Debenhams Share Discussion Threads

[terminated] 20/5/2017 10:35

Fair point essential investor. I'm focusing on clothes only because clothing retailers are having a tough time at the minute, Debenhams has said previously that this division has taken a big hit, and a lot of floor space is dedicated to it. I know cosmetics is a big earner and is unlikely to be affected by any downturn. In truth I dont know the breakdown and I would be interested in knowing.

[libertine] 20/5/2017 09:25

Non‐clothing sales mix represented 56% of GTV in H1 2017, up 1% year‐on‐year.

[essentialinvestor] 19/5/2017 21:14

Terminated, what % of DEB's pre tax is derived from clothes sales?,
you appear to be posting as if Debenhams is an apparel only retailer.

[turbocharge] 19/5/2017 17:37

Holding @ 50.5

[simon templar qc] 19/5/2017 17:29

Turbo this could go either way.

The market and analysts are sell the company will warn.

Mike Ashley sets the dilemma he could in fact bid or he could await a near bust.

Place your bets?

If you agree with the market analysts short if you agree with an upturn or bid buy.

[essentialinvestor] 19/5/2017 17:02

What I see atm (at least in terms of commercial property) is the rise
of smaller specialist retailers. Often they have a strong online offering
which they augment with some physical stores.

At the other end of the market low cost operators from ALDI to Primark continue to
pursue aggressive physical expansion.

[turbocharge] 19/5/2017 16:53

QC #1765 I hope the vultures set to swoop will push the price in the right direction for those who are holding. Agree something seems to be brewing, and a significant share price move is looking likely. At least that's my guess.

[niggle] 19/5/2017 16:42

I agree - if there was something special I would hit the high street to find it.

[simon templar qc] 19/5/2017 14:47

Niggle your previous post is spot on my town is just full of coffee shops, the moment a clothes retailer closes down that is what opens.

The retailers need to diversify quite quickly otherwise they will go under.

One can get round this by specialist shops but even that is getting difficult.

The world is changing fast. I happen to prefer a specialist clothes shop for the quality due to the need for "touchy feely" cut of garments, however even I buy online as well.

[niggle] 19/5/2017 14:00

EssentialInvestor

Spot on. Whereas Philip Green would be obsessed with density, (t/o per square foot), the standard merchandising/buying/bottom line approach, modern social space thinking focuses on enjoyment.

edmundshaw

They have a very long way to go and frankly they don't have the time.

[edmundshaw] 19/5/2017 13:57

yes, if only Debenhams provided some social space and food, or a modern coffee shop in-store at least...

Oh, hang on...
hxxp://www.debenhams.com/content/store-services/food-services

[essentialinvestor] 19/5/2017 13:18

It's why many of the larger retail spaces offer food and drink availability,
gyms, child play areas and multitude of other services.

Whether DEB can thrive going forward would be less sure of,
at least their last update shows a more realistic grasp of the
changing market.

12 months ago they were still banging on about their store opening pipeline.

[niggle] 19/5/2017 13:07

Terminated

You still don't get it. It's not about that, it's all about convenience. I think high streets will continue to evolve in to more communal spaces. Far fewer shops and those that do survive will be a lot more specialised.

Human beings are essentially social animals. We need interaction so we will continue to go out but not necessarily to shop. Let's face it most of us feel that shopping is a chore. Utility shopping like cleaning stuff, bog roll, frozen stuff, water, groceries, printer ink and stationery will order itself when we get low - and probably arrive within a few hours. Amazon do prime already which gets stuff to you in 24 hours but their aim is for 1 hour. (There is a new Brita dispenser that simply reorders supplies itself when they get low)

Basic clothing, jeans, t'shirts, trainers, jumpers, stuff we wear every day - we'll just shop online. We may need a tailor if we need a special suit but frankly I can't think of anything I wear day to day that I need to go out for and buy in a shop. I accept that fitting is an issue but it has not stopped these categories being the biggest on line and fitting is improving and becoming more standardised. It will continue to do so. Shops hate returns - standard fitting and virtual wardrobes can obviate a high percentage.

This will leave the high streets for cafe's and coffee shops. (Costa is hugely successful), bars, restaurants, community spaces, children's play centres where adults can mingle. There will be 'coming together' spaces that you or I haven't even heard of yet.

Think of how pubs have had to change - once stuffy, smokey bars where old men hung out; they now sell high quality food, have play areas, host pub quizzes and have generally adapted to a more family oriented lifestyle.

Shopping centres and malls will have to change as old retailers go out of business or retire to online only.

It's happening in front of your eyes so instead of sitting back in your comfy chair and scoffing at me why not read up on it? it might enlighten you. :)

[simon templar qc] 19/5/2017 13:04

Dead cat bounce guys if ever you saw one.

Has anyone noticed the posting rate come to life the last few weeks?. The rate of increase in posting suggest a significant move soon in the share price the vultures set to swoop.

Anything could happen now significant trades could be seen erratic share movements.

Mark my words.

[essentialinvestor] 19/5/2017 12:58

There will be physical stores for a generation to come and beyond.

What is more likely to happen is an increasing concentration in prime sites,
destination locations, physical outlets can also facilitate click and collect
retail models.

[turbocharge] 19/5/2017 12:47

If people could make sure DEB climbs to around 55 in their pontifications, it would be greatly appreciated. I'll be able to exit at that point and feel less worried...

[terminated] 19/5/2017 12:23

OK Niggle in the future there will be no physical stores on the high street because basically everything is online at a cheaper price. I get you...

[niggle] 19/5/2017 11:48

edmundshaw - quite - it's very precious - you should be honoured :)

I am not disputing that at all - it is this denial of what is happening right in front of you that I find most bemusing.

Unless they do something quite remarkable like Psyche or Selfridges I find the whole concept of a department store quite depressing.

[edmundshaw] 19/5/2017 11:06

Oh niggle, as we are all out-of-touch geriatric technophobes it is very kind of you to give us your time...

Fortunately, there are a lot of us, and we quite happily shop at stores like Debenhams (where I see a remarkable number of quite youthful looking geriatric technophobes, obviously very out of touch...). In fact there is a bigger number of 18-24s as customers than age range 25-34, and more or less the same as the 35-55 age group. They buy different stuff, and it is lower margin in general, but Debenhams is not simply losing out to the social media generation.

[niggle] 19/5/2017 10:07

Terminated,

You teach IT yet you know nothing about eCommerce and online retailing? That is no surprise, most so called IT teachers are way out of touch with the modern world.

You have seen that the best selling online categories apart from mobiles are clothing and footwear yet you still take the time to tell me why you and your friends don't shop for those items online.

Who cares?

They are the biggest selling categories and I work with online fashion retailers every day of the week. The numbers are staggering!

[ny boy] 19/5/2017 08:12

Signs of an up turn in buying interest following the Chairmains purchase.

[terminated] 18/5/2017 17:49

Niggle: I teach IT for a living so calling me a technophobe just highlights how you like to jump to conclusions which are not always correct.

Many won't order clothes online because you have no idea how they fit. Hell I go into stores and try on clothes I like the look of on the rack but end up returning most of them back to the rack because they just don't look like I imagined when I try them on. This has nothing to do with being out of touch it is a reality for most people. My friends do the same and the only time my girlfriend has ordered something online was when her size was not available on the rack and even then she ends up returning it to the shop 7/10. Returning stuff online is a pain in the ass. Size guides are vastly different from one manufacturer to another and unless they all get together and agree how to measure a 34" waist this problem is here to stay.

To highlight this: I ordered a pair of walking boots from amazon a few weeks before a walking trip in March, they were slightly too big despite ordering the size I normally wear but I didn't want to return them for an exchange for fear of not getting them back in time, despite having 2 weeks spare. I regret getting them now as they loosened up even more over time and I will be more wary in the future. I'm sure there are many who can relate t this...

[ny boy] 18/5/2017 14:18

I have one fool that follows me around just putting up a thumbs down, surely there are better things to do with the borrowed time we all have on this great planet?

Really advfn, should remove this pointless thumbs up & down