City Debenhams store to reopen next week... for closing down sale
DEBENHAMS in Derby is to reopen next week for a closing down sale before it shuts its doors for good.
The department store at the Derbion shopping centre, formerly Intu Derby, will reopen on Monday – the day non-essential shops can trade again in-line with Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
The chain’s remaining stores across England and Wales are set to be open for a few weeks, depending on the stock clearance before they close for good.
City shoppers are set to be able to get up to 70% off fashion and home items and up to 50% off beauty in the closing down sale.
After a long-running saga, clothing giant Boohoo confirmed in January it had bought the Debenhams brand for £55 million and will relaunch the department store as an online-only operation.
But shoppers will now be able to return to the Derby store, which spans over three floors of the shopping centre, to get their hands on last-minute bargains before the retailer leaves the high street for the final time.
Adam Tamsett, general manager at Derbion, says shoppers will be able to find a bargain if they visit Debenhams over the coming weeks. He said: “It is obviously really sad to see Debenhams go as they have been such a stalwart in the city and we’ve enjoyed having them as part of the centre since opening. “In the next few weeks they are going to have a big sale on, with up to 70% off home and up to 50% off beauty
“So customers can certainly hope to find a bargain when they visit Debenhams from next week. It will be an emotional time for the staff during the final few weeks of the store being open, and people will now have the chance to say goodbye to colleagues.”
Debenhams announced in December that its administrators had begun its liquidation process.
Last year, Geoff Rowley of FRP Advisory, joint administrator to Debenhams and Partner at FRP, said: “All reasonable steps were taken to complete a transaction that would secure the future of Debenhams.
“However, the economic landscape is extremely challenging and, coupled with the uncertainty facing the UK retail industry, a viable deal could not be reached.
“The decision to move forward with a closure programme has been carefully assessed and, while we remain hopeful that alternative proposals for the business may yet be received, we deeply regret that circumstances force us to commence this course of action,” Mr Rowley added.
“We are very grateful for the efforts of the management team and staff who have worked so hard throughout the most difficult of circumstances to keep the business trading.
“We would also like to thank the landlords, suppliers and partners who have continued to work with Debenhams through this turbulent period and can reassure them that all contractual obligations entered into in the administration period will be met in full.”
It will be an emotional time for the staff during the final few weeks of the store being open...
Adam Tamsett