Debenhams Prepares Premium Delivery Service As Online Sales Rise 40%

Department store Debenhams said this morning that online sales grew 40 per cent in the past 16 weeks with market share in all categories growing 'strongly'.

Debenhams is also preparing to launch a premium next day delivery service in September to 'improve customer service and enable us to recover more of our fulfilment and delivery costs.'

The chain said online sales accounted for 14 per cent of sales in the period ending June 22 while online share of the clothing market increased 0.7 per cent to 3.7 percent. Its share of the online premium beauty market is 31.9 per cent, it said.

Visits via mobiles increased 85 per cent compared to the same period last year.

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After a difficult period for clothing retailers battling unseasonable weather, Debenhams said it grew market share despite poor sales growth. Total sales increased 1 per cent and like-for-like sales were flat in the period. Total fashion market share increased 0.2 per cent, womenswear 0.1 per cent, menswear 0.4 per cent, premium beauty 0.5 per cent and home 0.2 per cent.

Debenhams chief executive Michael Sharp said: 'Debenhams has delivered a robust performance continuing to grow market share in our key categories in a challenging and volatile period. I'm particularly pleased that we have maintained strong growth of online sales.'