[6] Since the merger of what had been struggling businesses in 2005, ongoing restructuring and modernisation of the company has resulted in Shop Direct emerging as one of the largest online retailers in the UK.

[11] The home shopping/catalogues business of Argos and Homebase owner, GUS plc, ARG Equation (which included Great Universal, Kays, Choice and Marshall Ward) was de-merged and bought by the Barclay brothers in 2003, where it became Shop Direct.

[citation needed] It was announced in March 2005 that part of the Index chain of catalogue shops was to be sold to GUS plc (then owner of Argos) and the remainder was to be closed.

[citation needed] Following the merger, Littlewoods Shop Direct Group moved its headquarters from Manchester city centre to Skyways House in Speke, south Liverpool.

[13] The then newly appointed chief executive Mark Newton-Jones said the merger had "been the biggest challenge of all – taking two companies that [had] been arch rivals for the best part of 100 years and bringing them together.

[14] In July 2008, Shop Direct completed its purchase of the Empire Stores brand name and customer base from mail order competitor Redcats.

[17][18] The takeover of the Woolworths brand by Shop Direct was announced on 2 February 2009,[19] and the new online retailer began trading on 25 June that year.

The group's finances had been hurt by increasing interest rates, and the directors stated the loan should provide working capital until at least June 2025.

[citation needed] In July 2022, the company announced the appointment of Lionel Desclée as its new group chief executive, replacing Henry Birch who held the position for over four years.

[30][31] The Very Group's headquarters is Skyways House, a £31 million renovated aircraft hangar, situated in Speke, south Liverpool.

[32][33] Order processing for The Very Group is primarily undertaken at the 'Skygate' facility based in Kegworth, Derby with a smaller number of large items distributed from Bryn Lane, Wrexham.

[35] In 2016, The Very Group launched a 12,400-square-foot (1,150 m2) training, conferencing and wellbeing facility for its Liverpool HQ staff, calling the building "The Cube".