This week saw iconic British High Street retailer, Debenhams closes the curtains on their physical stores.
After announcing their administration in December 2020, online fashion retailer group Boohoo bought out the Debenhams brand and website for £55m in January of this year.
Labour MP, Ed Miliband called for the Government to state how they would support the loss of 25,000 jobs on the High Street.
The company revealed six shops would not reopen after the latest lockdown, including the flagship store on London's Oxford Street. With the Boohoo group deciding to close all remaining 118 stores after the purchase, placing 12,000 jobs up for redundancy.
The UK's fourth largest Debenhams store, located in Birmingham's Bullring, saw their shutters go down for the last time on 15 May - with employees and crowds of customers cheering.
Video credits: Sennen Prickett
Joint administrator to Debenhams and partner at FRP, Geoff Rowley said: "We are very grateful for the efforts of the management team and staff who have worked so hard throughout the most difficult of circumstances to keep the business trading."
All reasonable steps were taken to complete a transaction that would secure the future of Debenhams. However, the economic landscape is extremely challenging and, coupled with the uncertainty facing the UK retail industry, a viable deal could not be reached. The decision to move forward with a closure programme has been carefully assessed and, while we remain hopeful that alternative proposals for the business may yet be received, we deeply regret that circumstances force us to commence this course of action.
Geoff Rowley of FRP Advisory, joint administrator to Debenhams and Partner at FRP
The purchase of the 242 year old department store came to surface after Boohoo secured many other High Street names including: Oasis, Dorothy Perkins and Karen Millen.
Long term Debenhams shopper, Gill Lewis said: "I went into Debenhams and it was so sad, there was nothing there, it was awful'. She added: 'There are no shops for younger people, although there are no shops for any age now".
Boohoo's next steps for the department store includes a shift to the online retail sector. Going completely digital, Debenhams relaunched online with a 30% off sale across the entire site.
Carrie Rose, Founder of digital marketing agency Rise at Seven, said: "There is and always will be space for a department store - but nothing like we see them as today. They need a lot of innovation, renovation and thought into the future of a department store and how this can work for younger generations as they grow."
The 28 year old CEO added: "Debenhams has a strong presence already, so their future looks bright despite closing their stores."
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