Debenhams - where beauty and fashion collide

If you are a British lover like me you surely know many things about Debenhams. It is one of the most known and loved British stores. I had my first encounter with Debenhams in 2008 during my first trip to London, I visited the Oxford Street one. I loved its grand size and its diversity in fashion (sizes from the xs to the xxl ones) and prices. Of course I bought some clothes that I still love and wear. Very good quality products and very fashionable too!

One of my complaints about the shops they opened in Romania a few years ago was that they only brought a small variety of products comparing with the stores in UK and the beauty section was completely missing!
  
I am glad to share with you the good news : Debenhams re-opens its Romanian stores, starting from 26th March (the shop in Bucuresti Mall). And the most important thing : the new store will host a beauty section with over 100 beauty brands including skin care, make-up and perfumes (among them being Dior, Lancome, Givenchy, Bvlgari, Dolce&Gabbana, Estee Lauder, Calvin Klein, Paco Rabanne and L'Oreal). An entire beauty universe to explore!

Debenhams is a leading international, multi-channel brand with a proud British heritage which trades out of 240 stores across 28 countries. Debenhams gives its customers around the world a unique, differentiated and exclusive mix of own brands, international brands and concessions.

In the UK, Debenhams has a top four market share in womenswear and menswear it also has a top 10 share in childrenswear. It leads the market in premium health and beauty. Debenhams is available online in 70 countries and is the 11th biggest UK online retailer by traffic volume.

Debenhams has been investing in British design for 20 years through its exclusive Designers at Debenhams portfolio of brands. Current designers include Ted Baker, Jeff Banks, Jasper Conran, Erickson Beamon, FrostFrench, Henry Holland, Roksanda Illincic, Betty Jackson, Jonathan Kelsey, Carol Lake, Ben de Lisi, Julien Macdonald, Melissa Odabash, Jane Packer, Jenny Packham, Pearce Fionda, Preen, Janet Reger, John Rocha, Jonathan Saunders, Lisa Stickley, Yukari Sweeney, Ashley Thomas, Eric Van Peterson and Matthew Williamson.

    A little Debenhams history : 

Debenhams traces its history to 1778 when William Clark established a drapers store at 44 Wigmore Street in London's West End selling expensive fabrics, bonnets, gloves and parasols. In 1813 William Debenham invested in the firm which then became Clark & Debenham. The first store outside London opened in Cheltenham in 1818 and it was an exact replica of the Wigmore Street store.

In the following years the firm prospered from the Victorian fashion for family mourning by which widows and other female relatives adhered to a strict code of clothing and etiquette. When Clement Freebody invested in the firm in 1851 it was renamed Debenham & Freebody.

As well as its retail stores, a wholesale business was established selling cloth and other items to dressmakers and other large retailers. In 1905 Debenhams Ltd was incorporated. In 1919, the business merged with Marshall & Snellgrove and in 1920 purchased Knightsbridge retailer Harvey Nichols.

Seven years later the involvement of the Debenham family finally ended and the business became a public company for the first time in 1928. By 1950, Debenhams was the largest department store group in the UK, owning 84 companies and 110 stores. It continued to grow and in 1966 central buying was introduced for the first time.

From 1985 to 1998, Debenhams was part of the Burton Group. During that time the business was repositioned with the introduction of exclusive merchandise  most notably Designers at Debenhams which was launched in 1993 and a significant increase in the number of stores. In 1997 the first international franchise store opened in Bahrain.
... And the story continues ...

Until next time ,

source : Debenhams