Debenhams Group is considering bringing boohoo and PrettyLittleThing into physical retail through concessions as it continues to reshape its business around an increasingly integrated marketplace model.
The group is exploring opportunities to introduce its fashion brands into physical locations, potentially marking a significant change of direction for businesses built predominantly around online retail.
The move follows an improving performance across the group, with PrettyLittleThing, boohoo and Karen Millen returning to growth.
Debenhams Group has been transforming its operations around a capital-light marketplace strategy, reducing its reliance on owned inventory while increasing the number of third-party brands available through its ecosystem.
Marketplace gross merchandise value now represents 38.9 per cent of group GMV, while the wider ecosystem has grown to around 30,000 brands and partners.
The potential introduction of concessions would add another dimension to that strategy, giving the group’s online fashion brands access to physical retail without necessarily requiring a return to a traditional standalone store model.
It follows a series of changes across Debenhams Group, including the recent $16m sale of Nasty Gal and £90m disposal of its Sheffield distribution centre as it simplifies operations and focuses investment on its core brands and marketplace strategy.
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