[3][4] 1987 saw the group start to expand with the establishment of the Anonymous retail chain, the launch of the firm's in-house credit card ; Storecard (in association with Citibank).

[9] In 1988 Storehouse appointed a new chief executive; Michael Julien (former Managing Director (Finance and Administration) of Guinness plc),[4] to replace Terence Conran who remained as chairman until 1990, and the group was reorganised into three divisions, British Home Stores, 'Speciality Retailing' comprising the group's brands Mothercare, Richard Shops, Blazer, Anonymous and Jacadi and 'Home Furnishing' comprising Habitat, Heals, and The Conran Shop.

[10] Julien retired on health grounds in 1992[4] and was replaced by David Dworkin the Chief Executive of British Home Stores.

[citation needed] In 1992 Habitat was purchased from Storehouse by IKANO[11] and Richard Shops was sold to the British retailing giant Sears plc.

In 2000, following several years of tough trading for all companies within the group, British Home Stores was sold to Philip Green for £200m cash.