Based in Taunton in Somerset, Magenta employs around 80 staff and has a turnover of around £13m. As an integral part of Debenhams, it is tasked with printing the vast amount of promotions, display graphics and signage for the firm in its 173 stores with a big chunk of work for instore clients and third party customers.

In 2015 Magenta, which prints around one million square metres of graphics a year took delivery of two Rho P10 250 HS’s from Durst with three-quarter automation and roll-to-roll. They also have a B1 five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster CX 102 with inline coating, Xerox kit including an iGen 150, a Nuvera 157 and a Color 1000 and finishing equipment including two Esko Kongsberg XL cutters.

At the recent Agfa red carpet event in Belgium, representatives of Magenta privately denied there was a problem for Debenhams and were bullish about the future”

The sale has been triggered by a collapse in the company’s profits which are expected to fall well below £40m this year compared to more than £150m in 2013. Part of the fire sale are a chain of Danish shops the firm owns plus the closure of some of its department stores along with job losses. Sergio Bucher of Debenhams says footfall is down due to the trend to internet shopping saying there seems no end in sight to the way retailing is heading.

The store is to sell off its print and sign business. Pic: Irish Times

At the recent Agfa red carpet event in Belgium, representatives of Magenta privately denied there was a problem for Debenhams and were bullish about the future. However, the store is not exempt from the loss of trade to the likes of Amazon with House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer also downsizing. If a buyer is found and if Debenhams and other stores fill their floor space with restaurants, cafes and leisure facilities then it is possible there will still be plenty of work for printers, sign-makers and wide-format print operators.

Do you think this is the wrong move for Debenhams? Can the crisis on the high street end or will things never be the same again? Should the Government tax the likes of Amazon and give tax breaks to shops to save jobs and reinvigorate town centres? Email your thoughts to harry@linkpublishing.co.uk or call me on 0117 9805 040 – or follow me on Twitter and join in the debate.

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