Store modernisations

We are accelerating our store modernisation programme so that all our customers can have a local store to be proud of. Store modernisations focus on newness – new brands, new product categories and new services as well as new layouts and store infrastructure – and on increased choice. We improve lighting. We open up the circulation of the store, revise walkway patterns and increase the visibility of lifts and escalators. We introduce a new food offer to match a new restaurant format and where possible we add new space, especially in productive, high sales density areas like the ground floor. Although modernising a store inevitably causes disruption to sales whilst the work is underway, we know how to manage this and minimise disruption by advance planning, driving sales immediately prior to modernisation through special promotions and bringing large blocks of space such as the cosmetics department back on stream as early as possible. These pictures show Debenhams Gloucester which prior to modernisation was one of the worst stores in the whole estate. Now it is one of the best.