Debenhams has a successful brand portfolio of approximately 55 own brands including 25 Designers at Debenhams brands. The Designers at Debenhams range offers customers exclusive product lines at mainstream prices by designers such as Jasper Conran, Julien Macdonald, John Rocha and Matthew Williamson. International brands are either bought by Debenhams or available through in-store concessions.
Debenhams has over 140 stores including our Desire by Debenhams stores, across the UK and Ireland with approximately 10.2 million square feet of trading space and around 22,000 employees. In addition Debenhams has over 35 International franchise stores in 16 countries outside the UK and Ireland, with a further 12 franchises scheduled to open by the end of the 2008 financial year.
We've been a dominant force in retail on Britain's high streets for many years and we're still growing and changing. Our internet shopping site is growing rapidly, serving a new generation of shoppers. Desire is our new smaller format fashion store and we are opening several new outlets for the brand this year. We help shoppers find the right outfits for any occasion with our Personal Shoppers and our Wedding List service has seen great success.
There has never been a better time to join us.