Debenhams Employee AMA

[LadyGarcia]

Fire away!

I'm so sorry - are you OK?

@jomarzbar thank you for asking I am fine now but I don't think it's actually hit me yet.

I am sorry too.

Will you all be paid the wages you are owed? I really hope so.

@FingersCrossedForAllOfUs thank you.

We have only been told that we will be paid in December as 'normal'.
Redundancy will have to be claimed via Government.

@LadyGarcia
Am so sorry, I honestly hope you are successful in finding a new position soon. 💐

I’m so sorry this is happening to you and I hope you will find another job soon.
This time last year I went through the same with Mothercare and it still feels raw to be honest.
There are tough times ahead but you will be ok.

How long have you worked there and did you know the company was in administration before it was officially announced?

No questions OP, just wanted to say I'm so sorry. Hope you are able to find a new job soon.

I feel sorry for everyone going through this situation.

@Fiddlersgreen thank you and I hope you are ok now?

I have worked for the company 10+ years.

No, we had no idea at all. We were all told to dial into a conference call at 9am and where they announced the company would be liquidating everything with an immediate effect... Liquidators appointed by Debenhams will be going into stores tomorrow to get the ball rolling.

@TheDogsMother and @pinkprosseco thank you - it's been a tough day with lots of tears.

I’m sorry @LadyGarcia

Sorry about your job OP. What do you think are the reasons that has led to this? We hear alot in the media but its always a bit different from those who are actually working in the company.

@cyclingmad Senior management wasting money on unnecessary spends e.g. 2 or so years ago, Debenhams spent £6M on a program called "Quinyx" which is a staff scheduling system (an online rota) app, it did not even last a year before it was completely scrapped and didn't even make it into some stores.

Debenhams also has 3 own brands left - Maine, Mantaray and Principles which all appeal to a very small market is another reason especially when retailer competition is high.

How are you doing? I can imagine it’s been a very stressful week. Are you store based?

What did/ do you like and dislike about working there?

[quote LadyGarcia]@cyclingmad Senior management wasting money on unnecessary spends e.g. 2 or so years ago, Debenhams spent £6M on a program called "Quinyx" which is a staff scheduling system (an online rota) app, it did not even last a year before it was completely scrapped and didn't even make it into some stores.

Debenhams also has 3 own brands left - Maine, Mantaray and Principles which all appeal to a very small market is another reason especially when retailer competition is high.[/quote]
So sorry OP. I loved Mantaray. As I lost weight post pregnancy as a tall woman, I felt that brand really suited me.

Did you enjoy your time working there?

What's your position in there op?

I'm sorry, OP. I hope you find another position soon.

Debenhams also has 3 own brands left - Maine, Mantaray and Principles which all appeal to a very small market

I find this fascinating. I would have thought all those brands would have had quite a wide appeal. What kind of people buy them in reality?

I'm really sorry. I hope you find something soon x

@Fiddlersgreen

How are you doing? I can imagine it’s been a very stressful week. Are you store based?

I'm good thank you for asking. It's been a very emotional week and yes, I've always been store based during my time here.

@BiscuitsUnited

What did/ do you like and dislike about working there?

I like working in a department store overall, the atmosphere/vibe during sales/Christmas was always nice. My colleagues are also another reason I enjoy going to work, in a department store you really become one huge team that supports each other daily.

The discount isn't too bad either, especially on Health & Beauty!

I never enjoyed badgering customers for the store card and the pressure that was put on us to get them daily, constantly being summoned to huddles, and then having to answer for why our department had had not opened and what we were going to do differently to motivate our team to get one within the next hour before we were summoned again.

I'm really sorry op I hope you manage to find something else soon x

I've always really liked Debenhams to. I think they sell great Christmas gifts. I just recently bought my mum a lovely grey scarf from the principles collection for Xmas.

I went earlier today to my local Debenhams and was surprised to find hardly anything on sale, even though it said in the window "everything must go". I thought all the shelves would have been empty but it wasn't the case. Why is that do you think? I thought that they would have wanted to try and get rid of everything before closing.

@cheesecrack

I really enjoyed working for Debenhams, I put my heart and soul into the job.

@Time40

I'm sorry, OP. I hope you find another position soon.

Debenhams also has 3 own brands left - Maine, Mantaray and Principles which all appeal to a very small market

I find this fascinating. I would have thought all those brands would have had quite a wide appeal. What kind of people buy them in reality?

Thank you!

Principles occupies quite a lot of space within every store as it was expanded to replace the exit of Jasper Conran and Julien McDonald, I find pretty much every customer shops Principles due to the amount of stock each store holds, and there's various styles/options to pick e.g. leggings, dresses, casual, formal, petite, basic, cardigans, jumper etc

Maine and Mantaray have a limited customer ( I would say aged 45+) shopping it and barely sells, stock sits around for a long time and only sells when in sale.

@ssd

What's your position in there op?

Management