As House of Fraser prepares for an overseas assault, with its first international store due to open this year and multi-language and currency websites planned for next year, Retail Week takes a look at who is doing what overseas in the department store sector.

Debenhams

Stores: The retailer has 79 stores overseas in 28 countries including Indonesia, Russia and the UAE. It also owns Danish department store Magasin du Nord which it acquired in 2009 for £12.3m.

Model: The majority of its overseas stores are run by franchisees, however it has 17 company owned stores.

Online: Debenhams launched its first foreign language website in Germany last year however it delivers to 66 countries outside of the UK.

House of Fraser

Stores: The retailer is set to open its first international store in Abu Dhabi later this year at the World Trade Centre Mall.

Model: House of Fraser is opening its first store through franchise partner Retail Arabia International.

Online: The retailer delivers to 131 countries but is plotting to launch multi-language, multi-currency websites next year.

John Lewis

Stores: The retailer has no overseas stores, although it does have two 850 sq ft own brand homewares shop-in-shops in South Korean department store Shinsegae. It plans to expand this operation however has no immediate plans for its own stores.

Model: wholesale

Online: John Lewis is set to launch dedicated websites for France and Germany by the end of the year and already sells goods online to 33 countries.

Selfridges

Stores: The retailer has no physical presence outside of the UK.

Online: Selfridges does not deliver overseas but customers can order items via telephone.

Harrods

Stores:  The retailer opened a 4,000 sq ft store in Kuala Lumpur in 2009.  It also spoke with local authorities in Shanghai in China in 2010 about opening a store there, however it is yet to come to fruition. Harrods also has shop-in-shops in Japanese department stores run by Mitsukoshi and Mitsubishi, a presence in the Lotte group department store in Seoul, Korea and in Takashimaya in Singapore.

Model: Company-owned store and wholesale

Online: The Harrods website is heavily oriented towards international selling, with overseas delivery is available to more than 60 countries. Areas covered include west and central Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand plus the Middle East.  However, it is yet to deliver to China.

Harvey Nichols

Stores: The retailer has seven international stores in the Middle and Far East with a further outlet planned in Azerbaijan next spring.

Model: The stores are franchised.

Online: Harvey Nichols does not deliver internationally.

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