Catalogue and internet group N Brown said sales have jumped in the past 10 weeks as fashion sales improved amid better weather conditions.
Total group revenue increased 8 per cent while like-for-like sales increased 7.8 per cent, excluding newly opened stores. The group has begun opening small numbers of stores to better promote brands and capitalise on cheap high street rents.
'Ladieswear revenue has recovered as the weather has improved, and we continue to see strong growth from menswear and footwear. Home and gift’s sales momentum is continuing and it remains our fastest growing product category,' said chairman Andrew Higginson.
'The key brands targeted at customers aged under 50 years old - Simply Be, Fashion World and Jacamo, all delivered good growth,' he said.
Analysts at Cantor said the figures were ahead of City expectations.
The group, whose new chief executive Angela Spindler officially started work yesterday, said there were also strong performances from over-50s targeted brands including Marisota, House of Bath and Julipa. The JD Williams group of brands showed more 'modest' growth'.
It said 56 per cent of home shopping revenue is now accounted for by online orders and it is reducing its reliance on physical brochures to compensate. It has also launched Mariosota and Jacomo web sites in the US following previous entries with Simply Be and Figleaves.
It warned customers 'continue to face pressure' on their income despite continued momentum at the group.
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