Debenhams
This coverage examines Debenhams’ trajectory, strategies, and impact within the UK retail sector. Reporting focuses on store operations, online developments, financial performance, brand repositioning, product ranges, and executive changes. Designed for retail professionals, it offers analysis of commercial decisions, market challenges, and opportunities relevant to department store management and broader apparel and homeware retailing.
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Mar- 2020 -12 MarchDepartment Stores
Debenhams seeking new CEO as Vansteenkiste prepares to step down
Debenhams is seeking a new CEO to help steer its restructuring as its current boss Stefaan Vansteenkiste prepares to step down from his role after less than a year at the helm. According to Sky News, Vansteenkiste is to step down within the coming months and Debenhams has appointed headhunters…
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11 MarchHigh Street
Debenhams CVA now free from legal challenges
Embattled department store chain Debenhams has announced that its CVA proposals will be upheld, as the time period for any appeal to be lodged has now expired. The company confirmed that all relevant procedural matters dealt with at the CVA challenge hearing in February have been concluded “in its favour”.…
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2 MarchDepartment Stores
Debenhams denies lenders’ threat to hold up restructuring over rent cuts
Department store chain Debenhams has denied reports of it telling landlords that its lenders may not sign off a “critical debt restructuring” unless they agree to further rent cuts. Debenhams and its lenders agreed to swap £100m of debt for equity in April last year after it entered pre-pack administration,…
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Feb- 2020 -25 FebruaryComment
The changing face of retail in the age of digitisation
Retail: the 2020 snapshot It’s no secret that high street retail in Britain has been struggling for the past decade. Since the collapse of Woolworths in 2009, it has been clear that something, somewhere, has been going very wrong on the Great British high street. In fact, currently it is…
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17 FebruaryHigh Street
West country vacancy rates hits double-digits in 2020
The west country has seen the largest increase in retail vacancy rates in the UK, rising from 9.6% in 2016 to 11.2% in 2020, according to new data from Usdaw. The trade union said in the past decade the number of people visiting high streets in the west country dropped…
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14 FebruaryHigh Street
Frasers Group backs BRC’s calls for government review of business taxes
Frasers Group has backed the campaign by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and 52 other retailers calling for the government to take urgent action on business rates. In a letter to now former chancellor Sajid Javid, which was signed by retailers including Debenhams, Harrods, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Primark…
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10 FebruaryDepartment Stores
Selfridges managing director exits
Simon Forster, managing director of Selfridges has departed from the department store after just over a year in the position. According to The Sunday Telegraph, Forster “abruptly” left last week amid a “loss in confidence in his leadership.” Selfridges said Forster decided to “pursue other interests”, but Insiders told The…
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Jan- 2020 -27 JanuaryHigh Street
10,000 retail jobs lost in 2020
Almost 10,000 retail jobs have been lost in 2020 amid a “torrid” start to the new year, according to the Centre for Retail Research. The research group revealed that 9,949 jobs have been lost in the first three weeks of 2020, amid store closures at Debenhams, GAME, HMV, Arcadia and…
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24 JanuaryComment
Why retailers need to take sonic branding seriously
Retail is undergoing something of a paradigm shift. This is a sector that faces unprecedented challenges as it adapts to the ever-changing shopping habits of consumers. Last week’s ONS data revealed that UK retail sales fell in December by 0.6%, making it the fifth consecutive month in which retail sales…
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13 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Debenhams in talks to offload executive pension scheme
Embattled department store chain Debenhams is reportedly in talks over the buyout of its executive pension scheme, which holds over £200m in assets. According to Sky News, Debenhams is closing in on a deal with insurance company Aviva that, if completed, will guarantee future benefits to members of the senior…
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