Debenhams has gone bust. Will you miss it?

I used to like Debenhams a lot. About five years ago some bright spark decided that the Debenhams stores should be re-vamped.

Having spent millions of pounds, thought the the one in Oxford Street ended up looking cheap and nasty when previously it had been a very pleasant department store. Presumably the same thing happened to other stores. What a total waste of money, which no doubt contributed to their demise.

I never found much for myself, clothes wise, but DH bought jeans, shirts, jumpers, trousers, often reduced, and good quality.

Will miss it on his behalf.

Thank you for supplying a link kittylester I was busy charging up my iPad! It’s been playing up. Apologies to you humptydumpty for not being able to supply the link earlier.

Mike Ashley wanted to move everything to online ordering and store closures which Debenhams managers didn't want but I bet they're kicking themselves now.

I wish all employees the best in finding a new job.

I don’t think the closure was just down to Covid. These big stores must cost a fortune in rent, rates and running costs.

I quite often shop in Debenhams. They have two branches near me and would have to go to Oxford Street for John Lewis. One branch is still open. I wonder when it will close.
I had a John Lewis at Home branch near but that closed since lockdown. I wonder how many other shops will go.

My dil worked for Debenhams and was told several weeks ago that she was being made redundant

kittylester

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-debenhams-owners-draw-up-plan-for-department-store-chains-liquidation-12049794

A link

Thanks for the link @kittylester.

But everyone, please read the article, not just the headline. They've not gone bust. Admittedly, it doesn't look particularly rosy for them but writing them off prematurely won't help.....

I'm really sorry for those that have lost their jobs. I won't miss them! The writing was on the wall before the lockdown I occasionally went to branches of the store in a couple of nearby towns, I'm lucky John Lewis is my nearest store and they dominate retail in my local town. Debenhams always struck me as very badly run and everything was a mish mash compared to JL. I went into the Wimbledon branch of Debenhams a while ago and was served by a couple of helpful staff who went out of their way to help me find what I was looking for, quite unusual for Debenhams!

On several occasions I've hung around in the make up/perfume department and failed to attract the attention of staff deep in conversations, obviously far more interesting than serving a customer wishing to spend some money

I liked the different franchises and our Debenhams was always well laid out. Because of the franchises the choice was very good with plenty of dressing rooms. Also bought a lot of stuff online from them; great service. Will really miss it and feel very sorry for staff.

Once these big stores close down, we seem to have to put up with boarded up buildings which makes the town centre look very seedy.

I can’t see them being taken over very quickly in the economic climate we will be suffering for a good few years.

Before COVID, a few GNs and I used to meet up for coffee regularly at the Oxford Street store. Other places charged a fortune for coffee and we usually stayed for a cheap and good lunch.

I loathed the loud music played during the day. I did tell the manager I was not going to a disco but my complaint fell on deaf ears.

EllanVannin

The bigger they come the harder they fall.
High streets are like ghost towns now and it's not over yet

Agree Ellan there is really no reason to go shopping, groceries or otherwise. I feel sad and depressed when I venture there. And Covid has been the final nail in the coffin.

I'm with you on that, quizqueen, I hate having to fight my way through the asphyxiating perfumes to get to the rest of the shop. Then you have to trawl from one franchise to another - and back - to browse and compare clothes. I'm not that much of a fan of shopping that I want to wander about all day looking for something. I'd rather all the (e.g.) dresses were together and not spread round the shop.

Having said that, I'm sorry that Debenhams has gone under but hope for more small independent stores to open in due course, as Lucca says.

The one in my town has been very poor for years now. Overstocked, muddled as one poster said like a jumble sale ! However it’s another nail in the coffin for high streets. I’d love to see a renaissance of smaller independent shops

Before Covid I used to browse in Debenhams quite a lot so will be sorry to see it go.

I used to shop there a lot when I lived in town but that was 11 years ago. Their stores were becoming more and more jumbled and it seems that they would try to flog anything.

No cos we haven’t got one in my town

I use it online a lot. But large department stores just arent going to survive.

Debenhams has been teetering on the edge for some time, sadly. I didn’t buy much from there, but I would often browse and sometimes make a purchase. I prefer John Lewis or M&S, but would often shop around. John Lewis a bit more upmarket, but not always better in quality. Such a shame though about our well known high street department stores having a hard time, but I am tending to buy online more now, since COVID entered our lives, as I don’t particularly want to venture into a big city/shopping centre. I do enjoy looking around the shops, when i’m in the mood to do so, particularly small independent shops. I am, unfortunately, partly responsible, as are many more like me, for store closures. They are just not getting the footfall and with high business rates, it’s not a good combination.

I have thought that Debenhams seemed overstocked with far too many ranges for a long time, particularly online.

The bigger they come the harder they fall.
High streets are like ghost towns now and it's not over yet

I will miss it. Straight outside the tram stop, nice choice of franchises in ladies wear, very good bra selection, good housewares and bed linen.

I used to shop in Debenhams regularly and can remember when two family stores in Plymouth were bought out by Debenhams.

However, I haven't been in a store for years and are that the presentation did become rather untidy.
I have shopped for household items online but not for a few months.

It's such a pity to see another High Street name go, and I feel for all the staff who will lose their jobs.

Where will it end?

I too am sorry to see anot her high street store disappear but, in all honesty, I couldn't be doing with Debenhams at all. Too overcrowded with stock that it was like a jumble sale in full swing. And a paucity of sales staff to approach for advice that you could be wandering about looking for someone for ages. Sorry it's gone though and for the staff who are losing their jobs.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-debenhams-owners-draw-up-plan-for-department-store-chains-liquidation-12049794

A link

I saw that too urmstongran. I hadn't used Debenhams for years as it was beyond JL in our shopping centre. But, I recently went in to look at a French houseware franchise and was pleasantly surprised at how light and airy it was compared with previous visits.

As maw says, regardless of whether one uses them personally or not, it's sad to love another major chain.