Originally renting out 8 mm films from a spare bedroom in their Stourbridge home, their business gradually grew, and eventually they relocated to offices to downtown Dudley.

In the following years, the company managed to secure deals with MCA, EMI, United Artists, 20th Century Fox, and eventually Disney, giving them rights to the production and sale of Super 8 cutdowns and versions of their films.

[5] In the late 1980s, Derann began selling home electronics, video and audio equipment in particular, to increase their financial strength.

With the entrance of the internet in most homes during the late 90s/early 00s, Derann expanded their film sales division online, although they had already been selling to foreign markets via postal order for many years.

[citation needed] Following a prolonged period of downsizing, and with the effects of the ongoing financial crisis taking its toll on such a small company, CEO Adrian Simmonds announced in early 2011 that Derann would cease operations before the end of the year.