Debenhams

[Allan123]

Maybe a rumour, but i have heard yesterday evening my local Debenhams staff where told they where expecting to go into administration? Anyone else heard anything on this?

[Dawg]

I'm sure that ghastly rag the FT got it all wrong on Tuesday:

Debenhams shares soared on Tuesday as fears about the retailer’s debt position eased and trading over the crucial Christmas period appeared better than expected.

Debenhams shares soared 31 per cent to 37p at the open in London as fears of a rights issue receded.

Debenhams said sales and profits over the Christmas period were ahead of last year and that it was taking market share from rivals such as John Lewis.

Mmmm.

[10 Yetis]

I have also heard, although nothing concrete (people who used to work there who know various managers) that the senior staff were briefed this could happen before Christmas.

What will be interesting for me, from a PR point of view, is how the Debenhams PR Team interact with online communities such as this and Twitter to stop the rumours actually killing them off if they are not in the bleak position we are all saying they are in :-)

[Allan123]

It would pretty devastating to our town (Blackburn) if Debenhams where to go. They occupy the largest store in The Mall (the only shop with 2 floors) and i very much doubt they would find anyone to fill it if the rumours are correct.

Its the same with our Wollies store, it's a huge shop to have closed and is in a prime position for passing trade. Looks awful with all the shelving etc ripped out.

[garyk]

We've got some deb vouchers and I said to my wife a couple of weeks we better spend them up as Ive got a a feeling they will struggle, nothing more than a hunch and the fact they have huge bloody stores which must cost a fortune to run, lots of staff and not vast amounts of customers.

[Gillie]

A nice article here (http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssRetailCatalogInternetOrder/idUSL58427320090108) gives the low down on how various retail outlets have fared over the last month!

[Dawg]

Blige. Peacocks and Ted Baker up! That makes sense?

('Yes' says ed. Both chavtastic)

[Disgruntled_Employees]

Not that surprising about peacocks etc as they are CHEAP and what do people do when a recession comes and they still nead to wear cloths? Apart from chrity shops they go somewhere cheaper than overpriced MnS, Topman etc.

Debenhams have been having massive sales/blue cross events almost every 2 months for the last 2 years - Im surprised ANYONE ever spent money on full price items knowing full well a sale was juust around the corner with them. So finally people are cottoning on that there is no point spending in there when they dont have a sale on!

They shot themselves in the foot there.

[scrivs]

I use to work for Debenhams in Taunton at one of their head offices in the Print department. I worked on a lot of R&D during my time there. What I can say is that they can react a lot quicker to market trends than M&S (A lot quicker). I Know that the print department will be busy producing sale posters. But I think they would pulls though this downturn. Rumours are not good, use to get loads of them in Debenhams, Best to ignore them.

[pcbranding]

I too used to work for Debenhams at their HQ in London.
They are able to react quickly and their current owners have bought, rescued and re-sold many other businesses in their time. It would seem unlikely that they'd go into administration, but in this climate...who knows?
(Do I know you Jacob? I visited Taunton a few times.)

[HDevents]

Hi
Correct me if i am wrong but isn't debenhams a collection of lots of over brands /shops so more worrys would be for the ind brands like maine inside, that would be the factors that really deside debs future as the brands pay franchise space set monthly ..... i think ;)

[pcbranding]

Debenhams are predominantly own-brand based (Maine is one of them. I spent years designing the packaging for it!)
There are some concessions within Debenhams, but only a percentage of the overall store.