Partner Article

Jubilee sales lift Debenhams half-year sales

Department store chain Debenhams has seen trading lift in the wake of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, although damp conditions hampered clothing sales.

Like-for-like sales increased by 1.4% during the period between last September and March, as shoppers responded to promotions over the Jubilee weekend, Mother’s Day and Easter.

Despite this, the store’s clothing sales were still hit by bad weather.

However, this was alleviated by increased sales of beauty and health products over the period, and the department store’s key womenswear division did grow during the first half of the financial year.

Debenhams expect to report a broadly flat full year performance, although they have already indicated that profits will be less this year than in 2011, but remain “comfortable” with market expectations for pre-tax profits.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .