Agenda: Debenhams and Carpetright post updates

Carpetright

The floorings specialist updates the City on its second quarter trading on Tuesday. Carpetright will be looking to continue in the vein of its full-year results, when it unveiled a 33% jump in full-year profits.

Boss Wilf Walsh has insisted it is “full steam ahead” for the business despite being “personally disappointed” by the result of the EU referendum. Carpetright imports 60% of its carpets from Europe, but is in “good shape to increase market share whatever happens”, Walsh insisted earlier this year.

The retailer is undeterred and is pressing ahead with plans to refurbish 100 stores and roll out a new brand identity across its estate.

Debenhams

The department store business unveils its full-year results on Thursday, less than two weeks into new boss Sergio Bucher’s reign.

Debenhams posted a 0.2% dip in like-for-likes during its third quarter as fashion sales remained sluggish, although its health and beauty division enjoyed an increase of 7% on a like-for-like basis.

Half-Swiss, half-Spanish Bucher, who joined Debenhams from Amazon earlier this month, is unlikely to take a central role on Thursday as he gets his feet under the table, but the eyes of the City will soon be on him to reveal his strategy for the retailer sooner rather than later.

He is expected to overhaul Debenhams multichannel strategy and review its property portfolio as he sets about transforming the business.