Debenhams - another shop from my past gone.

i think almost by definition, an asset stripper is not much concerned with moral issues.

The high street was already changing and it's just progressed more quickly with the recent slump in shopping.

I don't think online shopping is 'ruining' anything, Kandinsky. People are just choosing to shop that way as it's cheaper.

High streets will survive (well, most of them) with some retailers but the days of department stores are ending.

Honeyrose people like Philip Green don’t know what a conscience is.

Absolutely feel sorry for the staff losing their jobs. Debenhams has been under threat for what seems like years now. As others have said it consistently misses the mark, it's just doesn't cut it as an attractive retail experience, I'm surprised it's survived for this long. If John Lewis the very best of what department stores offer struggle, Debenhams for sure were never going to survive with their mish mash of unattractively laid out shops within shops.

Online shopping is responsible for the decline in the High Street, and it is not cheaper unless you spend a large amount; most companies charge extra for delivery unless you use Amazon, and having been conned once, and nearly twice, over Amazon Prime, I won't have anything to do with it. Returns are difficult, and I like to see colours, materials and the standard of products before I buy; on a very low level, there is nowhere now within ten miles of where I live to buy good makeup, able to test colours and seek advice from the consultant.
The market is being flooded with cheaply made shoddy goods because people can't see what they are buying.
I am desperately sorry for all those in retail losing their jobs; packing boxes in a factory is not the same as serving a customer, and the working conditions and salary will reflect this.

That's just your experience of online shopping it's not mine. It is much cheaper for me to order online than to drive and pay parking at a shopping centre ten miles away. People will do what is most convenient for them I am afraid. Most of the products I buy online are from the high street retailers themselves.

I think the pandemic has just speeded up the process of the death of the high street. It is possible to buy clothes on line, certainly the basics. What is more problematical are special occasion wear such as for a wedding. All that will be left may be prohibitively expense boutiques!
I'm sure we all have happy memories of department stores from the scent of powder and perfume when you walk in to having a snack in the restaurant. When my daughters were younger,maybe a decade ago it was a Christmas ritual. Looking around the shops,buying last minute gifts and a snack to finish with. Happy memories.
Last year I ventured into Debenhams for pyjamas for my grandson. I hadn't had much luck elsewhere but was sure they would have some. Nope,and the whole store felt like a jumble sale!
I think we have taken our eye off the ball. Department stores were a happy memory we rarely visited. Online shopping is easy, convenient and often cheaper.
A supplier to Debenhams said on the news that they didnt make the store a place people really wanted to go.
Online shopping and high rents have played a part. I also wonder whether the disinterest of the owners of such big companies also plays a part. This is probably not so true of smaller local department stores. The likes of Arcadia though seem to have greed as a priority.
Due to the virus I havent accessed shops since March. I cant imagine there are many shops in either of my local town.
It was pointed out that some shops have thrived, such as Primark (who are not renowned for their ethics) and of course Amazon has made truly shocking profits.
The question is what we will be left with when this does die down and how the remaining big players will exploit the situation.

I do desperately sorry for all those who have lost their jobs, either through bad business management or as a consequence of lockdown. There are far reaching knock on affects, to suppliers of Debenhams, even if the goods are shipped from abroad.
One of our village pubs has just folded, due to the latest lockdown. It may have not been necessary, but it was people’s livelihoods, it served inexpensive meals where often older people on their own could eat and socialise.
As for on line shopping, I have sourced small Uk companies to buy presents on line. It’s been a good experience so far

Unfortunately at the time that the dividend was paid, it was entirely legal. Generally legislation about these things comes after abuse. Of course it did require Green to have absolute trust in his wife - shame that wasn't abused a bit!

I must admit that I haven't shopped in Debenhams for at least 5 years mainly because of where it is in my town - too far when you have a set time between buses and 2 hours until the next !
I have several items in my wardrobe that I bought several years ago and it was always the place to go for special outfits such as mother of the bride, or any wedding outfit along with dressy outfits for evening wear.
All the clothing was well made and of a good quality.
Sadly, the shop within a shop idea really started the downfall I believe - when the quality of the clothing in the concessions dropped to the point where many people looked elsewhere.
I like clothes shopping - just being able to see the items, look at the material and how well (or not) it has been made and especially after being caught out more than once when what I had ordered looks nothing like the photo!

Debenhams, Topshop, Laura Ashley and our rather small John Lewis have all gone or are going. I am not surprised. In our town if you went in any of those shops it was spot the shopper.
I had predicted for years that these would disappear and for once I was right about something.

This is a sad time for the Debenhams staff. I grew up with a department store named Greys, which then became Debenhams and I have shopped with them for most of my life. I have always loved the diversity of a department store and liked to spend time in each department, have a coffee and a snack or meal in between and then back on another floor. This type of store will be a distant memory soon, so sad.

Debenhams was not my destination of choice for a long time but still sad to see it go. Our town centre has lost a big M&S, BHS and now Debenhams - it'll be half dead. I fear the days of these big shops are over.

Interesting to hear a retail analyst talk about what went wrong at Debenhams - she said that Phillip Green resisted taking it online until it was too late. She also said that he was a businessman, not a retailer and didn't understand Retail at all. An ex-manager of his said that she'd left the company when she was forced to actually work with him as he was a terrible Bully. We can only hope that Karma will work its magic on PG (my Buddhist friend says he'll be reborn as an animal!)

CarlyD7 I am trying to visualise what animal he will come back as. Some animals can look fierce but be quite cute. Not him.

It began when Woolworths went under i think, the slippery slope for those type of shops, then B.H.S! Im very disappointed as Debenhams is the only real dept store left like its type.John Lewis are more high end prices and M&S are really (more affordable) clothes& food these days than John Lewis..so sadly its all going that way...there just hasn't been the footfall since covid began to support these shops the world over!but online shopping can't be enough to sustain them.Sad really.?

I agree Galaxy- there are some nice good things to be found online- especially on etsy which is made up of smaller businesses.Also the high streets online websites- and Boots.com for good quality make up!-and my son agrees with you on the parking charges compared to paying delivery costs.(he drives me there) true you can't feel the fabrics on clothes but most have free returns now.Or courier pick ups to save you leaving the house.Its really a better (safer) choice to shop from home in a pandemic- even though i used to love a mooch around a store before christmas??

The only time I go into Debenhams in Harrogate is to use the loo and even that was pretty run down. Occasionally have a look at the clothes but nothing inspires.

Amazon Prime is expensive, and it's easy to get signed up by mistake. But remember a Prime membership can be shared, by several people at several different addresses.

So sad to see such a huge number of people losing jobs. No doubt many of the stores will be turned into high end city centre flats with even more pubs coffee outlets, gyms, nailbars and hairdressers on the street level. With the amount of unemployment I don't know how so many can afford to use these types of businesses.

The writing has been on the wall for Debenhams for some time. My niece worked for them for years but moved jobs just before lockdown. She could see what was likely to happen. So sorry for those losing their jobs. I hope Philip Green honours their pension pots.

Sad that Debenhams has bitten the dust along with the many other department stores, but not surprising the last few times I have shopped in ours not that far from where I live it was hunt the staff, and only a handful of shoppers were in there, I know a lady that had worked in Debenhams for several years on Estée Lauder counter and she was going round serving on the other makeup counters too as no staff on them, something which wouldn’t have happened a few years ago as they would all have had their own counters to run,

I feel that these large department stores, like Debenhams are partly to blame for their failure. Many years ago you; the customer, would go to Debenhams, be welcomed at the door with samples of perfume or the latest products. Every floor would have beautiful displays of products, cheerful assistants would be waiting to help and you, the customer, was made to feel special and important. I always bought something and had a great day out too.
I went to Selfridges in Oxford street, as a special Christmas treat, a few years ago. There was no one at the door, none even spoke to me. I wondered from floor to floor, there were long queues to pay. Assistants, if you could find one were too busy talking amongst themselves. The displays were more like a jumble sale and the place felt they didn't care if you spent your money or not, so I left. I feel many of the high shops including Debenhams have gone this way.
The problem is I can get this sort of treatment from the internet. I get my shopping at my convenience by browsing the goods on offer, can compare prices with other providers, talk to none but have a ' chat' assistant if needed, no car parking fees, no queues and its delivered to my door.
Very sterile way of shopping but its cheaper and less hassle. If these stores cannot provide a good customer service, then they are bound for failure, much to my sadness as yet another experience becomes a memory.

MissChateline

My first job at 15 was in the Richmond-upon-Thames Debenhams in the coffee shop. Then ag 16 after being expelled from my boarding school i did a training management scheme in Marshall and snellgrove on Oxford st. I sold clocks and watches than cruise wear. Also did a stint in gloves. Had to do months in arrivals in the basement. The stores were linked by underground tunnels. It was good fun. Stores became old fashioned and lost their way.

Which shop in Richmond was Debenhams? Was it the one that used to be Wrights? (And then was Habitat later on, now Tesco Metro).
Until recently we had House of Fraser (formerly Dickins & Jones) in Richmond but sadly that has now closed down and is boarded up. Such a shame - the real flagship store in the town and now it's just vacant. I assume our Top Shop will now go too. Richmond is an affluent town but is starting to look very run-down with so many empty shops, something that started even before the pandemic.

Yes Paper, I could only remember Dickens and Jones. Was there an Alders at one point?