“Chief executive Sergio Bucher said a new store in Stevenage, which has a Nando’s, Costa and Patisserie Valerie, is being used as a “test-lab… “It’s all the other shops – Nando’s and Costa – you can get everything in one place. We come here to treat ourselves,” Tanya said.”
“Debenhams has reported an 85% slump in half-year profits after sales were battered by the Beast from the East and heavy restructuring costs also took their toll. The department store chain said almost 100 of its stores temporarily closed as a result of the extreme weather conditions earlier this year.”
“Debenhams said profits for the full year will be towards the lower end of broker forecasts, currently £50-61m, partly because of a period of inclement weather nicknamed the ‘Beast from the East’.”
Some are blaming online retail, but it really isn’t just online retail stealing revenue, it’s people not having enough money to spend and management don’t listen to their staff enough (who normally hold the key to improvement). The government and bankers are playing down austerity, but it’s really bad and getting worse. I did say earlier in the year and last year, all the ‘blue rinse brigade’ brands are not relating to Gen X and the Millennials – This shift must take place if any of the old brands want to survive. It’s so easy to save the likes of Debenhams, it’s just if anyone actually wants to save it… Without a doubt putting chain coffee shops inside these places across the country will not save them.
https://www.juicebrighton.com/news/uk-business-news/debenhams-half-year-profits-slump-by-85/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-43825424