Debenhams opens store in Jakarta
Debenhams opens store in Jakarta
Leading British department store Debenhams opened its first store
here on Friday at Plaza Indonesia in Jakarta, focusing on the
high-end market that is currently dominated by SOGO and Metro.
Debenhams international director Francis Mcauley said that
having opened a total of 15 international stores worldwide, the
UK-based retailer aimed to expand its global sales growth by 7
percent this year.
"We chose Indonesia because it is such a massive country and
it has been doing well since the 1997 crisis," said Mcauley, who
is responsible for managing growth and sourcing new partners in
chosen markets.
Debenhams opened in Indonesia through a franchise license
bought by PT Benua Hamparan Luas, a subsidiary of PT Mitra
Adiperkasa, a holding company that has the exclusive franchise
licenses for SOGO Department Store, Marks & Spencer, Starbucks
Coffee and Kinokuniya Bookstore.
Mitra Adiperkasa, whose president director is retired general
and former Indonesian ambassador to Singapore HBL Mantiri, is
planning an initial public offering by November.
PT Mitra Adiperkasa director Indrawana Widjaja said the new
store would give local customers new options, as Debenhams
provides leading designer wear products at affordable prices.
"Having observed local fashion trends and shopping habits, we
are confident that Debenhams will appeal to Indonesians, and we
look forward to opening more stores in the country," said
Indrawana, who acts as the spokesperson for Debenhams in
Indonesia.
Debenhams is one of Britain's oldest retailers, opening its
first store on London's Wigmore Street 225 years ago.
The new Jakarta store is the 15th Debenhams opened outside of
the United Kingdom -- and the second in the Far East, following
the Debenhams that opened in Malaysia last year.
The other Debenhams international stores are in Bahrain,
Dubai, Hungary, Iceland, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sharjah and
Sweden. There are over 100 Debenhams stores in the UK and
Ireland.
According to reports, Debenhams global sales reached US$2.86
billion last year, with an annual average growth of 9.1 percent.