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Published on: 20/04/2017 09:13 AMReported by: roving-eye
it is not known if the Southport store on Lord Street is under consideration for closure.
Debenhams will consider closing up to 10 of its 176 stores under a review announced by its new chief executive, Sergio Bucher.
The department store chain, whose shares have fallen a third over the last year, said more investment is required to improve its mobile systems, supply chain and store estate.
It is consulting on the closure of the DHL-run Lodge Farm distribution centre in Northamptonshire, which employs 220 staff and would close in two years' time.
Ten smaller in-house warehouses could also close.
Debenhams said it hoped many staff could be redeployed.
The plans were revealed alongside half-year results showing a 6.4% fall in pre-tax profits to £87.8m, though UK like-for-like sales rose 0.5%.
Its shares were down 3% on the news.
Mr Bucher, a former Amazon executive who took over in October, said the overhaul would see the stores potentially closed over the next five years.
As part of his 'Fix the Basics' plan, around 2,000 staff will also be moved to customer-facing roles.
The group will also axe some in-house brands and quit some of its international markets.
Stores will be de-cluttered with a 10% reduction in stock options and stock will be replenished faster.
Mr Bucher said: "Our customers are changing the way they shop and we are changing too.
"Shopping with Debenhams should be effortless, reliable and fun, whichever channel our customers use.
"We will be a destination for 'social shopping' with mobile the unifying platform for interacting with our customers."
The department store said its online performance during the half-year had been driven by a 64% increase in mobile orders.
Mr Bucher added: "If we deliver differentiated and distinctive brands, services and experiences both online and in stores, our customers will visit us more frequently.
"And, having simplified our operations to make us more efficient, we will be able to serve them better and make better use of our resources."
Debenhams, the country's second-largest department store group, employs 19,000 people in its stores.
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They could downsize and move into the old BHS site.
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A very good suggestion Fairhaven, just one downside occurs to me, possibly moving to the former BHS site, would leave another large store vacant.
The local scroats would no doubt, thrive on the opportunity to raise their profiles by vandalising a large property on Southports main shopping boulevard!!!.
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