Is It Time To Close

[teacake44]

After years of trading, what part of retail trading do Debenhams not understand. The consortium of banks that now own Debenhams have pumped 200 million to keep it ticking over, this in my view will just be swallowed up in a matter of months, leaving the real problem to fester. It's not difficult to look at a company like Primark and understand that very few people want to pay £80/£90 for a pair of designer jeans, or top, or £120 for a summer coat. Their makeup counters lay deserted, with an army of staff trying to look busy. Do they no longer have anyone who understands the retail industry? or just prefer to stay in their expensive bubble, that's sure to burst.

[maggiebee]

I quite like Debenhams shoes as I have a wide foot and they have a good selection. Wouldn't pay the prices for anything else.

[dannyk13]

They are closing 20 shops with maybe more to follow.

[goodgoalie]

I know what you mean. I called in to a large branch of Boots the other day, and there were several heavily made-up women standing behind counters selling make-up, but with absolutely nobody nearby - and no one engaged with them for the whole time I was there. All it needed was some tumbleweed blowing through the aisles.
I remember wondering at the time how their wages were covered.

WH Smith is another chain that I can't believe keeps going - their shops are like stepping back to the 70s, and there's nothing they sell that you couldn't buy cheaper elsewhere.

[Old_Geezer]

In my limited experience of the one store I know, they opted to stay in the city, where customers then have to make the effort to reach them and pay to park (even though everyone should be encouraging folk to come trade, rather than discourage it); instead of moving to out-of-town sites with it's motorway access and free parking. Maybe a bit late for them to try to play catch-up now.

[LadyCG]

I enjoy shopping at Debenhams. I buy all my shoes, bags and swimwear there. I love their occasion wear.

My MIL spends a ridiculous amount of money on clothes for her 3 grandsons, all from Debenhams and she's a savvy shopper so never pays full price for anything.

I also like their photoframes, glassware (we've had umpteen sets as housewarming / anniversary / wedding gifts) and other stuff for the house. I would be genuinely bereft without my local Debenhams.

[mushroom25]

//instead of moving to out-of-town sites with it's motorway access and free parking. //

but how long-term sustainable will a private-car-based economy be? this week parliament (at the behest of Jeremy Corbyn) will declare a Climate Emergency. how compatible will that be with an economy that compels you to own and run a car for all your needs?

[Bazile]

How are House of Fraser doing ?

They are another store who charge high prices for stuff available at cheaper prices

The last time I went into one of their stores looking for shoes for a wedding ; I couldn't believe the prices they were charging for the same shoe that was available much much cheaper at other shops

[dannyk13]

I don't know anything in high street shops that can't be bought cheaper on line.

[teacake44]

If they were investing millions into new stock to sell at a more competitive price, and to reinvent themselves I could understand, but this is not the case, their just throwing good money after bad. What bank would support any business that's failing at this rate, or is it a case that bank customers will end up footing the final bill for their bad investments.?

[Calicogirl]

I'll buy the odd bit of stuff, cosmetics sometimes if I run short or have forgotten to bring something over and I always have a mooch around Debenhams if I do. I'll sometimes buy gifts from there too. They sell good quality things but not competitively and the whole department store style is quite outdated now and it feels quite limited because it seems it's trying to be everything so not much choice and nothing too daring because understandably they want to be sure of what they sell so they cater to what they know goes well. This gives it something of a stagnant feel to me. I'm not too sure how different it is now to five or ten years ago to the extent I reckon you'd be hard pressed to date a photo taken inside one of their stores maybe in the last 10 years. Has it really changed much at all?Their higher end stuff is not high end enough to keep them afloat yet too expensive for most people to want to buy more generally so they've landed somewhere in the upper middle which I think is quite a niche and diminishing market now.

[teacake44]

This is just my point, you all seem to agree, so how come the powers that be at this company can't see the problem, or refuse to do so.

[Bazile]

That reminds me , I've got a gift voucher from WH Smith , for donkeys now

I keep meaning to go and spend it

I'd better ,before they go tits up

[Maydup]

The only time I would miss Debenhams as I do BHS, is for towels and bedding. If I want a new pillow where do I go? Out of town? Online? No thanks.

Maybe they could have reduced their departments and specialised in something like home ware.

[teacake44]

With respect Maydup, The idea of a department store was once someone entered the store you could cover all your needs under one roof, reducing departments would reduce footfall. What they really need to do is reduce their prices to meet the average spending customer, Debenhams have the stores, the prime positions, the input of funds, and a brand name, to still make good. What they don't have left, is any marketing skills.

[New Judge]

There are a number of things wrong with so-called department stores but here’s just a couple:

In the past, when looking for (say) a jacket, I could go into (say) House of Fraser and browse all the jackets in one place. Now if I do so I browse a rail of jackets in the Jasper Conran section, another rail on the other side of the shop in the A N Other Tailor section, another upstairs with somebody else’s range displayed. I can’t be bothered.

The second (and most important) is that many – veering towards most – staff in shops now do not care whether their potential customers live or die. Far better for them to spend their day chatting with their colleagues about their love life, their holidays or yesterday’s football results. Well I have news for them: for many of them it will not be long before they will have all day every day to discuss and pursue such matters. The only trouble is they’ll have no money to enable them to do so.

W H Smith and Boots both defy the laws of physics. They seem to have no visible means of support (i.e. customers) but still manage to stay upright. I imagine one or both of them will bite the dust soon. I just hope the Post Office has contingency plans because many “Crown” Post Offices have been relocated to an upstairs back broom cupboard in WHS stores and when that chain goes belly up the Post Offices will be out on the streets.

But overriding all of this are the ridiculous costs associated with running a High Street store. I related a tale a few weeks ago where I explained that a small single shop in my High Street requires more than £30,000 pa to be made just to pay the rent and Business Rates. Six hundred quid a week before the owner makes anything for leccy and other overheads (let alone a small wage for himself) is simply outside many business models. This, together with local authorities’ constant war on motorists mean the High Street is a dying duck. There will always be idiots prepared to pay half a week's wages for a pair of washed out overalls with holes in the knees but in fifty years’ time young people will be amazed that town centre main roads used to contain places where you went to buy such things.

[calmck]

One problem is department stores have concessions like Ghost, Oasis and Coast and not enough of their own brands that suit a certain clientele of a certain age.

[ummmm]

Our Debenhams is not closing. It's great for ladies underwear.

[calmck]

Quite agree with new judge regarding same items being together. Much easier to shop especially with grand kids in tow. M and S does this but a lot of their clothes again are not for the older generation. Some of the colours and patterns are garish and loud.

[teacake44]

Yes NJ, Your third paragraph says it all, no private family business would have entertained such an attitude, sad that there's very few family businesses left.

[Prudie]

Mine isn't closing either. I do a lot of online shopping but sometimes it's nice to actually feel before you buy, Debenhams is good for homeware, perfume and occasion wear. Not sure if location is a factor but my local Boots is always busy,