Research on Debenhams

Debenhams

What it does	Mid-market family department store with main focus on fashion and beauty, and a comprehensive private label portfolio.
Latest year-end	August 2011
Gross transactional values	£2.7 bn (+4.5%)
Statutory revenues	£2.2bn (+4.2%)
Operating profit	£184 m (-3.2%)
Space allocation (2012)	Beauty (8.8%), homewares (18.1%), clothing (64.0%), cafés/services (9.1%).
Sales per m2	£2,186 (based on GTV)
Online revenues	£180.4m (7.7% of UK & Ireland GTV)
Websites:	www.debenhams.com, www.debenhams.ie (consumer), www.debenhamsplc.com (corporate)
Countries of operation:	UK, Republic of Ireland and Denmark (Magasin du Nord) plus international franchises in Europe, Middle and Far East

Basic information on Debenhams. 

Debenhams is well differentiated from the department store sector’s two other leading chains – John Lewis and House of Fraser – thanks to a comprehensive own label portfolio. Over half of what it sells can only be bought in Debenhams, which brings a number of advantages in terms of differentiation, flexibility, stock control and gross margins.

Investing in new stores

- The management believe there is demand to support up to 240 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland

- Debenhams cant afford to loose sight of its existing shops, Some stores are still in need of modernisation 

- Forty five remaining older outlets will have been refurbished before Christmas 2013.

- Debenhams needs to improve visual merchandising and product presentation in stores that have already been refitted.

http://academic.mintel.com/display/617127/?highlight=true#hit1

Laura