Graham Kirkham British businessman Date of Birth: 14.12.1944 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Graham Kirkham
2. Early Life
3. Entrepreneurial Journey
4. Political and Philanthropic Contributions
5. Personal Life and Interests

Biography of Graham Kirkham

Graham Kirkham, a British businessman, is best known as the founder of 'DFS', a company specializing in the sale of sofas and other soft furnishings. He is also a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. Kirkham, a former chairman of 'DFS Furniture Company Ltd', is known for his strong political and financial support of the Conservative Party. He is one of the wealthiest individuals in South Yorkshire, with a personal fortune estimated at £1 billion. Despite selling his company in April 2010, Kirkham still holds a significant stake in 'Iceland' supermarkets and takeaway outlets acquired from the 'Whitby' chain.

Early Life

Graham Kirkham was born on December 14, 1944, in Doncaster. At the age of three weeks, he was adopted by Tom Kirkham, a miner from Edlington, and his wife Elsie. Kirkham considers himself lucky to have been raised in a good family. After finishing school, he aspired to join the military and become a pilot but did not score enough points and instead found work at a local furniture store. By 1969, Kirkham was married with two young children, which became an additional motivation for him.

Entrepreneurial Journey

Visiting several furniture manufacturers, Kirkham believed that furniture production was a relatively simple business. He saw an opportunity to cut out several links in the supply chain and sell furniture directly to customers at lower prices. Kirkham rented a two-story building where furniture was manufactured upstairs and sold downstairs. The company was named 'Northern Upholstery'. By 1983, 'Direct Furnishing Supplies' had become one of the largest distributors of Kirkham's products but went bankrupt with debts of £900,000. Kirkham purchased the company, and it was renamed 'DFS'. It grew to have 63 stores and 2,000 employees. In 1993, 'DFS' went public and was valued at £271 million, with Kirkham and his family owning over half of the shares. Despite a decline in profits in 1998, a successful advertising campaign led to a 79% increase in 'DFS' profits in 2000.

Political and Philanthropic Contributions

Graham Kirkham is well-known for his support of the Conservative Party. In 1996, he provided a interest-free loan of £4 million to the party. That same year, he was knighted for his significant contributions to the UK's economy and politics. In June 1999, Kirkham became a life peer as Baron Kirkham of Old Cantley, County of South Yorkshire. His recommendation came from William Hague, the leader of the Conservative Party at the time, who borrowed Kirkham's helicopter for pre-election campaigning. Kirkham has been generous in his charitable donations, both personally and through the 'Graham Kirkham Foundation'.

Personal Life and Interests

Graham Kirkham married Pauline Fisher in 1965, and they have two children: daughter Julie Ann Kirkham, born in 1966, and son Sean Michael Kirkham, born in 1972. Kirkham owns two homes in his native South Yorkshire, one of which is a beautiful Georgian mansion purchased in 1990. His properties are furnished not only with 'DFS' furniture but also adorned with works by old masters, including paintings by John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough. In 1997, Kirkham loaned artworks by Édouard Manet and Orazio Gentileschi to the Getty Center in Los Angeles. He has a fondness for dogs and keeps Dalmatians as pets.