Editing Debenhams (section)

==History==
===18th and 19th centuries===
[[File:Debenham and Freebody Wigmore Street 10.jpg|thumb|left|The former Debenham, Son & Freebody building in Wigmore Street which was completed in 1908]]
The business was formed in 1778 by William Clark, who began trading at 44 Wigmore Street in London as a [[Drapery|drapers]]' store.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Debenhams |url=http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/contentView?filepath=/DebenhamsUKSite/Static/history_debenhams_uk.xml&storeId=10701&langId=-1 |publisher=Debenhams |access-date=14 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026064433/http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/contentView?filepath=/DebenhamsUKSite/Static/history_debenhams_uk.xml&storeId=10701&langId=-1|archive-date=26 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1813, [[William Debenham]] became a partner and the corporate name changed to ''Clark & Debenham''. The shop was later renamed Cavendish House and sold drapery, silks, haberdashery, millinery, hosiery, lace, and family mourning goods. As the trade grew, the partners determined to expand the business by opening branches in Cheltenham and Harrogate.<ref name="housefraserarchive.ac.uk">{{cite web |title=Cavendish House Co Ltd |url=http://www.housefraserarchive.ac.uk/company/?id=c1536 |publisher=House of Fraser Archive |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>

By 1823, Clark & Debenham had opened a small drapery business at 3 Promenade Rooms, Cheltenham, selling a selection of silks, [[muslin]]s, shawls, gloves, lace and [[fancy goods]].<ref name="housefraserarchive.ac.uk"/> In 1837, Clark retired from the business and Debenham took two of his most trusted staff, William Pooley and John Smith, as partners, trading in both London and Cheltenham as Debenham, Pooley & Smith.<ref name="housefraserarchive.ac.uk"/> By 1840, the management of the Cheltenham branch appears to have been given to Clement Freebody, Debenham's brother-in-law. Around 1843, another branch shop was launched in Harrogate.<ref name="housefraserarchive.ac.uk"/>

Extended and refurbished premises opened in Cheltenham in October 1844. Pooley and Smith retired from the business in 1851 when Debenham took his son, William, and Clement Freebody into partnership, trading as Debenham, Son & Freebody. At this time all three shops in London, Cheltenham, and Harrogate were trading in similar goods and issued a joint catalogue, called the Fashion Book, that was the basis of an extensive mail-order trade. In 1876 when Freebody retired, a new partnership, Debenham & Hewitt, was formed. George Hewitt appears to have worked at the Cheltenham store as a draper's assistant during the early 1860s but details of his subsequent career are not known. By 1883, George Hewitt was the sole owner of the Cheltenham business, Frank and William Debenham having withdrawn to manage the London store as a separate concern.<ref name="housefraserarchive.ac.uk"/>

===20th century===
[[File:Crypt Chambers 1.jpg|thumb|[[Crypt Chambers]] in Chester houses part of the Browns of Chester store and is a Grade&nbsp;I [[listed building]].]]
The business was incorporated as ''Debenhams Limited'' in 1905.<ref>{{cite web|title=Business History of Department Stores: Interesting Dates |url=http://www.kipnotes.com/RetailDepartmentStores.htm |publisher=KIPnotes |date=1 October 2008 |access-date=22 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226213520/http://www.kipnotes.com/RetailDepartmentStores.htm |archive-date=26 December 2009}}</ref> A new headquarters building, which was designed by William Wallace and [[James Glen Sivewright Gibson]]<ref>{{cite web |title=South-East Marylebone Old and New |url=https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/survey-of-london/tag/debenham-and-freebody/ |publisher=Survey of London |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> and built by [[Trollope & Colls]], was completed in Wigmore Street in 1908.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=074-btrl&cid=0#0 |title=Trollope & Colls |publisher= National Archives |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> Debenhams at this time did not operate any other department stores, but did supply to others across the country via its wholesale business. It was because of the debts owed to them through their wholesaling deals that they acquired control over [[Marshall & Snelgrove]] at [[Oxford Street]] and [[Harvey Nichols]] in [[Knightsbridge]] both in London in 1919.<ref Name=hatry>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wwWQDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22drapery+trust%22&pg=PT92|title=Share Trading, Fraud and the Crash of 1929 A Biography of Clarence Hatry|author=Swinson. C|date=2019|publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780429648922}}</ref> The business at this time was run by [[Ernest Debenham]] and his close friend Frederick Oliver. In 1926, Oliver retired, and upon the advice of the Whitehall Trust, Debenhams Securities was formed to buy Oliver's share in the business, with Ernest Debenham as chair and being joined by Frederick Richmond and Maurice Wright.<ref name=hatry/>

However, during the mid-1920s, several new investment groups were created and started buying up regional drapers and department stores. [[Clarence Hatry]] had created the [[Drapery Trust]] in 1925, while [[Charterhouse Bank]]'s company, Charterhouse Investments Trust (under [[Sir Arthur Wheeler, 1st Baronet]]), had created [[United Drapery Stores]] in 1927, and [[Selfridge Provincial Stores]] was created by [[James White (financier)|James White]] and [[Gordon Selfridge]] in 1926.<ref name=hatry/> These were seen to be a threat to Debenhams' wholesale business, as the company would lose sales to these new combined groups. Frederick Richmond and Maurice Wright thought it was too late to start creating a provincial group, so started negotiations with Clarence Hatry in 1927 to purchase the Drapery Trust. By November the deal was agreed for £2,350,000, mostly funded through Hatry's company Austin Friars Trust purchasing £1,600,000 of Debenhams shares.<ref name=hatry/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZlUtAAAAMAAJ&q=%22drapery+trust%22+purchases|title=Fine Silks and Oak Counters Debenhams 1778-1978|author=Corina. M|date=1978|isbn=9780091349103|page=101|publisher=Hutchinson }}</ref>

As part of the deal, Ernest Debenham was forced out of the business, along with his son Peter. In a letter to ''The Times'', Ernest wrote

{{blockquote|''A month ago I had no intention of retiring from the management of Debenhams Securities. Indeed, I had every reason to hope that the connection of myself and my family with that business would be indefinitely prolonged. When the offer was made to purchase all or any of the ordinary shares in Debenhams Securities, circumstances of no interest to the general investing public compelled me to accept the offer.''<ref>''The Times'', 8 December 1927, p. 25</ref>}}

The new enlarged company was offered to the public in February 1928, with the release of 2 million preference shares through merchant bank M. Samuel & Co,<ref name=hatry/> with the company being first listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] later that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/28th-july-1928/32/drapery-profits|title=Drapery profits|publisher=The Spectator|date=27 July 1928|access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> In 1929, as part of his fraudulent plan to raise the cash for his deal to purchase United Steel, Hatry forged £478,100 of shares in the Drapery Trust, but by September 1929 he had confessed to his crimes.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UVycBQAAQBAJ&dq=%22drapery+trust%22+purchases&pg=PT66|title=Rogue Banking. A History of Financial Fraud in Interwar Britain|author=Hollow. M|date=2014|publisher=Springer |isbn=9781137360540}}</ref> The connection of Clarence Hatry to Debenhams plunged the company into a crisis once his finances started to unravel, in addition to the Drapery Trust dividend collapsing and its export business diving due to the economy. Maurice Wright completed a rewriting of the capital in 1934,  and merged the three operations, Debenhams, Debenhams Securities and Drapery Trust, slashing the company's issued capital from £15,100,000 to £6,000,000. Wright would later be made Managing Director, before becoming Chairman in 1948.<ref name=priest>{{cite book |last1=Matthews |first1=Derek |last2=Anderson |first2=Malcolm |last3=Edwards |first3=John Richard |title=The Priesthood of Industry. The Rise of the Professional Accountant in British Management |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=1998 |page=174 |isbn=9780198289609}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Jervis |first=F.R.J. |title=The Economics of Mergers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cW1MAAAAMAAJ&q=%22drapery+trust%22 |publisher=Routledge and K. Paul |date=1971 |page=68 |isbn=9780710070883}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jvuWvOahe8UC&q=%22drapery+trust%22|title=Debenhams Securities|journal=The Statist|volume=120|date=1932|page=608}}</ref>

During the 1930s and 1940s the company continued to expand, becoming the biggest department store company in the country by 1948,<ref name=priest/> with the stores retaining their original names until a reorganisation in the 1970s. In 1944 the company announced a post-tax profit of £249,605.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Y0gAQAAMAAJ&q=%22selincourt+%26+sons%22|title=The Financial Review of Reviews|date=1944|page=6}}</ref> An example of these acquisitions was the purchase of the Norwich stores of [[Buntings (department store)|Buntings]] and Chamberlains in 1949, leading to them controlling four of the city's department stores.<ref>{{cite book|title=Debenhams|publisher=Leathergoods|volume=66|date=1949|page=74}}</ref> During 1957, the company purchased the ladies fashion store, Cresta, from [[W. Garfield Weston]]'s Howardsgate Holdings.<ref name=cresta>{{cite web|url=https://www.welwyngarden-heritage.org/history/follow-the-silk-trail-around-wgc-the-history-of-cresta-silks|title=Follow the silk trail around WGC - the history of Cresta Silks|website=WGC Heritage Trust|date=31 August 2022}}</ref> In 1959 the business failed in a takeover of rival department store group [[Harrods]], rivalling [[United Drapery Stores]] and eventual winner [[House of Fraser]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gMvGAAAAMAAJ&q=%22united+drapery+stores%22|title=Agenda: Co-operative Management Magazine|volume=9-10|author=Co-operative Press|date=1961|page=72}}</ref>

The company closed several branches in 1970, with Birmingham (Marshall & Snelgrove, formerly Warwick House), Manchester (Marshall & Snelgrove in St Annes Place), Sheffield (Marshall & Snelgrove, Leopold Street) and Southsea (Plummers, Palmerston Road) properties being sold by auction.<ref>{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DplHAQAAIAAJ&q=%22plummers%22+department+store|title=Debenhams Department Stores for Auction|periodical=The Estates Gazette|volume=214|date=1970|page=84}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/e90660df-e62f-4934-889e-2baa1f2ea5de|title=Marshall & Snelgrove, St. Ann's Place, Manchester 2 to Mrs Jennison, Berwick Lodge|website=The National Archives|access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref> In 1972, [[United Drapery Stores]] made an offer to purchase Debenhams, along with interest from [[Sears plc]] and [[Tesco]], but were fought off by chairman Sir Anthony Burney.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PdzTBwAAQBAJ&dq=%22united+drapery+stores%22&pg=PA66|title=Welfare aspects of industrial markets|author=A.P. Jacquemin, H.W. de Jong|date=2012|page=66|publisher=Springer |isbn=9781461342311}}</ref> The company entered the superstore revolution by opening two Scan Superstores, which sold an assortment of Debenhams normal products in a supermarket like environment.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Debenhams plc|magazine=Retail Business|issue=197–202|page=27|date=1974}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YzxPAAAAMAAJ&q=%22fine+fare%22+tesco|title=Design and Planning of Retail Systems|author=David Gosling, Barry Maitland|date=1976|publisher=Architectural Press |isbn=9780851391427}}</ref> In 1976 the company acquired [[Browns of Chester]]. It remained the only one of the company's UK stores to have retained an individual identity until all stores closed in 2021.<ref name="history">{{cite web| url=http://www.debenhamsplc.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=196805&p=history| title=History| publisher=Debenhams| access-date=22 February 2012}}</ref> The business diversified during the 1970s buying South East based supermarket group [[Cater Brothers]] in 1972, after the death of its chairman Leslie Cater. Using the new purchasing power Debenhams modernised its 40 food halls within its stores, branding them Cater's Food Halls, and opened two new Cater superstores. However the business declined in the intense marketplace and in 1979 the chain was sold to [[Allied Suppliers]] who converted the Cater stores into their [[Presto (UK Supermarket)|Presto]] format.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ferdinando.org.uk/cater_brothers.htm|title=Cater Brothers|access-date=17 April 2015}}</ref> Debenham's other experiment into the superstore market, the two Scan Superstores were sold to [[Tesco]] in February 1978.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rt96wAigg2oC&dq=debenhams+%22Scan+superstores%22&pg=PA213|title=Retailing Critical Concepts. Retail practices and operations|author=A. M. Findlay|date=2002|page=213|publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-415-08722-3 }}</ref> Other diversifications included Greens Cameras & High-Fi and New Dimension, a home furniture and furnishing business.<ref name=rdgb79>{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ItCRAAAAIAAJ&q=%22plummers%22+department+store|title=Debenhams|periodical=Retail Trade Developments in Great Britain|date=1979|isbn=9780566021527|page=175}}</ref> The company continued to open new stores, with [[Mansfield]], [[Stirling]] and [[Eltham]] being opened in 1977.<ref name=rdgb79/> The company at times struggled in the 1970s, with a former chief executive stating it had

{{blockquote|''too much selling space and too little talent to fill it''<ref name=RLE>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9aWiH4UPT8C&dq=%22debenhams%22+merger+1970s&pg=PA297|title=Retail and Marketing Channels (RLE Retailing and Distribution)|author=Luca Pellegrini, Srinivas K. Reddy|date=2012|isbn=9780415540391|page=297|publisher=Routledge }}</ref>}}

The company closed its ladies clothing chain Cresta in 1980, selling 27 of the stores to [[Irvine Sellar]]'s fashion group, which also purchased the York store which was rebranded as Marshalls by Sellars. This followed on from the £1.7 million sale of Greens Photography and Hifi to Dixons in late 1979.<ref name=cresta/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/FinancialTimes1980UKEnglish/Apr%2002%201980%2C%20Financial%20Times%2C%20%2328134%2C%20UK%20%28en%29/page/n23/mode/1up?q=%22caters+supermarkets%22|title=Debenhams sells 27 shops to Sellars|newspaper=Financial Times|date=2 April 1980|page=24}}</ref>
Debenhams was targeted three times during the 1980s by the [[Animal Liberation Front]] in protest at the sale of [[Fur clothing|animal furs]] in stores. Stores in [[Romford]], [[Luton]], and [[Harrow, London|Harrow]] were fire-bombed by members, the worst attack being on the Luton store. As a result, the company stopped selling clothes with animal furs.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |title=Undercover policeman 'fire-bombed shop,' MPs told |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18423441 |newspaper=BBC News |date=13 June 2012 |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref> It was alleged by Caroline Lucas MP in a debate in [[Westminster Hall]] that [[Bob Lambert (academic)|Bob Lambert]], a then undercover police officer, planted the fire bomb that caused £340,000 worth of damage to the Harrow branch of Debenhams in 1987. It is unclear if anything has come of these allegations as of March 2014.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite news |title=MP Caroline Lucas names undercover officer as shop fire bomber |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18426368 |newspaper=BBC News |date=13 June 2012 |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Undercover cop alleged to have fire-bombed Debenhams for ALF |url=http://www.constabulary.org.uk/2012/06/13/undercover-cop-alleged-to-have-fire-bombed-debenhams-for-alf/ |newspaper=Constabulary |date=13 June 2012 |access-date=10 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310124808/http://www.constabulary.org.uk/2012/06/13/undercover-cop-alleged-to-have-fire-bombed-debenhams-for-alf/ |archive-date=10 March 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Caroline Lucas Exposes Allegations Ex-Undercover Cop Bob Lambert Firebombed Debenhams London Store |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/06/13/caroline-lucas-undercover-policeman-bob-lambert-firebombing_n_1592661.html?view=print |newspaper=The Huffington Post |date=13 June 2012 |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref>

In 1985 the company was acquired by the [[Burton Group]].<ref name="history"/> At the time of the takeover deal, Burtons claimed,

{{blockquote|''We will end, however,  Debenhams' hotch potch of shops-in-shops with conflicting marketing images and the confusing merchandising and floor layouts''<ref name=RLE/>}}

Following the closure of the store in [[Dudley]] in January 1981 and the Birmingham store in 1983, the company's only store in the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] for the next six years was a town centre store in [[Walsall]]. On 4 November 1989, it opened a store at the [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]] in [[Brierley Hill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/408984/UK-REGIONAL-FOCUS---ROBIN-HOODS-MERRY-HILL|title=The Robin Hoods of Merry Hill|publisher=Management Today|date=1 November 1991|access-date=7 October 2014}}</ref>

Debenhams entered [[Ireland]] as the anchor store at the [[Jervis Shopping Centre]] in [[Dublin]] in 1996,<ref>{{cite web|author=Siobhan Creaton |url=https://irishtimes.com/business/uk-outlets-in-a-rush-to-set-up-shop-1.119276 |title=UK outlets in a rush to set up shop |publisher=Irishtimes.com |date=27 December 1996 |accessdate=9 April 2020}}</ref> and then established a second anchor store at [[Mahon Point Shopping Centre]] in [[Cork (city)|Cork]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/230m-mahon-point-centre-opens-in-cork-1.411407 |title=€230m Mahon Point centre opens in Cork |publisher=Irishtimes.com |date=2 February 2005 |accessdate=9 April 2020}}</ref>

Debenhams demerged from the Burton Group in January 1998 and was once again listed as a separate company on the London Stock Exchange.<ref>{{cite news |title=New look for Debenhams |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/84099.stm |newspaper=BBC News |date=27 April 1998 |access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref> It expanded under the leadership of [[Belinda Earl]] who was appointed [[CEO]] in 2000.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news| title=The Queen of Retail makes a dull brand shine| url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/dec/15/retail| author=Jane Martinson| work=The Guardian| date=14 December 2006| access-date=22 February 2012}}</ref>

===21st century===
[[File:Debenhams store, arc shopping development - geograph.org.uk - 1554861.jpg|thumb|Debenhams in [[Bury St Edmunds]]]]
Debenhams opened its largest British store on 4 September 2003, at the new [[Bull Ring, Birmingham|Bull Ring]] shopping centre in [[Birmingham]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite news| title=Bullring opens its doors| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3079634.stm| publisher=BBC News Online| date=4 September 2003| access-date=22 February 2012}}</ref>  The new store contained 19,230 sq&nbsp;m and opened 20&nbsp;years after the company closed its Birmingham city centre store due to declining trade.<ref name="bullring">{{cite web|title=Bullring Information Pack |publisher=Bullring Alliance |year=2003 |access-date=22 February 2012 |url=http://www.bullring.co.uk/Comgenic.Manager.Images/Educationpack.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319220720/http://www.bullring.co.uk/Comgenic.Manager.Images/Educationpack.pdf |archive-date=19 March 2012 }}</ref> A private consortium named Baroness Retail Limited, comprising [[CVC Capital Partners]], [[Texas Pacific Group]], [[Merrill Lynch|Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity]] and management,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4972442.stm |title=Debenhams shares rise on listing |work=BBC News |date=4 May 2006 |access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref> acquired the company in November 2003 <ref>{{cite news |title=Debenhams backs Baroness takeover |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3258013.stm |newspaper=BBC News |date=10 November 2003 |access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref> in a [[leveraged buyout]], for which the consortium only provided £600m of equity and added £1.2bn in debt. According to ''[[The Financial Times]]'',<ref name="www.ft.com">{{cite news |title=Online retailers are playing a risky game with the UK high street |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7194a1de-da9e-46b7-af06-a80d0a2cb9a1 |work=www.ft.com |date=25 January 2021}}</ref> the consortium "then extracted more than £1bn via property sale and leaseback agreements",<ref name="www.ft.com"/> before returning the business to a listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2006.<ref name="www.ft.com"/>

On 8 August 2006, it was announced that Debenhams would buy the leaseholds of nine of the 11 [[Roches Stores]] department stores in Ireland for €29&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Debenhams beefs up Irish presence |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5256558.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=8 August 2006 |accessdate=12 August 2013}}</ref> Under the deal, the stores, including those in [[St. Patrick's Street]] in Cork and Henry Street in Dublin would be rebranded as Debenhams stores. The Roche family retained the ownership of the stores, and Debenhams became the new tenants.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fears for jobs at Roches Stores in Cork |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2006/1002/80981-roches/ |publisher=RTÉ News |date=26 January 2007 |accessdate=12 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/roches-sells-retail-arm-for-29m-10341.html|title=Roches sells retail arm for €29m|date=8 September 2006|website=www.irishexaminer.com}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[File:Oxford Street - Debenhams.jpg|thumb|left|Debenhams' flagship store in Oxford Street, London, England, during 2005 Christmas]]
The company purchased the brand name and stock of [[Principles (retailer)|Principles]] in March 2009 after the business entered administration. Principles operated concessions within 121 Debenhams stores, and was subsequently relaunched by [[Ben de Lisi]] as part of the Designers at Debenhams range.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fashion chain Principles to close 66 stores and axe majority of staff |author=Alastair Jamieson |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/recession/4953599/Fashion-chain-Principles-to-close-66-stores-and-axe-majority-of-staff.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/recession/4953599/Fashion-chain-Principles-to-close-66-stores-and-axe-majority-of-staff.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=7 March 2009 |access-date=5 October 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In November 2009, Debenhams acquired the Danish department store group Magasin Du Nord for £12.3 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Debenhams steps into mainland Europe |author=Ester Bintliff |work=[[Financial Times]] |date=12 November 2009 |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/89b81a02-cfab-11de-a36d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2bnQ9jII5 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210221248/https://www.ft.com/content/89b81a02-cfab-11de-a36d-00144feabdc0#axzz2bnQ9jII5 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=12 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The company operates six stores in Denmark under the Magasin brand.<ref name=About>{{cite web |url=http://presscentre.debenhams.com/About-Us/About-Debenhams-7a.aspx |title=About Debenhams |year=2013 |publisher=Debenhams |access-date=15 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119095158/http://presscentre.debenhams.com/About-Us/About-Debenhams-7a.aspx |archive-date=19 January 2013 }}</ref>

In July 2010 Debenhams purchased the 115 [[Faith (shoe retailer)|Faith]] concessions trading within its stores, after Faith entered administration.<ref>{{cite news |title=Debenhams has faith in shoe chain |author=Rosie Baker |url=http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/debenhams-has-faith-in-shoe-chain/3015382.article |newspaper=Marketing Week |date=2 July 2010 |access-date=5 October 2012}}</ref> In April 2012 the company announced it would be building 14 new stores, and was in negotiations over a further 25 sites in the UK.<ref>{{cite news |title=Debenhams profit edges higher in 'difficult' trading |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17766493 |newspaper=BBC News Online |date=19 April 2012 |access-date=7 October 2012}}</ref> Debenhams agreed to become the anchor store at the [[New Riverside, Shrewsbury|Riverside shopping centre]] in Shrewsbury.<ref>{{cite news |title=Debenhams to be Shrewsbury shopping centre 'anchor tenant' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-17771893 |newspaper=BBC News Online |date=19 April 2012 |access-date=7 October 2012}}</ref> By September 2012, the company announced that like-for-like sales had risen by 3.3% in the six months up to that date.<ref>{{cite news |title=Debenhams sales rise as profits 'set to grow' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19632791 |newspaper=BBC News Online |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=7 October 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Debenhams - viewed from Leeds Road (geograph 4882310).jpg|thumb|right|Debenhams, [[Bradford]].]]
Debenhams moved to a new headquarters in 2013, in Brock Street, London built by [[British Land]]. The company leased {{convert|174500|sqft|m2|lk=in|sigfig=2}} of office space from British Land for 25 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishland.com/media/news/2012/01-05-2012.aspx |title=Debenhams to Take Additional Space at British Land's Regent's Place |date=1 May 2012 |publisher=British Land |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> The company began a refurbishment of its flagship store in Oxford Street, London in 2013, which involved the installation of 180,000 aluminium tiles on the exterior of the building that appears to ripple with the wind. An existing floor was also converted to become a trading floor. The total cost of the refurbishment was in the region of £40 million, of which Debenhams contributed £25 million. The owner of the building, British Land, also contributed towards the cost.<ref>{{cite news |title=Debenhams to dazzle Oxford Street with 180,000 shiny tiles |author=Jonathan Prynn |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/debenhams-to-dazzle-oxford-street-with-180000-shiny-tiles-8653442.html |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=11 June 2013 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> The refurbishment was due to be completed by February 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishland.com/media/news/2013/11-06-2013.aspx |title=British Land Unveils Revolutionary Facelift for Debenhams Oxford Street Flagship |date=11 June 2013 |publisher=British Land |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref>

The company's trading statement for the 17 weeks up to 28 December 2013 was released on 31 December 2013, and revealed a reduction in pre-tax profit from £115 million to £85 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 December 2013 |title=Debenhams warns on Christmas sales |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25559780 |newspaper=BBC News |access-date=2 January 2014}}</ref> On 2 January 2014, the company's chief financial officer Simon Herrick resigned, following criticism of his financial decisions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Titcomb |first=James |date=2 January 2014 |title=Debenhams finance boss quits days after major profit warning |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10546564/Debenhams-finance-boss-quits-days-after-major-profit-warning.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10546564/Debenhams-finance-boss-quits-days-after-major-profit-warning.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Telegraph |access-date=2 January 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 13 January 2014 4.6% of Debenhams shares were bought by [[Sports Direct]], the retailer run by [[Mike Ashley (businessman)|Mike Ashley]]. The stock market purchase of 56.8 million shares (worth around £46m) was made without the prior knowledge of the Debenhams board. Sports Direct stated at the time it intends to be a supportive share holder. The Debenhams board responded by stating they are open-minded with regard to exploring operational opportunities to improve its performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25709718|title= Sports Direct buys 4.6% Debenhams stake|publisher= BBC |date=13 January 2014|access-date=13 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1194228/sports-direct-nets-5-percent-stake-in-debenhams|title=Sports Direct nets 5% stake in Debenhams|publisher=Sky News |date=13 January 2014|access-date=13 January 2014}}</ref> Sports Direct sold its shares on 16 January 2014, although they took out an option to buy further shares up to a total of 6.6%.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 January 2014 |title=Sports Direct takes option on Debenhams stake |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25755832 |newspaper=BBC News |access-date=16 January 2014}}</ref> In August 2017, it emerged that Ashley had secured 21% of the shares which gave him over 10% of voting rights in the company.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/08/22/mike-ashley-increases-debenhams-stake-20pc/ "Mike Ashley increases Debenhams stake to more than 20pc"], ''The Telegraph'', 22 August 2017, accessed 19 November 2017.</ref>
[[File:Swindon debenhams.jpg|thumb|Debenhams, [[Swindon]]]]
During 2017 Debenhams opened two new stores, one in [[Stevenage]] and one in [[Wolverhampton]]. The 80,000 sq ft Stevenage store was opened on 24 August 2017 at Roaring Meg Retail and Leisure Park by Celebrity fashion designer Julien MacDonald and local hero Jean Robinson, who had won a competition for the privilege. The store was the first to be designed under the vision of CEO [[Sergio Bucher]], with a new layout and format with the emphasis on encouraging people to stay longer.<ref>{{cite web |author=JP Asher |url=http://www.thecomet.net/news/stevenage-debenhams-opens-as-glamour-king-julien-macdonald-and-community-hero-jean-robinson-cut-the-ribbon-1-5162975 |title=Stevenage Debenhams opens as glamour king Julien Macdonald and community hero Jean Robinson cut the ribbon &#124; Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth, Biggleswade News |publisher=The Comet |date=24 August 2017 |access-date=23 May 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916164424/http://www.thecomet.net/news/stevenage-debenhams-opens-as-glamour-king-julien-macdonald-and-community-hero-jean-robinson-cut-the-ribbon-1-5162975 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The second store to open during 2017 was the new 93,000 sq ft store at [[Wolverhampton]]'s [[Mander Centre]]. The store was opened on 12 October 2017 as part of the centre's £35 million refurbishments, it was also Debenhams' first store in Wolverhampton. It was only the second to feature the new layout previously only seen in the Stevenage store, and only the second to feature the company's new deli-restaurant format Loaf & Bloom, only previously seen at Milton Keynes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2017/10/12/live-debenhams-opens-in-wolverhampton/ |date=13 October 2017|title= Debenhams Wolverhampton: Thousands flock to opening of new city store|publisher=Express and Star|access-date=24 May 2018}}</ref>

In February 2018, the company announced a reduction of up to 320 store management roles across the business by the end of March.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chapman|first1=Ben|title=Debenhams to slash up to 320 store management jobs in cost-cutting drive|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/debenhams-job-losses-store-management-jobs-cut-costs-profits-sales-a8200151.html|access-date=2 March 2018|work=The Independent|date=8 February 2018}}</ref> Sports Direct increased its holding in the company to 29.7% on 2 March, just below the level whereby it would be required to submit a formal takeover approach.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Megaw|first1=Nicholas|title=Sports Direct lifts Debenhams stake to almost 30%|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2888bd78-1e1b-11e8-aaca-4574d7dabfb6 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/2888bd78-1e1b-11e8-aaca-4574d7dabfb6 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2 March 2018|work=Financial Times|date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

====Financial difficulties====
After media speculation about Debenhams' survival,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/video/debenhams-faces-500m-loss-11534721 |title=The 'perfect storm' facing Debenhams |publisher=Sky News |date=25 October 2018 |access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref> in 2018 the company announced the largest loss in its history, a pre-tax loss of £491 million,<ref name=prelims/> and the closure of up to 50 stores with the potential loss of 4,000 jobs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/debenhams-to-shut-up-to-50-stores-as-4000-staff-face-redundancy-37457040.html|title=Debenhams to shut up to 50 stores as 4,000 staff face redundancy|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph|publisher=Belfast Telegraph|date=25 October 2018|access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref>

On 9 April 2019, the company announced that they had gone into [[Pre-packaged insolvency|pre-pack]] [[Administration (law)|administration]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/09/debenhams-is-taken-over-by-lenders-mike-ashley-loses-sta|title=Debenhams is taken over by lenders as Mike Ashley loses £150m stake|last=Butler|first=Sarah|date=9 April 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=9 April 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On 26 April 2019, the company announced that in addition to rent reductions on all except 39 stores, 22 stores would close after Christmas 2019. This included the recently opened Wolverhampton store plus [[Altrincham]], Ashford, Birmingham Fort, [[Canterbury]], Chatham, [[Eastbourne]], [[Folkestone]], Great Yarmouth, [[Guildford]], [[Kirkcaldy]], [[Orpington]], [[Slough]], Southport, Southsea, Staines, [[Stockton-on-Tees]], [[Walton-on-Thames]], [[Wandsworth]], [[Welwyn Garden City]], Wimbledon and Witney.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48063604|title=Debenhams names 22 stores to close|date=26 April 2019|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

On 6 April 2020, Debenhams confirmed it had filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rodger |first1=James |title=Debenhams on brink of collapse with 22,000 jobs at risk |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/debenhams-brink-collapse-22000-jobs-18048979 |website=birminghammail |date=6 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=Debenhams prepares to file for bankruptcy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/03/debenhams-prepares-to-file-for-bankruptcy-coronavirus |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=3 April 2020}}</ref> CEO Stefaan Vansteenkiste said it was due to "unprecedented" circumstances caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19]] lockdown and was to "protect [the] business, ... employees, and other important stakeholders".<ref>{{cite web |title=Coronavirus: Debenhams to file for administration |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52182199 |website=[[BBC]] |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=6 April 2020}}</ref> On 9 April 2020, the company went into administration.<ref name="Sky20200309" />

On 9 April 2020, Debenhams confirmed it planned to close 11 stores in Ireland with immediate effect.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0409/1129586-debenhams-pulling-out-of-ireland/ |title=Debenhams to put Irish operations into liquidation |date=9 April 2020 |publisher=Rte.ie |access-date=9 April 2020|last1=Goodbody |first1=Will }}</ref>

In April 2020, Debenhams closed seven UK stores and was set to close five more when Coronavirus restrictions were lifted.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Debenhams stores closing: full list of store closures with five branches shuttin|url=https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/shopping/debehams-stores-closing-list-store-closures-branches-uk-coronavirus-lockdown-end-2846168|website=inews.co.uk|language=en|access-date=11 May 2020}}</ref> This included the Croydon store that anchored the [[Centrale (Croydon)|Centrale]] shopping mall (previously the Drummond Centre) that Debenhams had acquired when they took over the Kennards chain of stores, bringing to a close a trading period of more than 150 years from that site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/croydon-debenhams-replaced-next-beauty-18214110|title=Croydon Debenham's to be replaced by Next Beauty Hall store|publisher=My London|date=7 May 2020|access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref>

In July 2020, Debenhams was set to abandon its property in [[Princes Street]] in Edinburgh, which it leased from [[Legal & General]], in order to make room for a £50m hotel.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 July 2020|title=£50m hotel to replace Debenhams in Princes St|url=https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2020/07/50m-hotel-to-replace-debenhams-in-princes-st/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=dailybusinessgroup}}</ref> In the same month, Debenhams put itself up for sale to prevent it going into liquidation, hoping to find a buyer by September.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jul/26/debenhams-up-for-sale-in-last-ditch-bid-to-avoid-liquidation|title=Debenhams up for sale in last-ditch bid to avoid liquidation|work=The Guardian|date=26 July 2020|access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> In August 2020, the company announced it was cutting 2,500 job positions as a result of the economic effects of the pandemic. The job cuts affected store management positions; sales managers, visual merchandise managers, and selling support managers were set to be axed. According to the company, "The trading environment is clearly a long way from returning to normal. Such difficult decisions are being taken by many retailers right now, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to give Debenhams every chance of a viable future."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/aef36183-096a-4cc6-922f-d5add8776026 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/aef36183-096a-4cc6-922f-d5add8776026 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= Debenhams to cut another 2,500 jobs |work=Financial Times|last=Eley|first=Jonathan|date=11 August 2020|access-date=11 August 2020}}</ref> In September 2020, Debenhams put its seven store Danish chain, Magasin du Nord, up for sale.<ref name="RG-12Sep2020">{{cite news |last1=Jahshan |first1=Elias |title=Debenhams puts its Magasin du Nord business up for sale |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/09/debenhams-puts-its-magasin-du-nord-business-up-for-sale/ |access-date=1 December 2020 |work=Retail Gazette |date=12 September 2020}}</ref> Magasin Du Nord was later sold to German department store [[Peek & Cloppenburg]] for £120 million.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Eley|first=Jonathan|date=17 November 2021|title=Hedge funds secure bulk of £300m recovered from Debenhams|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3c02899f-1d86-481f-9a31-63d10c4c71bc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/3c02899f-1d86-481f-9a31-63d10c4c71bc |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref>

On 1 December 2020, after the collapse of talks with [[Arcadia Group|Arcadia]] (which went into administration the previous day)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55139369|title=Topshop owner Arcadia goes into administration|publisher=BBC|date=30 November 2020|access-date=1 December 2020}}</ref> and [[JD Sports]] over a potential rescue,<ref name=BBCJD/> Debenhams announced it was going into [[liquidation]], putting 12,000 jobs in 124 UK stores at risk unless the administrators could find buyers for all or parts of the business.<ref name=":0" /> With the company in administration and on the verge of liquidation, on 6 December 2020, [[Mike Ashley (businessman)|Mike Ashley]]'s [[Frasers Group]] was reported to be in talks to acquire Debenhams,<ref name="Fildes-06Dec2020">{{cite news |last1=Fildes |first1=Nic |title=Mike Ashley makes eleventh-hour play for Debenhams |url=https://www.ft.com/content/53ee5f14-a4e6-42d4-8d8f-3d37b8f5a290 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/53ee5f14-a4e6-42d4-8d8f-3d37b8f5a290 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=9 December 2020 |work=Financial Times |date=6 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nazir |first1=Sahar |title=How can Mike Ashley's Frasers Group revive Debenhams? - Retail Gazette |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/12/how-can-mike-ashley-frasers-group-revive-debenhams/ |website=Retail Gazette |access-date=9 December 2020 |date=8 December 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kollewe|first=Julia|date=7 December 2020|title=Mike Ashley's Frasers Group in talks to buy collapsed Debenhams|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/07/mike-ashley-frasers-group-buy-debenhams-ted-baker|access-date=9 December 2020}}</ref> though it was later reported that Ashley was mainly interested in using empty Debenhams stores to expand his other chains, including House of Fraser, Sports Direct and Flannels; taking 'vacant possession' would avoid redundancy costs for existing staff.<ref name="Ava-21Dec2020">{{cite news |last1=Szajna-Hopgood |first1=Ava |title=Debenhams gift cards expire as Mike Ashley considers empty stores |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/12/debenhams-gift-cards-expire-as-mike-ashley-considers-empty-stores/ |access-date=21 December 2020 |work=Retail Gazette |date=21 December 2020}}</ref>

On 13 January 2021, Debenhams announced it would permanently shut six stores in [[England]] due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19]] lockdown. They included the flagship [[Oxford Street]] store in [[London]], plus those in [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]], [[Staines]], [[Harrogate]] and [[Portsmouth]]; the move involved 320 job losses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/13/debenhams-shut-six-stores-including-oxford-street-flagship-london|title=Debenhams to shut six stores including Oxford Street flagship|access-date=13 January 2021|website=The Guardian|date=13 January 2021}}</ref>

On 25 January 2021, it was announced that [[Boohoo.com|Boohoo]] had bought the Debenhams brand and website for £55m, but did not retain any of the remaining 118 stores, meaning the loss of up to 12,000 jobs.<ref>{{Cite news|date=25 January 2021|title=Boohoo buys Debenhams brand and website for £55m|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55793411|access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> Boohoo relaunched the website as [[Debenhams.com]] in April that year. On 5 May 2021, the liquidator announced that all remaining UK stores would close on 15 May 2021, marking the end of Debenhams as a department store retailer in the UK after 243 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/britains-debenhams-close-last-stores-by-may-15-2021-05-05/|title=After 242 years it's goodbye, last Debenhams to close on May 15|date=5 May 2021|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref> Despite the closure in the UK, Debenhams in Middle East countries remained unaffected and continues its operations as of June 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haine |first=Alice |date=1 December 2020 |title=What the UK demise of Debenhams means for stores in the UAE |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/what-the-uk-demise-of-debenhams-means-for-stores-in-the-uae-1.1121231 |access-date=21 July 2023 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.alshaya.com/en/brands/fashion-footwear/debenhams/|title= Debenhams|publisher=Alshaya}}</ref>