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Debenhams today thanked designers including Ben de Lisi for helping it to win market share from rivals and putting it on a trajectory of “improving” sales.
The department store group said the Designers at Debenhams range had helped takings in 158 stores in the UK and Ireland grow 1.7% in the 26 weeks to the end of February, although like-for-like sales edged up only 0.3%.
The chain flagged up the De Lisi-designed Principles clothes, claiming the brand had the potential to become its biggest.
Debenhams is also anticipating big sales from the H! range by Henry Holland, which will launch in the Oxford Street store tomorrow.
Chief executive Rob Templeman said exclusive ranges such as the Designers at Debenhams brands would be the “key driver of growth” at the group this year: “In 2009 we were one of only a handful of retailers to increase sales, margins and profits and we have done so again in the first half of 2010.”
Templeman said Debenhams had opened franchises in Iran and Vietnam during the period, as well as four British stores.
Analysts at KBC Peel Hunt said the group had shown a “solid performance” and pencilled in a half-year, pre-tax profit of £121.4 million.
