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.