Debenhams to sell their print division

Fears for jobs as department store puts print shop division up for sale

The latest casualty in the decline of the High Street has emerged as strugglig Debenhams are to sell off their entire printing division along with closing several stores. In the trade press the story of the firm's decline is only matched by the fears for its printing division in Taunton as it puts it up for sale. Magenta is integrated within the business but remains a seperate entity. With a ten million pound turnover and some 80 staff it looks like an uncertain time from the workers at the plant. 

Print Monthly reports: "As an integral part of Debenhams, it is tasked with printing the vast amount of promotions, display graphics and signage for the firm in its 173 stores with a big chunk of work for instore clients and third party customers. In 2015 Magenta who print around 1m sqm of graphics a year took delivery of two Rho P10 250 HSs with three-quarter automation and roll-to-roll. They also have a B1 five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster CX 102 with inline coating, Xerox kit including an iGen 150, a Nuvera 157 and a Color 1000 and finishing equipment including two Esko Kongsberg XL cutters.

"The sale has been triggered by a collapse in the company’s profits which are expected to fall well below £40m this year compared to more than £150m in 2013. Part of the fire sale are a chain of Danish shops the firm owns plus the closure of some of its department stores along with job losses. Sergio Bucher of Debenhams says footfall is down due to the trend to internet shopping saying there seems no end in sight to the way retailing is heading."

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