a seasonal garden furniture offering available in physical stores. ARGOS LIMITED (Companies House number 01081551, registered at 33 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HA) is a catalogue-origin retailer now integrated into the Sainsbury's Group that operates both physical concessions and a home delivery service via argos.co.uk. DUNELM GROUP PLC (Companies House number 04708277, registered at Dunelm Store Support Centre, Watermead Business Park, Syston, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE7 1AD) is a UK-listed specialist homewares and furniture retailer with approximately 200 stores and an online operation at dunelm.com.
Each operates a fundamentally different business model: B&M is discount-first with in-store availability only; Argos is convenience-focused with click-and-collect at speed; Dunelm is range-focused with a broad home and garden proposition online and in-store. Understanding these structural differences helps buyers match retailer to need before shopping.
Side-by-side comparison
| Attribute | B&M | Argos | Dunelm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | B & M RETAIL LIMITED [CH] | ARGOS LIMITED [CH] | DUNELM GROUP PLC [CH] |
| Company number | 01357507 | 01081551 | 04708277 |
| Registered office | The Vault, Dakota Drive, Estuary Commerce Park, Speke, Liverpool, L24 8RJ | 33 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HA | Dunelm Store Support Centre, Watermead Business Park, Syston, Leicester, LE7 1AD |
| Parent | B&M European Value Retail S.A. (LSE: BME) | Sainsbury's Group (J Sainsbury plc) | Independent PLC (LSE: DNLM) |
| Purchase channel | In-store only for main garden/home furniture lines | Online, click-and-collect, in-store concessions | Online and c.200 dedicated stores |
| Garden furniture range | Seasonal (March-August); bistro, tete-a-tete, dining sets, corner sofas | Year-round online; Argos Home, Habitat labels; rattan, metal, folding | Year-round; Singapore, Malta, Amazonia, Rope collections; bistro to premium corner sofa |
| Entry price (garden seating, illustrative 2026) | £35 (Island Paradise String Chair) [IH] | Approx. £65 (Habitat Eden Metal Bistro Set) [Argos] | £35 (Helsinki Reclining Sun Lounger) [Dunelm] |
| Indoor furniture range | Home accessories, soft furnishings, storage; limited indoor furniture | Beds, sofas, wardrobes, dining (Argos Home, Habitat, Silentnight) | Full range: sofas (£329-£1,699+), wardrobes (£139-£599+), dining tables (£90-£599+) [Dunelm] |
| Delivery (furniture) | Not available (in-store collection only) | Home delivery available; large item charge applies | Free standard delivery over £60; large items quoted separately [Dunelm] |
| Returns window | 30 days, in-store, with receipt and original packaging [B&M] | 30 days; large items subject to £30 collection charge if not returned to store [Argos Help] | UNVERIFIED: returns policy details not confirmed from a live Dunelm help page in this research |
| Own brands | B&M (no dedicated garden sub-brand identified) | Argos Home, Habitat | Dunelm own-brand (Singapore, Malta, Lynton, Beatrice, etc.); Dorma, Fogarty for soft furnishings |
B&M: positioning and who it suits
B&M's model depends on volume purchasing and lean retail cost structures. It does not invest in home delivery infrastructure for furniture, which keeps its retail prices at or below those of online retailers for comparable product types. The tradeoff is that buyers must visit a store, transport items themselves, and act early in the season before stock sells out. The garden range spans from entry-level string chairs at £35 to premium corner sofa sets at up to £700, but the product roster changes each year and is not available for browsing or purchase online. B&M's returns policy requires the buyer to return in person within 30 days with the original receipt and packaging, which is a practical limitation for large, heavy items.
B&M suits buyers who are comfortable with in-store only shopping, have access to transport, and want to keep garden furniture spend as low as possible. It does not suit buyers who need home delivery, a long browsing period, or year-round product availability.
Argos: positioning and who it suits
Argos (ARGOS LIMITED, company number 01081551) combines digital ordering with rapid click-and-collect, often offering same-day or next-day collection from store concessions or Sainsbury's supermarkets. Its garden furniture range under the Argos Home and Habitat labels covers bistro sets, rattan sofa sets, rattan cube sets, folding dining sets, and individual garden chairs and loungers. The 30-day returns policy is clear, with a £30 collection charge applying to large items not returned to store in person (as at June 2026 per Argos help pages). Argos suits buyers who want the speed of click-and-collect, do not have a nearby Dunelm store, or prefer a retailer embedded within a Sainsbury's shopping trip.
Dunelm: positioning and who it suits
Dunelm Group plc (company number 04708277) is a specialist homewares and furniture retailer with c.£1.8bn in sales in FY25 and approximately 200 stores across the UK, supplemented by dunelm.com. Its furniture range is the most comprehensive of the three, spanning sofas from £329 to more than £1,699, dining tables from £90 to £599, wardrobes from £139 to £599, and a year-round garden furniture offering from £35 to £749. Free standard delivery applies to online orders over £60. Dunelm suits buyers who want to browse a comprehensive indoor and outdoor furniture range in one visit, value a dedicated specialist retailer, and want online ordering with home delivery. It is less suited to buyers who live far from a Dunelm store and are doing a single impulse purchase at a very low price point.
For background on how the UK home retail market has evolved, the Homebase administration article and the creditors analysis offer relevant context. For home protection planning, the home appliance protection plans guide covers related consumer considerations. The garden furniture hub provides the broader buying guide context for this cluster.
Editorial note: This page contains editorial and informational content only. Retail prices and product ranges change seasonally and may vary between store and online channels. All prices cited are illustrative published examples as of June 2026. Confirm current price, availability, delivery costs, and returns terms directly with the relevant retailer before purchase. Kaeltripton is not affiliated with any of these retailers and does not sell furniture.
Frequently asked questions
Are B&M, Argos and Dunelm the same company?
No. B & M RETAIL LIMITED (company number 01357507) is part of B&M European Value Retail S.A. Argos Limited (company number 01081551) is part of the Sainsbury's Group. Dunelm Group plc (company number 04708277) is an independent publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange. All three are separate legal entities with distinct registered offices and ownership structures.
Which retailer has the cheapest garden furniture?
On illustrative published prices from spring-summer 2026, B&M and Dunelm both offered individual garden seating from £35. Bistro sets were available from approximately £90 at Dunelm (Miami Bistro Set, sale price June 2026) and from approximately £65 for basic metal bistro sets at Argos. These are illustrative examples; prices change seasonally and by product variant.
Can I return garden furniture to Argos?
Yes. Argos offers a 30-day returns window for undamaged items. For large home-delivered items, a £30 collection charge applies unless the product is faulty, as stated on the Argos help pages at June 2026. Items can also be returned in person to an Argos store or concession.
Does Dunelm deliver furniture to your home?
Dunelm offers online ordering with home delivery through dunelm.com. Standard delivery is free on orders over £60. Large items may be quoted at a separate delivery charge. Confirm delivery costs and lead times at the time of ordering on the Dunelm website.
Does B&M have garden furniture online?
B&M's main seasonal garden furniture range is not available to purchase online via bmstores.co.uk for home delivery. Stock is available in physical stores only. Garden buildings (sheds, summerhouses) are sold separately at bmgardenbuildings.co.uk.
