In 1979, while looking for a new job, Adderley and his wife Jeany sold curtains which had been rejected by Marks and Spencer from a stall in Leicester market. In 1984, they opened their first home furnishings store, calling it Dunelm. He retired from Dunelm at the age of 50 and left the growth of the company in the capable hands of his Son william and at this time the company floated in 2006.