Who Do They Think They Are.

[teacake44]

I've just been reading in the Mail on Sunday, that the chief of Debenhams says unless the government slash their taxes, some of their flag ship stores may close, along with other smaller ones. Firstly who will really miss their inflated prices, may be some of these big knobs within this company should be thinned out, and certainly their massive salary reduced before any such tax hand out,. Most if not all shop floor staff are park time/ zero contract hours, certainly not over paid.
Its not the present pandemic that's put Debenhams in the position it is in today, although its what they want the government to believe, its just bad management, no smaller business would get support for sheer neglect and poor performance.

I walked through Debenhams yesterday, and do most weeks, and by what I see there is no attempt whatsoever to move with the times. The shop is bursting at the seams with expensive sock, and very high prices, and empty of customers, the perfume counters, like always are deserted, again due to expensive products that can be bought in the same centre for almost half the price of Debenhams. So why should they be demanding a tax handout?

[Bobbisox1]

Arh okay, no worries

[jno]

ah yes, Mamya, remember the Bourne from which no Hollingsworth returns...

[Mamyalynne]

Indeed.

[teacake44]

I may be well wrong, but looking back over many years, a lot of greed for much higher profits set in, in turn landlords saw opportunities to jump on the band waggon and keep increasing rents on a yearly basis, it just snow balls out of control, until they end up destroying each other. Landlords of pubs started many years ago selling food to boost their income, in turn breweries jumped on the band waggon again increasing rents, until no one wins, people no longer want a slice of the cake, they want it all. I don't think M&S was ever forgiven by the British public many years ago for turning their back on British made products, they've not enjoyed the high level of trading since doing that, in fact its been all down hill.

[MartinMillar]

British made products which were notoriously expensive

[naomi24]

//Most if not all shop floor staff are park time/ zero contract hours//

How do you know that? In my experience big companies like Debenhams are good employers.

I would be very sorry to see Debenhams close down.

[teacake44]

16.34 No different now, at least the money stopped in this country. We have left our selves wide open, to be ripped off by the rest of the world.

[teacake44]

16.38, How do I know that, I've known a few people that have worked for them, who know of other people that have also worked for them, I've also seen many adds for staff quoting hours required to work. Big companies like Debenhams did at one time be good employers, but not any longer I'm afraid.

[MartinMillar]

Lol as always you spout rubbish without any evidence to back up your raving

[teacake44]

You lost the gift of debate MM, so you resort to abuse, I will ignore any of your further comments.

[naomi24]

Hearsay then.

[MartinMillar]

Just like you abuse others teacake?
Debating means you need evidence for your argument you have not provided any again

[teacake44]

Whatever you think N, did you miss the adds then.?

[andy-hughes]

Who do they think they are?

They are executives running a large and increasingly out-of-date retail chain who are going to bow to the market forces faced by every other retailers, and go out of business.

[teacake44]

Some will go out of business yes if they are not prepared, or unwilling to change. The like of Primark are still filling their stores with customers.

[andy-hughes]

teacake - // Some will go out of business yes if they are not prepared, or unwilling to change. The like of Primark are still filling their stores with customers. //

That's because Primark knows it market, and services that market - people who want to buy inexpensive clothes on the High Street.

Debenhams are appealing to a dying market - their brands and styles appeal to an older demographic, and the younger demographic is not interested in what they sell, so they either wake up and modernise, or go down like the dinosaurs they are.

[Deskdiary]

It’s too easy to say the rents are too high, but it needs to be remembered that the property owners are businesses too with the own staff to pay, shareholders to satisfy, many pension funds are invested in large property owners, their running costs and, and I know it’s a filthy thought to some, like every business, they’re in it for profit.

[burlyshirley]

To be fair, I feel sorry for them. Why does the High Street always have to be full of cheap shops. Debenhams has always been classy and there's nowt wrong with a bit of class. My dear, departed Mum used to love Debenhams and I have bought lovely Christmas presents from there at times. I, for one, would be sad to see it go.

[teacake44]

Yep, I agree, that's why I wouldn't agree to tax payers money being used to prop them up. If the so called executives can't work out what's wrong with their business plans, ( if they have any) then no amount of government support now or in the future will save them. If you look at M&S they've made little effort to attract anyone under 50 years old for years.