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'{{Infobox company |company_name = Debenhams plc | company_logo = [[Image:Debenhams.png|centre|Company logo]] | company_type = [[Public limited company]] | foundation = 1778 | location = [[London]], [[United Kingdom]] | key_people = Nigel Northridge ([[Chairman]])<br>Rob Templeman, ([[CEO]]) | industry = [[Retailing]] | products = [[Fashion clothing]], [[shoes]], [[accessories]], [[cosmetics]], [[home & furniture]], [[electricals]], [[gifts]], [[toys]] | revenue = [[Pound sterling|£]]1,915.6 million (2009)<ref name=AR>[http://www.investis.com/debenhams/pdfs/ar2009_new.pdf Annual Report 2009]</ref> | operating_income = [[Pound sterling|£]]182.2 million (2009)<ref name=AR/> | net_income = [[Pound sterling|£]]95.1 million (2009)<ref name=AR/> | num_employees = 24,000 (2010)<ref name="about"/> | homepage=[http://www.debenhams.com/ www.debenhams.com] }} '''Debenhams plc''' ({{lse|DEB}}) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[retailing|retailer]] operating under a [[department store]] format in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Denmark]], and [[Franchising|franchise]] stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in [[London]] and has now grown to around 160 shops. It is listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and is a constituent of the [[FTSE 250 Index]]. ==History== [[File:Debenhams, Leeds.jpg|thumb|right|Debenhams on [[Briggate]] in [[Leeds]].]] The business was formed in 1778 by Messrs Flint and Clark who began trading at 44 Wigmore Street in [[London]] as a [[drapers]]' store under the name ''Flint & Clark''.<ref name="history">[http://www.debenhamsplc.com/deb/aboutus/history/ Debenhams History]</ref> In 1813 [[William Debenham]] was made a partner so the name was changed to ''Clark and Debenham''.<ref name="history"/> In 1818 the Company opened a second store in [[Cheltenham]]<ref name="history"/> and in 1851 Clement Freebody became a partner so the name was changed again, this time to ''Debenham & Freebody''.<ref name="history"/> The business was incorporated as ''Debenhams Limited'' in 1905.<ref>[http://www.kipnotes.com/RetailDepartmentStores.htm Retail Department Stores]</ref> The modern Debenhams group grew from the acquisition of [[department store]]s in towns and cities throughout the [[United Kingdom|UK]], under the leadership of its [[Chairman]], [[Ernest Debenham]]. The first of these purchases, ''Marshall & Snelgrove'' at [[Oxford Street]] in [[London]], was acquired in 1919.<ref name="history"/> Later purchases included [[Harvey Nichols]] in [[London]]'s [[Knightsbridge]] in 1920.<ref name="history"/> Most stores acquired retained their former identities until a unified [[corporate image]] was rolled out across the stores. The Company was first listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in 1928. In 1976 the Company acquired [[Browns of Chester|Browns]] of [[Chester]] – the only store that has retained its pre-acquired identity.<ref name="history"/> In 1985 the Company was acquired by the [[Burton (clothing)|Burton]] group.<ref name="history"/> Debenhams was demerged in 1998 and was once again listed as a separate Company on the [[London Stock Exchange]].<ref name="history"/> It expanded under the leadership of [[Belinda Earl]] who was appointed [[CEO]] in 2000.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/dec/15/retail Belinda Earl interview]</ref> On 4 September 2003<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3079634.stm]</ref>, Debenhams opened its largest British store at the new [[Bull Ring, Birmingham|Bull Ring]] shopping centre in [[Birmingham]], 20 years after it had closed its original Birmingham city centre store due to declining trade.<ref>[http://www.bullring.co.uk/Comgenic.Manager.Images/Educationpack.pdf]</ref>It had made a similar comeback in the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] 14 years earlier, opening a new store in the [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]] at [[Brierley Hill]] on 4 November 1989, having previously closed its store at nearby [[Dudley]] in January 1981.<ref>[http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/shopping-national/merry-hill-shopping-centre/339738/]</ref> The Company was acquired again in late 2003 this time by a private consortium comprising [[CVC Capital Partners]], [[Texas Pacific Group]], [[Merrill Lynch|Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity]] and management. The company returned to a listing on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in 2006.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060421/ai_n16151680 Just what does Debenhams have to offer?]</ref> In November 2009, the Company acquired the Danish [[department store]] group Magasin Du Nord.<ref>[http://www.drapersonline.com/debenhams-buys-danish-retailer-magasin-du-nord-for-123m/5007938.article Debenhams buys Danish retailer Magasin du Nord for £12.3m] Drapers, 12 November 2009</ref> In October 2010, the company launched its first iPhone app. The app allows shoppers to shop the online range and barcode scan products in store. <ref>[http://www.debenhams.com/app Debenhams mobile app]</ref> ==Operations== {{Expand section|section|date=October 2010}} As of February 2010, the company has 153 stores (including 13 'Desire by Debenhams' stores)<ref name="about">[http://www.debenhamsplc.com/deb/aboutus/overviews/ Debenhams: About us]</ref> covering 10.373 million square feet of retail space across the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref>[http://www.debenhamsplc.com/deb/media/pressreleases/2008pr/2008-04-15/2008-04-15bput.pdf Debenhams Interim Results page 3]</ref> It also has over 40 franchise stores operating in other countries, including [[Malaysia]] and [[Indonesia]]. Debenhams suffered a significant fall in revenue at the turn of the 1980s due to the [[Early 1980s recession|recession at the time]] and closed several of its less viable stores, including the town centre store in [[Dudley]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], which ceased trading in January 1981. However, the company's fortunes improved with the economic recovery that progressed as the decade wore on, and Debenhams was one of several big retail chains who took advantage of the [[Enterprise Zone]] incentives that were offered by the new [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]] at Dudley in the late 1980s, opening a new store there when the final phase of the centre opened in November 1989.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} ==Stores== Debenhams occupies the most number of sites of any of the traditional department store groups in the UK. The majority of the original trading names of the stores, in each of their respective locations, were replaced with the 'Debenhams' name during the 1970s. All department stores in the group now trade as 'Debenhams' except Browns in Chester. New stores are usually located within wider town and regional shopping centre developments. Stores amalgamated into the group include *Bobbys ([[Bournemouth]], [[Eastbourne]], [[Exeter]], [[Torquay]] etc.) *[[Browns of Chester]] ([[Bangor, Gwynedd|Bangor]], [[Chester]]) *[[Curl Brothers]] ([[Norwich]]) *[[Elliston & Cavell]] ([[Oxford]]) *[[Griffin & Spalding]] ([[Nottingham]]) *[[Handleys]] ([[Southsea]]) *[[Edwin Jones (department store)|Edwin Jones]] ([[Southampton]]) *[[Kennards]] ([[Croydon]]) *[[Marshall & Snelgrove]] ([[Oxford Street, London]]) *[[Pauldens]] ([[Manchester]], [[Sheffield]]) *[[Pendleburys]] ([[Wigan]]) *[[Mathias Robinson]] ([[Leeds]], [[Stockton-on-Tees]]) *[[Spooners]] ([[Plymouth]]) *[[Thornton Varley]] ([[Kingston-upon-Hull]]) *[[Germains]] ([[Kings Lynn]]) *Owen Owen ([[Crawley]]) *[[Lewis's]] ([[Hanley]] in [[Stoke-on-Trent]]) ===New stores=== The first store that opened in 2010 was Newcastle, as part of the [[Eldon Square]] development, opened on 16 February 2010.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} The second Debenhams store to open in 2010 was [[Carmarthen]] as part of the St Catherine's Walk devlopmment. This store opened on 30 April 2010.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Debenhams new Bath store is set to open on 2 September 2010 as part of the town's Southgate Development. In September 2010, Debenhams will open a flagship store as part of the new Southgate Centre in Bath. Bath has been voted one of the best cities in the UK, which according to Rob Templeman, CEO of Debenhams, is a perfect place to open a store.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} The latest Debenhams store to open is in The Rock, the new shopping centre opening in [[Bury, Greater Manchester]]. This store opened on 16 July 2010.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} ==Products== [[File:Newcastle eldon square opening day peter newcastle historian2-300x225-1-.jpg|Debenhams, Newcastle Eldon Square|thumb]] [[File:Debenham's Store, High Street - geograph.org.uk - 250423.jpg|Debenhams, Bangor, north Wales|thumb]] [[File:Castle Court, Belfast, July 2010 (01).JPG|Debenhams, Castle Court, Belfast, Northern ireland|thumb]] [[File:Debenhams, Bristol - DSC05861.JPG|Debenhams, Bristol|thumb]] [[Image:Crypt Chambers 1.jpg|thumb|[[Crypt Chambers]] in Chester houses part of the Browns of Chester store and is a Grade I [[listed building]]]] [[File:Browns entrance.jpg|thumb|Entrance to Browns of Chester, Eastgate Street, Chester]] [[File:Debenhams, Briggate, Leeds.jpg|Debenhams, Briggate, Leeds|thumb]] [[File:Piccadilly Gardens.jpg|thumb|right|Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester (Debenhams store, Market Street, in background)]] The company introduced 'Designers at Debenhams' in 1993 ,<ref>[http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category_10001_10001_125651_-1]</ref> the revolutionary idea put designer names at high street prices, the creation of Belinda Earle and Spencer Hawken the brands include [[Jasper Conran]], [[John Rocha]], Betty Jackson Black, Butterfly by Matthew Williamson, H! by [[Henry Holland]], Star By [[Julien Macdonald]], Frost French, Erickson Beamon, Eric Van Peterson, Janet Reger, Pip Hackett, Melissa Odabash, [[Ted Baker]], St George by Duffer, [[Jeff Banks]] and [[Ben De Lisi]]. The company also sells goods under a number of brand names that it owns in its own right. In 2008 the Company was voted best UK department store by [[GMTV]].<ref>[http://cms.gm.tv/articles/lk-today/lk-today-archive-march-may/ariel-fashion-awards/19848-and-the-winners-are.html GMTV Ariel Fashion Awards]</ref> In October 2010 Debenhams announced the launch of four new designer names to its fashion range; [[Jonathan Saunders]], Preen, Jonathan Kelsey and Roksanda Ilincic, who will be working with the retailer on a fresh new concept called Edition.<ref>[http://blog.debenhams.com/four-new-designers-join-debenhams-for-edition/womens-fashion/ Debenhams blog - Four new designers join Debenhams for ‘Edition’]</ref> ==International stores== ===Africa=== ====Egypt==== *[[Alexandria]] ===Asia=== ====Bahrain==== *[[Manama]] ====Cyprus==== *[[Larnaka]], Zenon *[[Limassol]], Apollon *[[Limassol]], Olympia *[[Nicosia]] *[[Nicosia]], Central *[[Nicosia]], Ledra *[[Nicosia]], The Mall of Cyprus *[[Pafos]], Kinyras *[[Pafos]], Korivos ====India==== *[[Mumbai]], Oberoi Mall *[[Gurgaon]], [[Ambience Mall]] ====Indonesia==== *[[Jakarta]], [[Senayan City]] *[[Tangerang]], Supermal Karawaci ====Iran==== *[[Tehran]]<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3779326/Debenhams-to-open-first-store-in-Iran.html Debenhams 'to open first store in Iran']</ref> *[[Mashhad]] ====Jordan==== * [[Amman]], City Mall ====Kuwait==== *Sharq Mall *[[Kuwait Airport]] *[[The Avenues (Kuwait)|The Avenues Mall]] ====Malaysia==== * [[Mutiara Damansara]], [[The Curve (shopping mall)|The Curve]] * [[Bukit Bintang]], [[Lot 10]] ====Philippines==== *[[Makati City]], [[Glorietta|Glorietta 4]], Rustans Department Store *[[Mandaluyong City]], [[Shangri-la Plaza Mall|Shangri-La Plaza Mall]] *[[Quezon City]], [[TriNoma Mall]] *[[Santa Rosa, Laguna]], [[Paseo de Santa Rosa Mall]] ====Qatar==== *[[Doha]] ====Saudi Arabia==== *[[Dhahran]] *[[Jeddah]] *[[Riyadh]] ====Turkey==== *[[Istanbul]] ====United Arab Emirates==== *[[Abu Dhabi]] *[[Dubai]] *[[Sharjah (city)|Sharjah]] *[[Al-Ain]] ====Vietnam==== *[[Ho Chi Minh City]] ===Europe=== ====Azerbaijan==== *[[Baku]], [[Park Boulevard Shopping Mall]], 1&2 floors ====Czech Republic==== *[[Prague]] ====Iceland==== *[[Kópavogur]], Smáralind (Mall) ====Ireland==== {{Main|Debenhams Ireland}} ====Malta==== * [[Tigné Point]], [[Sliema]]<ref>[http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090713/local/debenhams-launching-malta-recruitment-drive Debenhams launching Malta recruitment drive]</ref> ====Republic of Moldova==== *[[Chişinău]], Shopping Mall Dova [http://shoppingmalldova.md/ro/index.php][http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malldova.JPG] ====Romania==== *[[Bucharest]] *[[Oradea]] *[[Cluj Napoca]] *[[Constanta]] ====Slovakia==== *[[Bratislava]] Eurovea Galleria, Pribinova str. 8, Bratislava. New store will start from 8 May 2010{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.debenhams.com/ Debenhams] *[http://www.debenhamsplc.com/ Debenhams plc] {{FTSE 250 Index constituents}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2010}} {{UK Department stores}} [[Category:Debenhams]] [[Category:Retail companies based in London]] [[Category:Department stores of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]] [[Category:Companies established in 1778]] [[Category:CVC Capital Partners companies]] [[ar:ديبنهامز]] [[da:Debenhams]] [[fr:Debenhams]] [[no:Debenhams]] [[pl:Debenhams]] [[ru:Debenhams]] [[sv:Debenhams]]'