Debenhams
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Debenhams Plc | |
---|---|
Type | Public limited company |
Founded | London (1813) |
Headquarters | London |
Key people | John Lovering, Chairman Rob Templeman, Jamie Davis |
Industry | Retailing |
Products | Clothing, cosmetics, housewares |
Revenue | ▲ £1.7 billion GBP (2007) |
Employees | 19,000 |
Website | www.debenhams.com |
Debenhams plc (LSE: DEB) is a retailer with a chain of department stores based in the United Kingdom, and franchised stores in a number of other countries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. As of 2008, the company had 10.373 million square feet of retail space,[1] and was voted best UK department store by GMTV.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
The original 'Debenham & Freebody' store was based at number 33 Wigmore Street, London. This site is still used by the company and houses its communications departments, including their press office.
The modern Debenhams group grew from the acquisition of department stores in towns and cities throughout the UK, through its chairman Ernest Debenham. The first of such purchases, Marshall & Snelgrove in Oxford Street, London was acquired in 1919. Later purchases included stores such as Harvey Nichols in London's Knightsbridge and Browns of Chester. Most stores retained their former identities until a unified corporate image was rolled out across the stores.
Debenhams was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1928 and continued to expand. In 1985 the company was acquired by the Burton group. At this point the company owned 65 stores. Debenhams demerged in 1998 and was once again listed as a separate company.
Like many companies of this type Debenhams had some hard times. In 1997, however, Belinda Earl, who had previously worked for the company, returned to become its Chief Executive. She and Spencer Hawken introduced "Designers at Debenhams" which brought a variety of well known fashion talents to the stores at affordable prices, shaking off the dated perception of the company.
The company expanded rapidly throughout the 1990s and now has a total of 140 stores in the UK and Ireland with new stores recently opened at the MetroCentre in Gateshead and Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
In 2002 the Nectar loyalty card was introduced with Debenhams as a major sponsor. This card now allows customers to collect loyalty points from a range of retailers such as Sainsbury's, BP, Beefeater and Ford amongst others. On 16th February 2008, Nectar cards were no longer in use at Debehnams, and instead customers with Nectar cards received £15 worth of vouchers to be spent at Debenhams. Despite some criticism, the Debenhams Account Card, (provided by G.E. Capital) is still a major source of revenue for the company ensuring customer loyalty and targeted mailings.
Debenhams also offers 'Debenhams Wedding Gift Service', where couples can create their wedding gift lists, from which guests can buy. In addition to the consumer website where customers can purchase goods online, the company now offers 'Debenhams To You', a service where goods can be ordered over the telephone, either from the customer's home or through a special in-store telephone, and delivered direct to the customer.
Selected Debenhams stores offer a personal shopping service. This is a service requiring an appointment, made either over the telephone, or in-store. The personal shopper is trained to look at the requirements of the individual customer and with an appeciation of current trends and broad knowledge of Debenhams product ranges advises the customer and selects items on their behalf.
The company was taken over in late 2003 by a private consortium comprising CVC Capital Partners, Texas Pacific Group, Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity and management. The company returned to the stock exchange on 4th May 2006.
Debenhams was voted 8th 'most favourably viewed brand' by 'Marketing Magazine' in 2006, behind Next in 3rd, River Island in 2nd and Burton Menswear in 1st positions
The store has been trialling a compact version called 'Desire by Debenhams' which is mainly aimed at the female market with clothing ranges by 'Designers at Debenhams' and cosmetics.
Aside from department stores, Debenhams operates a number of other divisions, including 'Debenhams Finance' (offering home, car and travel insurance and bureau de change services) and 'Debenhams Mobile' (offering mobile phones).
On 8 August 2006 it was confirmed that Debenhams is to buy 9 of the 11 Roches Stores department stores in Ireland and operate them as Debenhams.
[edit] Store format
Debenhams stores are currently departmentalized as follows:
- Health and Beauty (Cosmetics, Fragrances & Toiletries)
- Womenswear (Designer Women's Clothing, Bridalwear & Lingerie)
- Menswear (Men's Casual Clothing, Sportswear, Formalwear, Men's Accessories, Footwear)
- Fashion Accessories (Handbags, Jewellery, Men's & Women's watches, Women's Footwear)
- Young Fashion (Red Herring, Oasis, Jane Norman, Topshop etc)
- Home (Bedding, Electrical, Furniture, Soft Furnishings, China, Lighting, Luggage & Kitchenware)
- Children's (Children's Clothes, Accessories, Footwear & Toys)
- Food Services (The Restaurant & Cafe Venue in most stores)
- Wedding Services (also known as Celebration)
- Christmas (Toys, Decorations, Noveltys, Chocolate and alcohol) (Usually opens the 1st week of October)
Debenhams stores vary greatly in size from the flagship store in Oxford Street, London to the smaller stores in locations such as Bangor. Some such stores do not have a full range of departments.
Part of Debenhams's source of business is concessions. These are 'shops-in-shops' which can be found in most Debenhams stores such as Young Fashion companies 'Oasis' and Ladieswear outlet 'Evans'.
The company's innovation has proved successful by introducing branding into its menswear and ladieswear lines. The 'Designers at Debenhams' include Jasper Conran, John Richmond, John Rocha, The Duffer of St. George and Betty Jackson.
[edit] Online shopping
Debenhams' website is run by a separate company called Debenhams Direct, which also operates their catalogue shopping service. Not all stock shown on the website will be available in any particular store, and vice versa. Orders placed in store via, for example, the Debenhams Wedding Service may be delivered in part by Debenhams and in part by Debenhams Direct.
[edit] United Kingdom
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All of the company's UK department stores currently trade as 'Debenhams', except 'Browns' in Chester (although some 'Debenhams' branding and signage does appear). Debenhams also operates an expanding number of 'Desire by Debenhams' concept stores, the first of which opened in Truro in 2004.
[edit] London
- Bromley (formerly Nicholsons)
- Clapham Junction (formerly Allders Clapham Junction / Arding & Hobbs)
- Croydon (formerly Kennards)
- Eltham
- Harrow (formerly Sopers; central recruitment department is also located here)
- Hounslow
- Ilford (formerly Allders Ilford / Owen Owen Ilford)
- Oxford Street (formerly Marshall & Snelgrove)
- Welbeck Street (London Head Office)
- Romford (formerly Stones)
- Sutton (formerly Allders Sutton / Shinners)
- Uxbridge
- White City, Westfield London (opening in 2008)
- Wimbledon
[edit] South East England
- Ashford
- Basildon (formerly Allders Basildon)
- Basingstoke (opened 2002)
- Bedford (formerly E P Rose)
- Brighton
- Broadstairs, Westwood Cross
- Canterbury (formerly William Lefevre)
- Chatham (formerly Allders Chatham)
- Chelmsford (formerly Bonds)
- Colchester
- Crawley (formerly Owen Owen Crawley)
- Eastbourne (formerly Bobbys Eastbourne)
- Fareham, opening as Desire by Debenhams (in late 2008)
- Farnborough
- Folkestone (formerly Bobbys Folkestone)
- Gravesend
- Great Yarmouth (opening as part of Market Gates Shopping Centre expansion in 2008)
- Guildford (formerly Plummer Roddis Guildford)
- Hastings (formerly Plummer Roddis Hastings)
- Hemel Hempstead
- Luton
- Milton Keynes
- Newbury
- Northampton (formerly Adnitt Brothers)
- Orpington, Desire by Debenhams
- Portsmouth (formerly Allders Portsmouth / Landport Drapery Bazaar)
- Reading (formerly Wellsteeds)
- Slough (formerly Allders Slough / Owen Owen Slough / Suters)
- Southampton (formerly Edwin Jones)
- Southend-on-Sea
- Southsea (formerly Handleys)
- Staines (formerly Kennards Staines)
- Walton-on-Thames, Desire by Debenhams (opening in August 2007)
- West Thurrock Lakeside
- Winchester (formerly Sheriff & Ward)
- Woking (formerly Allders Woking)
- Worthing (formerly John K Hubbard)
[edit] South West England
- Bath (opening with the completion of the Southgate redevelopment c. 2009)
- Bournemouth (formerly Bobbys Bournemouth)
- Bristol (formerly Jones)
- Exeter (formerly Bobbys Exeter / Green & Son; relocating in August 2007 to the new Princesshay shopping development)
- Plymouth (formerly Spooners and John Yeo)
- Salisbury (formerly Style & Gerrish)
- Swindon
- Taunton (formerly W & A Chapman)
- Taunton, Bedford House (Taunton Head Office)
- Torquay (formerly Bobbys Torquay)
- Truro, Desire by Debenhams
- Weymouth
[edit] Central England
- Banbury
- Birmingham, Bull Ring
- Birmingham, The Fort Shopping Park, Desire by Debenhaams
- Cambridge
- Cheltenham
- Coventry
- Derby (formerly Ranbys)
- Dudley, Merry Hill
- Gloucester
- Hereford (no Debenhams store exists in the city but the 'Intermissions' restaurant located in the Maylord Shopping Centre is owned and operated by Debenhams)
- Ipswich (formerly Footman Pretty)
- King's Lynn (formerly Jermyns)
- Leicester
- Lincoln
- Mansfield
- Norwich (formerly Curls / Curl Brothers)
- Nottingham (formerly Griffin & Spalding)
- Nuneaton (formerly Smiths)
- Oxford (formerly Elliston & Cavell)
- Redditch (100th UK store to open)
- Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley)
- Stratford-upon-Avon (formerly Smiths Stratford-upon-Avon)
- Telford
- Walsall
- Wolverhampton (opening in 2010)
- Worcester (formerly Simes)
[edit] Yorkshire
- Barnsley (opening with completion of Markets complex c.2011)
- Bradford (opening with completion of Broadway shopping centre)
- Doncaster, Frenchgate Centre
- Harrogate (formerly Marshall & Snelgrove Harrogate)
- Hull (formerly Thornton Varley)
- Ilkley (concession within Westgate Department Store)
- Keighley (concession within Westgate Department Store)
- Leeds, Briggate (formerly Matthias Robinson Leeds)
- Leeds, White Rose
- Scarborough (formerly Marshall & Snelgrove Scarborough)
- Sheffield (formerly Pauldens; 'Debenhams Direct' customer services and Debenhams' property department is also located here)
- Sheffield, Meadowhall
- Skipton (concession within Westgate Department Store)
- York (formerly Marshall & Snelgrove York)
- York Monks Cross (opens 2009)[3]
[edit] North East England
- Gateshead, MetroCentre
- Middlesbrough (formerly Newhouse)
- Newcastle upon Tyne, Eldon Square (opening in 2009)
- South Shields, Desire by Debenhams
- Stockton-on-Tees (formerly Matthias Robinson Stockton-on-Tees)
- Sunderland
[edit] North West England
- Altrincham, Desire by Debenhams (opened 2007)
- Barrow-in-Furness
- Blackburn
- Blackpool (opening in Spring 2008)
- Bolton
- Bury (opening in 2009)
- Carlisle
- Chester, Browns
- Crewe (opening in 2010)
- Liverpool
- Macclesfield (opening in 2010)
- Manchester (formerly Rylands)
- Manchester, Trafford Centre
- Oldham
- Preston
- Southport (formerly Marshall & Snelgrove Southport)
- Stockport
- Warrington
- Wigan (formerly Pendleburys)
- Workington
[edit] Northern Ireland
- Bangor (opening as part of the Queens Parade Complex)
- Belfast, Westfield CastleCourt
- Craigavon, Rushmere Shopping Centre
- Derry, Foyleside Shopping Centre
- Newry
- Ballymena
[edit] Scotland
- Aberdeen
- Ayr
- Dundee
- Dunfermline (opening as part of the Kingsgate Centre extension in 2008)
- East Kilbride
- Falkirk, Desire by Debenhams
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow (Argyle Street) (Formerly Lewis's, Glasgow)
- Glasgow, Silverburn Centre
- Inverness
- Kirkcaldy, Desire by Debenhams
- Leith, Ocean Terminal
- Livingston (opening as part of The Elements shopping centre in 2008)
- Perth
- Stirling
[edit] Wales
- Bangor(relocated store opened on 1st April 2008)
- Cardiff
- Carmarthen (opening in 2008)
- Llandudno
- Merthyr Tydfil, Desire by Debenhams
- Newport (opening in 2009)
- Swansea
- Llanelli
- Wrexham (opening in 2008)
[edit] International locations
All department stores in international locations (except the Republic of Ireland) trade as 'Debenhams' name under franchise agreements. One of the franchisees 'Sogo' in Indonesia also buys Debenhams goods to sell in its own department stores (as well as operating full-line Debenhams franchise stores).
[edit] Bahrain
[edit] Cyprus
- Larnaka, Zenon
- Limassol, Apollon
- Limassol, Olympia
- Nicosia
- Nicosia, Central
- Nicosia, Ledra
- Nicosia, The Mall of Cyprus
- Pafos, Kinyras
- Pafos, Korivos
[edit] Czech Republic
[edit] Denmark
[edit] Hungary
[edit] Iceland
[edit] India
[edit] Jordan
- Amman, City Mall
[edit] Indonesia
- Jakarta, Plaza Indonesia (formerly the west wing of Sogo Plaza Indonesia)
- Jakarta, Senayan City
- Jakarta, Supermal Karawaci (Opening in 2008)
[edit] Kuwait
[edit] Philippines
- Makati City, Glorietta 4, Rustans Department Store
- Mandaluyong City, Shangri-La Plaza Mall
- Quezon City, TriNoma
[edit] Qatar
[edit] Republic of Ireland
Unlike other international locations, all Republic of Ireland stores are directly operated by Debenhams plc under the company name Debenham Retail (Ireland) Ltd. The premises of the former Roches Stores are leased from the Roche family. The first Irish store opened in 1996 in the Jervis Shopping Centre, this closed in January 2008 following the acquisition of the Henry Street store which is a short walk away, the least on the store being assigned to Arnotts. [1]
- Blackrock (formerly Roches Stores Blackrock)
- Blanchardstown (formerly Roches Stores Blanchardstown)
- Cork, Mahon Point
- Cork, St. Patrick's Street (formerly Roches Stores)
- Dublin, Henry Street (formerly Roches Stores Dublin)
- Galway (formerly Roches Stores Galway)
- Letterkenny, **Opening Soon** (Letterkenny Retail Park)
- Limerick (formerly Roches Stores Limerick)
- Newbridge
- The Square, Tallaght (formerly Roches Stores Tallaght)
- Tralee (formerly Roches Stores Tralee)
- Waterford (formerly Roches Stores Waterford)
[edit] Romania
[edit] Russia
[edit] Saudi Arabia
[edit] Sweden
A Debenhams was opened in central Stockholm in 2002. It was closed in January 2007 due to the difficulties of competing with the local department stores PUB and Åhléns.[4]
[edit] Turkey
[edit] United Arab Emirates
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Official websites:
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