Debenhams closing

[Hellin301]

I thought there would be a new buyer. Can’t believe 12,000 people will lose their jobs!

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

I’m so sad about this and the state of the high street in general. I think we will all look back and crave a department store again one day. Yes it’s easy to blame the internet but Look at Zara- Zara’s online offering is shit, in fact they purposely keep it like that to keep their shops busy. It’s not impossible but takes more effort than these shops were given.

Primark is another example of no online presence. People will 'happily' queue round the block to get in at the moment.

But I don't want to shop online. I want to see clothes, feel them, try them on. I want to try make up samples, smell toiletries, try the creams, see if a lipstick colour suits me etc.

I want to mooch round the shops. I don't want to just order everything online. It is so joyless and sterile shopping this way. It will limit innovation because we will only buy what we know fits us or suits us. You can't return a lipstick or foundation because you don't like the colour.

All of this. I do wonder if Sephora will spot a gap in the beauty market and open stores here. Perhaps that’s just wishful thinking ...

No Debenhams, DPs, Miss Selfridge, where will I buy clothes from, please?

@Funkypolar

The future of retail is Amazon style “fulfilment centres” staffed by robots. That seems to be what people want. Everyone wanted lockdown right? Enjoy the end of the high street, pubs, cafes etc,

This. Exactly.

Everyone is turning into characters from Wall.E - everything brought to them with no interaction. I feel for the people that would have worked in retail but are going to be forced to work as robots in Amazon or Sports Direct factories. Treated like dirt, having to ask to go to the toilet, no personal interactions allowed.

I really want there to be a High St so I will continue to spend money in store even if it means a few pounds more than amazon. Once its only amazon left, watch the prices rise and everyone complaining that there is no other retailers when they are in fact to blame for ignoring the High Street and ordering toothpaste in a single parcel to their door. Not to mention the environmental impact of all of those extra journeys by delivery drivers.

@Othering

You mooching round the shops and trying a lipstick on does not keep businesses afloat though.

True. But I usually buy a few things when I go mooching. I only order specific items I really want online and don't make any impulse purchases.

How soon will it be when the monopolies commission starts looking closely at Amazon?

You mooching round the shops and trying a lipstick on does not keep businesses afloat though.

It does considerably more to keep the business afloat than having to buy online. It keeps the cafe in business for lunch and coffee breaks. It results in cosmetic purchases that wouldn’t be made online and impulse buys too.

Of course I'm not glad people have lost their jobs.

But I will not mourn the loss of Debenhams and their poor customer service.

@manicinsomniac

Ahh, this is really sad. I love their Mantaray clothing range. I mean, I'm not entitled to complain as I only ever buy things second-hand (might sound virtuous and good for the environment but it's a terrible thing for the ecinomy). But it's extremely sad.

I used to but found the tops I bought recently were really poor quality compared to older ones

True. But I usually buy a few things when I go mooching. I only order specific items I really want online and don't make any impulse purchases.

That's interesting I always spend far less when doing an internet supermarket shop, than i do if I actually go to a supermarket... I write a list for both. But with the online shop i often "top-up" during the week if I've forgotten something. I think seeing things prompts me to remember we need them, or simply make impulse buys.
Often (and actually I dont go shopping that often!) I come back with something completely different I went for because I saw something else (or couldnt find what I wanted)
Unless its black friday or hangover shopping I think there would be less impulse buys online.

I went to my local Debenhams last year and it was a bit like stepping back into 1985.
But I’m sorry for this iconic shop going. The poor staff.
I don’t want everything to go online, I never buy clothes from the internet, it’s too much of a pain sending things back.
Look at the retail sector as a whole, excluding the supermarkets, many hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Not everyone can magic up a business and work online, we can’t all be entrepreneurs.
I don’t want the high street to go, no matter how things change in the future.
The experience of having a mooch around a store, shopping mall can’t be replicated on Amazon.

Once a year I have a girly shopping trip with my teenage daughter. Leeds, Manchester, Liverool..we stay overnight in a hotel.
We love going to all the clothes shops and try things on, always come home with massive bags of shopping from a variety of stores ( including thrift/charity shops) . It won't be the same without so many of our favourite shops. ☹️

I think for the Arcadia group they've lost their 16-25 market to the likes of ASOS, Boohoo, Missguided et al.
Debenhams probably needed to trim down the operation and sort out the finances, if it weren't for covid it had a chance.
It is so limited now when you think where will I go to buy a wedding guest outfit, where can I try on bras, where can I find a nice Rocha John Rocha shirt for my dad! Less choice on the actual high Street is never good for consumers

Where are 12,000 people going to get a job in this climate

It’s utterly heartbreaking

@Hellin301

Where are 12,000 people going to get a job in this climate

It’s utterly heartbreaking

Those with experience will at least be recruited ahead of the school/uni leavers looking for entry level or pt roles.

@PrivateD00r

My local Debenhams was lovely, I am genuinely really upset to see this news today. It is obviously the tip of the iceberg of what is to come. It reminds of the last recession when you dreaded turning the news on to see what companies would be next to go. My heart goes out to everyone losing their job.

Bloody covid

This does feel like the 80s all over again with all these closures and redundancies. It's so grim and sad for the employees. Terrible times :(

There was hope of Mike Ashley buying it, although I think this was just a pet of the business.
Like BHS, Debenhams are just too big, too many outgoings and no real unique selling point. It’s like going back 30 years when you walk around.
Woolworths, BHS, all big shops vanished in the last decade.
If Woolies could go back in the last credit crunch surely no one else is immune?
I hear people on the radio talking about the online revolution... not everyone can bloody have a job online!
Debenhams will have lots of loyal staff, many mothers, who have families. So sad.
As much as I like the internet, it’s also the downfall for many industries too. Remember these retail shops have a logistics and supply chain to. Warehouses and support staff.
I feel there will be less opportunities for young people in the coming decades, it going to be so bloody tough to get jobs.

Part of the business not pet!

Those with experience will at least be recruited ahead of the school/uni leavers looking for entry level or pt roles on entry level pay whilst screwing over the next generation- sounds like a plan

Debenhams was my first saturday job when I was a teenager.
The thing about things moving online and warehouse jobs, a lot will be unsociable hours, and a lot of warehouses are out of town, meaning harder to get to. Having a saturday job in my home town meant I could walk there myself....although the idea of a saturday job is probably quite out of date now.

@Fizbosshoes

Debenhams was my first saturday job when I was a teenager. The thing about things moving online and warehouse jobs, a lot will be unsociable hours, and a lot of warehouses are out of town, meaning harder to get to. Having a saturday job in my home town meant I could walk there myself....although the idea of a saturday job is probably quite out of date now.

That's interesting I always spend far less when doing an internet supermarket shop, than i do if I actually go to a supermarket

I think you misunderstood me. I spend less if I shop online.

Used to be amazing in the 90s. Little pretend road around the children's bit and little areas...we would spend hours there!

It'll all go online and then people will moan they want the high street back!
:(

I never buy in the shops. Just can’t be arsed with faffing around trying on.

I just order it all online and return what l don’t want. The only shop l will ever really mooch in is H and M.

The post office will clean up here with people returning things all the time!
Good news for them but I bet they don't recruit any more staff to handle the extra work!
Or people won't bother returning things as it's too much faff!