Debenhams Review.

Debenhams is a leading department store group with astrong presence in womenswear, menswear, childrenswear,health and beauty, accessories, lingerie and home.  Debenhams was founded 1778 by Messrs Flint and Clark as a single store in london. At the end of 2009, Debenhams had a total of 154 stores in the UK and republic of ireland. of these, 144 are department stores which offer a full selection of products including womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, health and beauty, accessories, lingerie, home and food services. The other ten are Desire by Debenhams stores. The company was listed on the LSE in 2006. The next Debenhams store to open is Carmarthen as part of the St. Catherine's Walk developmment. This store opens 30th April 2010.  2009 headline profit before tax and amortisation from capitalised bank fees was £125.2 million, an increase of 13.7 per cent over the £110.1 million achieved last year. Profit before tax of £120.8 million grew by 14.1 per cent (2008: £105.9 million). Debenhams Direct, the online business and website, continued to grow in 2009. Sales were up 31.0 per cent to £55.1 million (2008: £42.1 million), resulting in a contribution to total gross transaction value of 2.4 per cent (2008: 1.8 per cent) the number of visitors to Debenhams Direct increased by 36.8 per cent during the year.