- Debenhams opens its first store in Australia
- The store’s small-format layout – across two storeys and 3600sqm – is the first of its kind for Debenhams and is a notable shift away from the traditional department store format in Australia.
- David Smith, Debenhams’ Managing Director, International, said:“International expansion in key markets is a strategic priority for the business. Shoppers in Australia spend more than $5.1 billion on fashion and $8.0 billion on beauty products a year¹ – add that to the fact that we know that our offering resonates and the next logical step for the business was to open a store in Australia”.
London, 2017-Nov-01 — /EPR Retail News/ — Leading British retailer, Debenhams is extending its global footprint with the opening of its first store in Australia today (24 October).
The store in Melbourne is the first site with franchise partner, Pepkor, part of the Steinhoff Group.
The store’s small-format layout – across two storeys and 3600sqm – is the first of its kind for Debenhams and is a notable shift away from the traditional department store format in Australia. The store features a unique mix of clothing and products from the retailer’s extensive portfolio of household British designer names including Jasper Conran, Julien Macdonald, Preen, Savannah Miller, Matthew Williamson and Jenny Packham. In-store services include style suite, beauty rooms and café.
David Smith, Debenhams’ Managing Director, International, said: “International expansion in key markets is a strategic priority for the business. More than 20 million shoppers visit our 175 UK and ROI stores each year and this includes a huge number of Australian consumers.
“Shoppers in Australia spend more than $5.1 billion on fashion and $8.0 billion on beauty products a year¹ – add that to the fact that we know that our offering resonates and the next logical step for the business was to open a store in Australia.”
Graham Dean, Managing Director of Debenhams Australia, said the international retailer has brought more than two centuries of experience and success to the opening of Debenhams St Collins Lane.
“The opening of Debenhams St Collins Lane is an evolution of our success with the Australian market, with online sales to Australia already the largest outside of the United Kingdom. We have a track record of getting retail right – Debenhams St Collins Lane is not a traditional store, and we are confident in this new offering in a popular area of the Melbourne CBD.”
Debenhams St Collins Lane opened yesterday and joins a portfolio of 243 Debenhams stores across 28 countries worldwide. The store will trade in line with CDB trading hours.
CONTACTS:
Debenhams Press Office
020 3549 6420
press.office@debenhams.com
Source: Debenhams
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