Debenhams Reveal Increase in Number of People Working From Home

LONDON, August 20, 2010 - Debenhams has revealed new sales figures that show more people
than ever before are working from home to beat the recession.

Demand for home office furniture (
www.debenhams.com/home-furniture/furniture/home-office) and equipment
- compact desks, chairs, and filing cabinets - has jumped by over 340 per
cent in the past year alone, says department store Debenhams.

The trend could be good news for the Government which believes
that encouraging more people to start their own business is the secret to
beating the recession.

Debenhams spokesperson Carie Barkhuizen said: "Our figures
show that thousands of people who have lost their job are seizing the
opportunity to begin working for themselves.

"While redundancy is never good news, for many it will be the
push they have needed to take the plunge and set up their own company.

"Judging from past history, there's no doubt that many of
tomorrow's highly successful entrepreneurs are currently to be found running
their very first business from the corner of their own living room."

Small triangular shaped work stations, designed specifically
to fit unobtrusively into room corners or under the stairs are the top
sellers in Debenhams recently expanded office furniture list. Small,
glass-top desks (
www.debenhams.com/home-furniture/furniture/home-office) - just the
right size for a laptop computer, a telephone with a printer alongside - are
the next favourite buys.

However, there is one area where home workers are refusing to
compromise. Despite the recession, comparatively expensive, top-of-the-range,
super comfy, leather, swivel office chairs are still top of every home
worker's list. Often they will cost more than the desk.

Compact book shelves, filing cabinets (
www.debenhams.com/home-furniture/furniture/home-office/filing-cabinets
) and desk lamps are the next most popular items.

Debenhams research indicates that there are three main factors
driving the sudden surge in home office furniture.

By far the biggest influence is the number of workers made
redundant who are deciding to go it alone, using their existing knowledge and
skills to form their own fledging companies rather than seeking employment
elsewhere.

In addition, larger companies, seeking ways to reduce costs,
are now actively encouraging more employees to work at home rather than
occupying expensive office space.

A further push is coming from employees who see working from
home as a much better way to create a life-work balance rather than facing
the daily commute. The trend towards home working may also be good news for
the environment, reducing the need for commuting and fewer car journeys.

Carie Barkhuizen continued: "While Britain may once have been
a nation of shopkeepers, it is now becoming a nation of self starters.

"Working from home reduces the cost of running a business
dramatically, enabling new comers to undercut even established rivals in
every sector of commerce.

"Low overheads are essential to help every new business carve
out a market foothold, which they can then build into a successful company in
its own right."

About Debenhams:

Debenhams is a leading department stores group, and has a
strong presence in key product categories including women's fashion, with day
dresses, shoes, bikinis, jeans, men's clothing, home ware, make-up, health
and beauty, accessories, perfume, lingerie and children's wear.

Best-selling brands at Debenhams include Fake Bake, St Tropez
tan, Xen-Tan, Chanel, Lancaster, Famous Dave's, Natio, Benefit, Guerlain,
Elemis, bareMinerals, Piz Buin, Tantastic, Estee Lauder and Dior.

    For more information, images and samples, please contact:

    Dominique Rock
    Debenhams Assistant Press Officer
    33 Wigmore Street
    London
    W1U 1QX
    +44-(0)20-7529-0164
    www.debenhams.com

For more information, images and samples, please contact: Dominique Rock, Debenhams Assistant Press Officer, 33 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1QX, +44-(0)20-7529-0164