Selma Roth Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Debenhams on Saturday announced the opening of a large department store at Jeddah's Red Sea Mall. Spread out over two floors and covering an area of 5,670 square meters, the new store marks the 11th Debenhams in the Kingdom and the second largest in the country. The festive opening attracted hundreds of shoppers who were eager to get a first glimpse of the brand-new store and receive one of the discount vouchers. Kevin Pender, brand marketing and visual manager of Alshaya International Trading Co., who owns and operates the Debenhams franchise in the Middle East, said he and his team were very excited about the new store. “We wanted to be part of this mall for a long time, because it's a fantastic mall,” he said, explaining that they had just been waiting for a large space to become vacant, which finally happened in March this year. The store at Red Sea Mall is the third in Jeddah and offers some exclusive ranges of products that cannot be found in any other Debenhams in the Kingdom, Pender said. It is also unique in that an entire floor of women's wear, accessories, handbags, cosmetics, shoes, and lingerie will be staffed by ladies, while the second floor includes children's and men's wear as well as a home division. “We are very proud that as of now, in Debenhams, we have 150 ladies working for us,” Peter Larkin, Debenhams senior operations manager in the Middle East, said. “Almost two years ago, we only had 10.” Pointing to the store's woman sales manager and her assistant, who had been part of the entire launching process, he continued: “We have a program … that grows and develops new female managers of the future, so they will be replacing me and Kevin (Pender) over the next few years. The future is with our female staff, and they're fantastic.” The newest and most up-to-date Debenhams in the Middle East with the latest equipment, layout and products will have “a strong emphasis on our designers,” said Larkin, adding that the store is the first in Jeddah to have fitting rooms for ladies as well. He revealed that a new, ladies-only store would be opened in August next year in Jeddah's Hera Mall and there were plans for two or three more “family format” stores in the coastal city too with a strong focus on their female clientele.
