Pureplay fashion giant Boohoo has opened its first-ever Debenhams.com beauty store in Manchester’s Arndale shopping centre, having acquired the former department store brand earlier in the year.

The new 7,552 sq ft store is set across two floors in the Arndale and is the first shop opening for Debenhams.com since its online channels were acquired out of administration by Boohoo in January. 

Boohoo said the store will “connect the online and physical retail worlds by using interactive screens with real-time posting via social media platforms displayed immediately on them”.

It said Debenhams.com has created a store that is “fresh, modern, and unique, an elevated space where customers can experience the latest in beauty”, drawing inspiration from the “high-end beauty and fragrances brands that will be housed within”.

With Boohoo being a Manchester-born company, the city and the Arndale specifically, “was the natural first choice” for the store’s location.

Debehnams.com homeware and beauty director Jeanette Whithear said: “We are delighted to be opening Debenhams.com beauty store, within the Manchester Arndale, especially as this is the home of the Boohoo Group. It feels like an organic location for this exciting retail space, within the heart of the city.  

“Since April, we have reintroduced multiple brands to Debenhams.com as well as new ones that have really grown the offering for our customers. With the next step of Debenhams.com beauty journey, I’m excited to see the crossover from our digital and physical elements come to life within the space as well as our range of brands increase dramatically into 2022.”  

Portfolio director at Arndale owner M&G, Scott Linard, said: “It is great news for Manchester Arndale that the Boohoo Group has chosen the centre as its first location for a Debenhams.com beauty store in the UK and we welcome it to the city. We have worked closely with Debenhams.com to realise this opportunity in just a matter of weeks and are extremely excited about how big a draw the new store is likely to be for our shoppers in the future.  

“It is also a great boost more generally for bricks and mortar retail and demonstrates that there will continue to be a balance between online and in-person shopping.”

To celebrate the opening of the store, Debenhams.com is hosting a VIP launch on December 9. The event will feature “beauty demonstrations, exclusive offers and sampling from iconic beauty brands housed at the flagship”.