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Debenhams

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Debenhams Ltd is a chain of department stores based in the United Kingdom. Debenhams Retail Plc is part of the Debenhams Group of Companies which is owned by CVC Capital Partners, Texas Pacific Group, Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity and management.

Debenhams
Company typePrivate limited company
IndustryDepartment store [1]
FoundedLondon (1813)
SuccessorBurton Edit this on Wikidata
HeadquartersLondon
Key people
John Lovering, Chairman
Rob Templeman, CEO
ProductsClothing, cosmetics, housewares
RevenueIncrease £2,090 million GBP (2005)
Number of employees
19,000
Websitewww.debenhams.com

History

The company's origins can be traced back to a drapery shop opened in 1778 on London's Wigmore Street.

The modern Debenhams group grew from the acquisition of department stores in towns and cities throughout the UK. The first of such purchases, Marshall & Snelgrove in Oxford Street, London was acquired in 1919. Later purchases included stores such as Rylands in Manchester 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.

The company expanded rapidly throughout the 1990s and now has a total of 120 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. Despite some criticism, the Debenhams Account Card is still a major source of revenue for the company ensuring customer loyalty and targeted mailings.

The company was taken over by a private consortium in late 2003. Recent speculation predicts a return to the stock exchange in 2006. The company returned to the stock exchange on 4th May 2006.

Store format

Debenhams stores are currently departmentalised as follows:

  • Health and Beauty (Cosmetics, Fragrances & Toiletries)
  • Women's Wear (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, Morgan, 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 Service (also known as Celebration)
  • Photogprahphy - Olan mills - some stores only

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.

A major source of business is concessions. These are 'shop-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 ladies' wear lines. The 'Designers at Debenhams' include Jasper Conran, John Richmond, John Rocha, The Duffer of St. George and Betty Jackson.

United Kingdom locations

All but three of the company's UK department stores currently trade as 'Debenhams'. The exceptions are 'Browns' in Chester and 'Desire by Debenhams' concept stores in South Shields and Truro.

London

South East England

South West England

Central England

Yorkshire

North East England

North West England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

International locations

All department stores in international locations trade under the 'Debenhams' name except 'Ermes' in Cyprus and 'SOGO' in Indonesia which are franchise stores operated independently of Debenhams Limited.

Bahrain

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Hungary

Iceland

Indonesia

Ireland

Kuwait

Malaysia

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Sweden

United Arab Emirates


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