Sir Philip Green to press ahead with sale of BHS

The high street retailer, which currently has a solid but unspectacular brand index rating of 14.3, has received “several serious approaches”, according to Sir Philip Green, who is now “exploring whether any of these can be brought to a conclusion.”

The 180-store BHS, which has been part of Arcadia, Green’s conglomerate that also includes Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, for 15 years has struggled to make an impact during his reign.

In 2013 it lost £69.6m on sales of £675.7m, which was down 3.5% on the previous year, while it recorded a cash loss of £21m in its last financial year. Green, however, insists that the retailer remains debt-free.

Last year, Green introduced a three-store trial of the convenience concept ‘BHS Food’ in a bid to revitalise the retailer’s fortunes. Although, the potential sale would appear to confirm that the food trial, which has the potential to be rolled out into 140 stores, was designed to attract potential suitors.

“I’m sure a lot of retailers would kill for the situation at BHS as rent is all built in and I have the cost base sorted,” said Green, who paid £200m for BHS in 2000, back in June in reference to potential buyers. “I’m sure there are people who wish they were good to go in convenience too which BHS Food proves we can do, and in over 100 well-positioned high street locations.”

Whoever purchases the high street retailer will be taking on a solid but unspectacular brand with BHS’ brand perception remaining flat.

BHS, as shown by YouGov’s BrandIndex, which measures retail brands index score by looking at consumer perception of quality, value, reputation and satisfaction, currently has an index score of 14.3, having only risen 0.6 percentage points over the last year. High street rivals M&S and John Lewis more than triple BHS’ rating, with respective scores of 48.6 and 48.3.

Over recent years, the retailer has relinquished the role of marketing director, although it did look to be in the market for one back in 2013.

Jonathan de Mello, head of retail at property agent Harper Dennis Hobbs, believes the BHS sale could lead to several international retailers opening in the UK.

“It is well known that premier department stores Galeries Lafayette from France, and La Rinascente from Italy have been interested in the UK for some time, and the BHS store on Oxford Street would look attractive,” he said.

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