Forum | There goes Debenhams then.... by The_Major

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There goes Debenhams then.... 10:58 - Dec 1 with 4368 views

That's going to leave some very large empty buildings. That one on the Cornhill for a start off is going to be like an open sore.

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:01 - Dec 1 with 3160 views

wkj

Debenhams is a classic example of totally misreading the times. Slow to invest into online sales, did not respond to the recession, and trying to charge ridiculous mark ups on items drastically cheaper elsewhere.

See also ToysRUs

I can't feel sad about the situation for the company, but desperately sympathetic for the workers and their families that have to compound their 2020 misery even further.

	Crybaby
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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:07 - Dec 1 with 3137 views

The_Major

This is going to show my age dreadfully, but I can just about recall them pulling down the old Footmans store and then building the current Debenhams on top of it.

Debenhams itself was then in what is now Superdrug (Formerly HMV, John Menzies) in the old Corders shop which went all the way through to the Buttermarket where Waterstones is now.

The other thing I always recall about Debenhams is when for some bizarre reason they had an amusement arcade on the top floor circa 1989.

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:09 - Dec 1 with 3117 views

DebsyAngel

I really do not want it to go. Hardly their fault if stores have been shut because of this rotten situation.

I used to shop in there and they were great for underwear, shoes and clothing. I really do not want to buy these online as I always have to try stuff on.

So we only have M&S left now for a Department store. What a sad day. I long for the exciting town centre we used to have in the 70s and 80s. At this rate we will have nothing but McDonalds, Costa and barbers shops. Or places being turned into housing.

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:09 - Dec 1 with 3111 views

wkj

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:07 - Dec 1 by The_Major

That was a bit before my time, but I desperately miss Grimwades. One of the nicest sausage pies I have ever eaten was up in there cafe on the top floor, better than my mums (although I would never tell her that)

	Crybaby
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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:11 - Dec 1 with 3103 views

DanTheMan

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:01 - Dec 1 by wkj

I think the last time I went into Debenhams it would have been to get some currency.

Now I'm not exactly a bit shopper anyway but what amazed me about the place is how absolutely drab the whole experience was. The first place you walk into with it seems to always be the "beauty" bit so your immediate experience was an assault on the senses. Incredibly bright lights and 400 different fragrances thrown together.

This kind of thing. As you say, everything in there was overpriced for what it was, there was basically no reason to be in there.

I'm really sad for all those that lost their jobs, not their fault. The company just did not move with the times.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:11 - Dec 1 with 3097 views

wkj

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:09 - Dec 1 by DebsyAngel

The way towns are growing now, the traditional high-street is probably on the way out. I can't pretend that I don't prefer to convenience of shopping areas like Ravenswood on the outskirts of towns. Getting stuck in town centre traffic has got to be one of the most unnecessary and hated consequences of high street shopping.

	Crybaby
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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:13 - Dec 1 with 3090 views

StokieBlue

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:09 - Dec 1 by DebsyAngel

Debenhams were gone long before C19.

C19 has just accelerated the situation rather than it dragging out another year or so.

SB

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:13 - Dec 1 with 3089 views

wkj

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:11 - Dec 1 by DanTheMan

Yeah, the fragrance area at the front of the store is a serious issue for people in my opinion. Whilst the logic is to have nice smelling things hit you upon entering, I found it was always acrid and induced a headache. This was the main reason why I quit going in there.

	Crybaby
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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:14 - Dec 1 with 3073 views

TractorWood

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:01 - Dec 1 by wkj

This. HMV, Debenhams, Topshop, BHS.

Prime property is too expensive. People can buy high margin dross online with next day delivery a ubiquitous feature. Even if it's £10, it's cheaper than going there, parking, public transport, inconvenience etc.

Online retail is the future. It's madness it's taken this long for some of these businesses to fail. The economics of the high street just don't really work any more. Those that are changing may survive.

Banks have been hammered for it for years but the truth is, you don't need branches.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:17 - Dec 1 with 3065 views

Coastalblue

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:11 - Dec 1 by wkj
The way towns are growing now, the traditional high-street is probably on the way out. I can't pretend that I don't prefer to convenience of shopping areas like Ravenswood on the outskirts of towns. Getting stuck in town centre traffic has got to be one of the most unnecessary and hated consequences of high street shopping.

But, but, but

The pub

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:20 - Dec 1 with 3054 views

wkj

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:14 - Dec 1 by TractorWood

I think there is a formula that can still work for high street branches of retail outlets, but not the department store model. Marksies would be gone if not for their food side (in my opinion).

Smaller shops with click and collect features may well improve their chances, but in 20 years I don't see there even being an appetite for visiting shops.

Curiously, Argos style operations surprise me when they struggle, they offer same day delivery, grocery store style deliveries they handle themselves and small storefronts, yet they don't seem to be thriving as well as I would expect.

	Crybaby
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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:20 - Dec 1 with 3058 views

solemio

Of the 3 Debenhams stores that I went into with any regularity the Ipswich branch was by far the busiest. You could go into the Taunton and Welwyn Garden City branches and hardly see another customer.

I shall miss their loos.

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:24 - Dec 1 with 3024 views

giant_stow

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:14 - Dec 1 by TractorWood

Maybe once landlords accept their buildings are almost useless, the costs in renting them will lower by enough to make in-person shopping viable again. It would help if the govt changed the tax incentives too, otherwise we'll be left with crappy empty city centres. Personally, I do everything I can to avoid shopping, but I'd hate to see hollowed out towns with nothing but houses left.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:37 - Dec 1 with 2949 views

factual_blue

The space ship building they have /had in Bury was rent-free I think.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:41 - Dec 1 with 2940 views

factual_blue

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:20 - Dec 1 by solemio
Of the 3 Debenhams stores that I went into with any regularity the Ipswich branch was by far the busiest. You could go into the Taunton and Welwyn Garden City branches and hardly see another customer. I shall miss their loos.

You shouldn't miss their loos. It makes the toilet experience unpleasant for others.

Show some consideration. Improve your aim.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:43 - Dec 1 with 2937 views

The_Major

I hate to go all jumpers for goalposts, but it's another part of my going down the town when growing up that's now gone.

See also:

BHS in Tavern Street, when for some reason they had cheese on sale by the front door which knocked you off your feet when you came in

Going up to the Commodore 64s and Vic 20s on display in John Menzies and typing something like

10 PRINT "You all smell of wee"
20 GOTO 10
RUN

and then legging it out the door.

Getting completely lost in the Carr Street Co-op which seemed to go on for miles.

Wondering why there was two branches of Boots about 200 yards apart, and then traipsing up that lane from the back of the current one to get to Tower Ramparts pre-shopping centre.

And then, Woolworths. Seemed massive, escalator downstairs to get to the toy department. Nipping out the side door by the delivery bay on Cox Lane.

Join us next week for more Ipswich nostalgia when we'll be asking has ANYONE ever seen that fountain by the spiral car park actually work?

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:55 - Dec 1 with 2909 views

hype313

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:20 - Dec 1 by solemio
Of the 3 Debenhams stores that I went into with any regularity the Ipswich branch was by far the busiest. You could go into the Taunton and Welwyn Garden City branches and hardly see another customer. I shall miss their loos.

Think the Ipswich branch is one of the most profitable in the country.

Not surprised though, it's been on life support for years and with brands such as Manteray and John Rocha no great shock.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:05 - Dec 1 with 2881 views

Dubtractor

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:11 - Dec 1 by DanTheMan

Last few times I've been in there (browsing for gifts) I've been really confused at who they were aiming for as customers. Always seemed a muddled and confused offering, and with a lack of quality in a lot of it.

Given the amount of competition out there it seemed a slippery slope.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:23 - Dec 1 with 2843 views

SpruceMoose

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:11 - Dec 1 by wkj
The way towns are growing now, the traditional high-street is probably on the way out. I can't pretend that I don't prefer to convenience of shopping areas like Ravenswood on the outskirts of towns. Getting stuck in town centre traffic has got to be one of the most unnecessary and hated consequences of high street shopping.

I've thought for a while that town centres are going to end up having to be spaces that are more about housing and services/leisure/entertainment/recreation rather than retail. With a few exceptions, physical shops are not a necessary thing for many people anymore.

Even here, in places like Times Square, many of the high profile shops aren't remotely profitable and serve as little more than large, interactive advertisements for the business.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:27 - Dec 1 with 2827 views

Swansea_Blue

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:01 - Dec 1 by wkj

Also a massive blow for some town centres. Debenhams is the last department store here in Swansea and the main store in our smallish shopping centre. Unless another half-decent or better chain takes it over, it'll kill our city centre.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:31 - Dec 1 with 2813 views

SpruceMoose

There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:27 - Dec 1 by Swansea_Blue
Also a massive blow for some town centres. Debenhams is the last department store here in Swansea and the main store in our smallish shopping centre. Unless another half-decent or better chain takes it over, it'll kill our city centre.

Which other successful retail shops are out there that require massive retail space over three floors? The one in Ipswich is going to sit empty for years. May as well knock it down and out something more appropriate there.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:32 - Dec 1 with 2814 views

Dubtractor

There goes Debenhams then.... on 11:43 - Dec 1 by The_Major

I don't consider myself as old, but easily remember all of that.

Sh1t. I'm old aren't I?

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:34 - Dec 1 with 2807 views

Dubtractor

There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:31 - Dec 1 by SpruceMoose
Which other successful retail shops are out there that require massive retail space over three floors? The one in Ipswich is going to sit empty for years. May as well knock it down and out something more appropriate there.

Knocking it down would be good.

Its a really ugly building surrounded by loads of really nice buildings.

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There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:38 - Dec 1 with 2794 views

wkj

There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:27 - Dec 1 by Swansea_Blue
Also a massive blow for some town centres. Debenhams is the last department store here in Swansea and the main store in our smallish shopping centre. Unless another half-decent or better chain takes it over, it'll kill our city centre.

It is easy just to quip, stick up a charity store, betting shop or pound store, but deep down the truth of the matter to me is that shops in the town centre, particularly with the more affluent boroughs on the outer edge, have to offer significant discounts.

This is why Wilko, Poundland, Iceland, Sports Direct, Primark and similar types of stores are thriving currently. There is incentive to come in and browse if you feel like you're getting a discount. Successful retailers in town centres have used "loss leader" really well. Get them in on a bargain, and have them look around the rest of the store with "offers" - Debenhams have simply gone with simple price points and made up offers without enticing people in with genuine believable loss leader items.

For Swansea and other town centres to work, retailers have to integrate their online activities into the branches (click and collect, dot com deals... Clearance sold centrally and distributed locally) and also operate a shrewd loss leader strategy. Otherwise, nostalgia really is the only incentive for people to spend money getting into a town center for a bit of shopping.

	Crybaby
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There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:39 - Dec 1 with 2794 views

SpruceMoose

There goes Debenhams then.... on 12:34 - Dec 1 by Dubtractor
Knocking it down would be good. Its a really ugly building surrounded by loads of really nice buildings.

There would be a really nice opportunity to make a lovely entrance way to the Cornhill if you knocked that down, did away with the bingo hall too, and built more attractive and appropriate units along a pedestrianised Lloyd's Avenue.

Spruce for Mayor.

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