Debenhams Share Discussion Threads

[simon templar qc] 11/4/2017 12:58

John Lewis Partnership had a better week, albeit sales are distorted by late Easter..

[simon templar qc] 11/4/2017 10:11

FT

"Britain’s high street saw the biggest drop in retail sales, excluding food, in nearly six years in the first quarter of 2017, raising concerns about the strength of the country’s consumer boom.
Non-food retail sales fell by 0.8 per cent in value over the period compared to a year earlier according to figures from the British Retail Consortium, released on Tuesday.
Consumers instead focused on essential goods, such as food and fuel, suggesting that rising prices are beginning to affect shopping habits.
The BRC data showed spending on food increased by 1.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the same period in 2016. “This is largely being driven by rising inflation,” said Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG. “So [there is] no reason for too much celebration.”
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show food prices were higher in February 2017 than February 2016 — the first time in nearly three years that food prices have risen year on year."

[harry_david] 11/4/2017 09:36

Inflation is killing non food growth especially imported product. This is giving Debs a head start, it will be especially interesting to see how their digital offering performs later this year.

[terminated] 11/4/2017 04:01

I can't see rents increasing ridiculously. The high street is emptying more and more, if they drive retailers to the wall they effectivly run themselves out of business.

[simon templar qc] 10/4/2017 17:31

Jaeger gone into administration someone will probably buy the brand, shops will probably close.

[simon templar qc] 10/4/2017 10:40

Comment today on upwards only rent reviews the market knows the company has lots of these and how they may push retailers to the wall..

[simon templar qc] 05/4/2017 12:25

Retailers been suffering deflation for the last few years, non food was 2% in March but prices are starting to reverse....



Its the reversal which will cause the problem as consumers cut back and retailers suffer input price rises margins will come under pressure.

There will be blood on the carpet some retailers will not be able to cope.

[pillion] 05/4/2017 11:32

Aye; and build it yourself
All those ugly screws showing.. Urgh !!

[1fox1] 05/4/2017 11:26

500 quid...........Some people must have more money than sense ha

[simon templar qc] 04/4/2017 11:21

Mixed news on the economic front.UK construction missed market forecasts but still growing, Europe retail sales up.

John Lewis Partnership week sales figures: week 9 weeks +6% weeks -0.3%

Waitrose week 9 =14.7% 9 weeks -0.3%

John Lewis week 9 -6% 9 weeks to date -0.2%

Overall figures still distorted by Easter, Debenhams will update on the 20th April this year when interims are out.

[pillion] 03/4/2017 22:22

Plastic, £500 and screw it yourself
They sure know how to charge

The generic name is Adirondack chair btw

[pillion] 03/4/2017 22:19

On the HOC thread I got Rollicked for posting photos of my chairs
however yesterday

Ring ring; my sister in law phoned
'Max, Max, Debenhams have copied your chair design!!'
So I looked and found this; [my chairs which I never sell, only give] except first one is DEBs

[simon templar qc] 02/4/2017 18:52

You are correct all I am saying is the market getting ever more competitive.

[edmundshaw] 02/4/2017 10:42

Not sure Aldi and Lidl compete with Debenhams. Different market, and the clothes line must be considerably downmarket to compete on price vs Tesco & Tu.

[simon templar qc] 02/4/2017 10:03

Business Insider came out with the news first. I would be tempted to not get too excited the Insider explains various options the BBC article doesn't.

The article mentions puts and contracts for differences who knows what Ashley is thinking.

There could be many options:

-merger
-gamble
-pressure on management for change and or placing his own goods in stores.

If Ashely was thinking of a bid one why not build a stake by buying stock?

Its a difficult one. Ashley knows the retail sector is changing he evidently thinks he has a solution. As for the Business Insider they also highlighted both Marks and Debenhams could struggle. I tend to think Marks is better placed myself for its food offering.

I also think there is going to be a major causally with the likes of Aldi and Lidl increasing their stores and also offering clothes.

[tintin82] 02/4/2017 09:46

Top news in the BBC business section! Sports Direct increasing stake. I would imagine a flurry of speculative buys on Monday on the back of this publicity? Will be interesting.

[simon templar qc] 01/4/2017 21:02

Comment on Sport Direct stake in Debenhsms by Business Insider.

Interim results out on 20th April at that stage they will have more clarity on prospects.

[simon templar qc] 01/4/2017 20:24

Tough year for retailers say UBS

"UBS believes it will be "at least 12-18 months" before any recovery in the market, saying: "With Brexit likely to weigh on confidence we prefer exposure to structural growth in online of beneficiaries of trading down in discount retail."
This is not just bad news for the likes of Debenhams and Marks & Spencer. This could be devastating for the UK economy. Once derided as a nation of shopkeepers, Britain is now a nation of shoppers and a large part of the nation's economic engine is fuelled by consumer spending."



Not certain how UBS thinks things will get better after 12-18 months according to growth forecasts nest years growth is lower than this year and if the economy falters this year things will get worse. We could end up with a further financial crisis further down the line.

[pillion] 01/4/2017 15:49

Debenhams set up dating site
Yes; they tried the same thing last year too -- Same date funnily enough

[simon templar qc] 01/4/2017 10:37

stewart,

Fair comment with regards to TK MAX, I tend to think TK is far worse on presentation but not far off, also TK tend to sell last year designer fashion labels and possible some seconds.

Time will tell whether they can run the course as the retail sector in a rapid change. I am on the fence at the moment with a downward stance.

[simon templar qc] 01/4/2017 09:55

Debenhams set up dating site

"As part of a plan to reinvent Debenhams as a “one stop do all” store Debenhams have started a project to incorporate a dating app for its loyal customers.
Apparently the software matches the shopping needs of customer’s and spending patterns and is a useful tool in forming the perfect match.
If anyone is looking for the perfect partner both prospective partners need to be aware of their partners spending habits."

Any comments?

[tintin82] 31/3/2017 15:41

Excellent article in this week's IC. UK retail - The Ultimate Contrarian Play. And why Scottish Investment Trust manager is piling in big time.