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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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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6 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Debenhams announces 19 store closures
Debenhams has announced the closure of 19 of its UK stores, resulting in 660 job losses. The department store, which entered administration in April last year, launched its CVA in the same month. The closures are due to take place during the next fortnight, with stores closing from 11 January,…
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Dec- 2019 -20 DecemberAnalysis
Finally, a government addressing the business rates fiasco
Regardless of your political colours, small businesses up and down the land will be pleased to hear of at least one policy which looks set to survive the transition from manifesto wish lists to actual policy and legislation, and that is a business rates overhaul. The prime minister, Boris Johnson,…
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19 DecemberHigh Street
Debenhams landlord challenges High Court CVA decision
A Debenhams landlord has decided to appeal against a recent High Court ruling which paved the way for the embattled retailer’s CVA to go ahead. According to a report by the Telegraph, the Salford-based landlord is hoping to “overthrow” the legal win from two months ago. In September, the High…
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