Debenhams news and archive

Debenhams returns to retail with the opening of beauty store

Boohoo-owned Debenhams is set to return to retail with the opening of a flagship beauty destination at Manchester’s Arndale shopping centre. Since the acquisition of the retailer by the Boohoo Group at the beginning of 2021, Debenhams has seen a substantial rebranding and restructuring, with the closing of its stores throughout the UK. In June,...

BusinessFeatured

Debenhams’ Magasin du Nord acquired by German retailer Peek & Cloppenburg

Danish department store chain Magasin du Nord, which has been owned by Debenhams since 2009, has been acquired by German fashion retailer Peek & Cloppenburg. Magasin du Nord will continue to exist as an independent chain and will join Peek & Cloppenburg’s store estate which currently comprises around 140 P& C stores and Anson department stores...

BusinessFeatured

End of an era: Debenhams closes final stores

After more than 240 years, iconic British department store chain Debenhams closed its final physical stores over the weekend. It's the end of an era for the company, long considered a cornerstone of the British high street, which began its days in 1778 when William Clark established a drapers store at 44 Wigmore Street in London's West End. The...

RetailFeatured

Debenhams confirms closing date of final 49 stores

Debenhams has confirmed its remaining 49 stores will permanently close on either May 12 or 15. It comes after the retailer temporarily reopened its stores in England and Wales when lockdown eased last month to complete its final closing down sale. The fashion retailer had already announced the permanent closure dates of 52 stores up to Saturday...

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The end of an era: Analysts review what has gone wrong for Debenhams

UK’s department stores chain Debenhams will shut downs its doors for good after 242 years a high street staple. Market experts analyse what has gone wrong with the British retailer. Boohoo’s acquisition of Debehams’ brand out of administration marks the end of an era, that of the department store chain that has been a high street’s fixture for...

People

Debenhams co-CEO Steven Cook steps down

The co-CEO of Debenhams, Steven Cook, has reportedly exited the company days after it was acquired for 55 million pounds by British fast-fashion group Boohoo. “Steven Cook has decided to step down as co-chief executive and will be leaving the business at the end of the month,” co-chief executive and chief financial officer Mike Hazell said in a...

BusinessFeatured

Boohoo acquires Debenhams brand and website for 55 million pounds

Online fashion retailer Boohoo has acquired Debenhams Retail Limited from its joint administrators for 55 million pounds in cash. The company said in a statement that it intends to rebuild and relaunch the Debenhams platform, helping further the group’s stated ambition to lead the fashion ecommerce market, and grow into new categories including...

Business

Debenhams to permanently close 6 stores, 320 jobs affected

Debenhams has announced it will permanently close six stores, including its Oxford Street flagship, resulting in 320 redundancies. The other affected stores are in Portsmouth, Staines, Harrogate, Weymouth, Worcester, and London. Staff at those stores were informed of the news last week. Debenhams began winding down its business at the beginning...

Business

Debenhams closes Irish website citing Brexit trade uncertainty

Debenhams has closed its Irish website citing uncertainty around post-Brexit trading rules. Last month, it was revealed that Debenhams would begin winding down its business and closing its 124 stores after last-minute takeover talks fell through. The move put 12,000 jobs at risk. Since then, the business has continued to trade online to clear...

BusinessFeatured

2020: Fall of fashion brands, retailers and series of Chapter 11 bankruptcies

A look-back at the year 2020 reveals how fashion brands and retailers suffered due to dwindling sales, low footfall, high debts, high rentals, inefficient operations, out-dated merchandise assortment and high inventories, among other issues. The coronavirus pandemic added to the woes of these already troubled retailers leading them to file for...

Business

Frasers Group in talks over potential Debenhams rescue deal

Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has confirmed it is in talks over a potential rescue of Debenhams’ UK operations. It comes after the department store chain’s administrators FRP Advisory announced last week that it would be winding down the business and closing its 124 stores, putting some 12,000 jobs at risk. Hopes had rested on a last-minute rescue...

Business

Debenhams: A look back at the history of the iconic British retailer

On Tuesday, iconic British department store chain Debenhams announced it would begin winding down its business and closing its 124 stores after last-minute takeover talks fell through. The move, which puts some 12,000 jobs at risk, was the last option for a company hit hard this year by Covid-19, and prior to this year by a fast-changing retail...