Debenhams stores in Wales were busy on Monday as they re-opened for the first time this year, but it won't be long before they close their doors for goods.
There were queues for more than three hours before they opened in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Llanelli, Wrexham, Llandudno and Bangor, as shoppers hoped to bag a closing down sale bargain.
Earlier this year, the chain has announced all of its stores will close after online fashion retailer Boohoo bought the Debenhams brand for £55 million and will relaunch as an online-only operation.
Newport and Swansea are among those cities likely to be hardest hit by the failure to find a buying for the physical stores run by the 242-year-old department store chain, which first went into administration last April.
The fire sale will offer up to 70% off fashion and home products, and up to 50% off beauty and fragrance lines.
Debenhams has 118 stores in the UK, but only 97 of them will welcome visitors for the closing down sale.
Non-essential shops are still not ready to open in Scotland so the 15 stores there will remain permanently closed.
Debenhams’ London flagship store is not due to re-open either.
Newport shopper Pamela Webb said: "It's really nice to see the shops back open again but who knows what the future is going to bring.
"You know, it's very sad for Newport because losing Debenhams, it's a really good store.
"I don't do any shopping online, I don't like online at all. I like to look at what I'm buying.
"it's nice to be out again. Obviously you've got a social distance, but hopefully it'll all go well.
"(Losing Debenhams) will have a big impact I think, on everybody really."
