The Range

Chris Dawson is a self-made British entrepreneur who founded The Range (initially trading as CDS Superstores) and now serves as its executive chairman. He was born in Plymouth, Devon, the son of a market trader, and left school at 15 with few qualifications, later disclosing that he had struggled with dyslexia. Dawson began his career trading goods from vans and market stalls, selling items such as seafood, perfume and jewellery.

In 1989, he opened his first superstore in Plymouth’s Sugar Mill Business Park, naming it CDS Superstores and later rebranding to The Range. Through the 1990s and 2000s, he expanded the chain nationally, acquiring stock from collapsing retailers, opening large stores and building a business offering tens of thousands of products across homeware, DIY, furniture and garden. Under his direction, The Range has achieved revenues exceeding £1bn and has pursued strategic acquisitions, including the brand and intellectual property of Wilko in 2023 and the Homebase brand and 49 stores in 2024.

Dawson remains hands-on, visiting stores regularly and maintaining strong involvement in operations despite the scale of the business. His story is often cited as an example of entrepreneurial grit, starting from market stalls and building a national retail chain. He continues to steer The Range’s future growth strategy and moves into new brand acquisitions and retail formats, underscoring his ambition and operational discipline.