Debenhams news and archive

Debenhams promotes Patrick Duggan to creative director

Boohoo-owned Debenhams has promoted its head of creative to the role of creative director. Patrick Duggans takes on the leading role after being with Boohoo for four and half years, having initially joined in July 2020 as creative manager for Coast and Karen Millen. Duggans went on to become head of creative at Debenhams in October 2021, a role...

Fashion Featured

Watch: From hero gnomes to stylish goats, all the festive fashion films to know for 2024

It’s that time of the year, again. Brands and retailers across the globe have begun unveiling their always highly anticipated festive campaigns. This season, trends seem to revolve around flipping the script on the stress usually associated with the season; incorporating well-known (animated) figures into the storyline; and proposing new...

BusinessFeatured

Boohoo revenue and profit decline, announces fund raising plan

In an interim results announcement for the six month period, Boohoo said revenue of 619.8 million pounds, declined by 15 percent reflecting difficult market conditions. The company added that the revenue growth was also impacted by the continued growth of the marketplace with its commission-only revenue model. Boohoo also announced a proposed...

PeopleFeatured

Boohoo appoints Dan Finley as chief executive

British online fast-fashion giant Boohoo has named Dan Finley as the group’s chief executive officer, defying major shareholder Frasers Group to install its owner Mike Ashley at the helm. In a statement, Boohoo said Finley, formerly of JD Sports and currently CEO of Debenhams, will take up his new role with immediate effect, succeeding John...

Business

Debenhams plans new websites for Ireland and Australia

Boohoo-owned Debenhams is preparing its expansion into international markets, with new websites set to launch in Ireland and Australia before Christmas. This is according to CEO Dan Finley, who confirmed in an interview to Drapers that the return to these markets was part of a wider expansion drive. This will also involve the launch of a Nasty...

Fashion

Debenhams debuts graduate award, relaunches Designers at Debenhams

British department store e-tailer Debenhams has unveiled the winner of its first ‘Designers at Debenhams Catwalk to Commercial’ award coinciding with the relaunch of its Designers at Debenhams programme. During last week’s Graduate Fashion Week (GFW), Manchester Fashion Institute’s Eleanor McMahon was named the winner of the retailer’s debut...

Business

Hundreds of former Debenhams staff win redundancy legal battle

Over 400 former Debenhams employees have won a legal battle against the department store chain after losing their jobs when the company fell into administration. Once a cornerstone of the UK high street, Debenhams collapsed in 2020 after being impacted by various factors, including the pandemic and mounting competition from online rivals....

Business

Debenhams preparing to launch division for premium brands

Fashion retailer Debenhams is understood to be preparing for the launch of a new division on its website dedicated to premium brands. The Boohoo Group-owned company has set about repositioning itself as a digital department store, expanding its third-party brand offering across beauty, fashion and homeware. Now it seems the retailer is set to...

Retail

Community space takes over former Debenhams store in London

An abandoned Debenhams building in London has finally been transformed into a multipurpose creative space nearly two years after the fashion retailer closed its doors. Set in the top floor of Hounslow’s Treaty Centre, ‘The Loft’ will act as an incubator, allowing businesses to gain their first high street retail experience in what will aim to be...

Retail

Sports Direct to open Dublin flagship at former Debenhams site

Frasers Group is to open a new Sports Direct flagship store on Henry Street in Dublin. The group will take over a 200,000 square foot space which is currently occupied by Inditex’s Zara and formerly by Debenhams prior to its collapse. Ger Wright, Frasers Group’s managing director of sports, said in a statement seen by Retail Gazette: “Dublin is...

BusinessFeatured

Under Boohoo ownership, Arcadia brands and Debenhams remain unprofitable

When fast fashion chain Boohoo acquired Debenhams in 2021 there was little inclination to restore the department store to its former glory. Instead Boohoo bought its brand equity, the Debenhams website and customer base, for 50 million pounds. But like other brands under Boohoo’s portfolio, which include former Arcadia Group’s Dorothy Perkins,...

Business

Debenhams posts loss in most recent fiscal year

Iconic British retailer Debenhams remained in the red in the fiscal year ended February 2022 following its acquisition by Boohoo Group in 2021. According to new filings at Companies House, the department store chain made a pre-tax loss of 11.77 million pounds in the period, as it made revenue of 56.96 million pounds, of which 52.41 million...