Kay & Co Ltd was a mail-order catalogue business, with offices and warehouses throughout the United Kingdom. It was a very successful company, especially during the latter part of the 20th century. The company had offices and warehouses in Worcester, Leeds, Glasgow, Newtown, Bradford, Bristol, Droitwich, Lancaster, and York.[1]
The company often commissioned artwork for the front of its catalogues. For instance, in 1974 and 1979, two pictures of Worcester Cathedral were used. In fact, the cathedral at Worcester was used as the basis for the front cover from 1958 until 1982.
The company was founded in Worcester in 1889 by William Kilbourne Kay as Kay's of Worcester at St Swithen's Street.[2] In 1937, the business was purchased by Great Universal Stores.[3]
The company opened a purpose-built warehouse in