What: It has reportedly become the UK’s largest marketplace across fashion, beauty, sport and homeware.

Why it is important: After closing all stores almost a year ago, Debenhams’ platform accounts for 300 million UK website visits per year and is positioned as the number two retailer of skincare products in the UK while it has the largest market share in make-up products. It’s clearly targeting leadership in other categories too with the launch of the marketplace.

The Boohoo Group-owned retailer and Mirakl (powering the platform) said the new marketplace “enables Debenhams to meet evolving customer demand, rapidly scaling [the] assortment to more than 70,000 new products in three months”.

Debenhams said it can now “quickly onboard new brands, as well as maintain and extend both existing Boohoo and Debenhams brand relationships”. The retailer has already made around 200 new brands available through the new marketplace, and “new suppliers and brands are joining weekly”.

Debenhams launches giant marketplace as it targets fast growth