McArthurGlen reports strong Christmas trading
Designer outlet group McArthurGlen saw like-for-like sales across its six UK centres increase by 8% in December following a 9% rise in November as many shoppers started their Christmas shopping earlier this year.
In the run-up to Christmas, the centres saw particularly strong sales of perfume & cosmetics and jewellery with like-for like sales up 18% and 10% respectively. Sportswear and childrenswear also performed well.
The Ashford, Cheshire Oaks and York centres all enjoyed a record-breaking first week of the sales. In the week to 2 January, sales at Ashford rose by 18% while Cheshire Oaks recorded its best ever trading week with a year-on-year sales increase of 21%. Meanwhile, the York centre posted its highest ever sales on 27 December and an uplift of 21% on Boxing Day.
Sven Gaede, UK managing director of McArthurGlen, said: “Our strong Christmas trading results yet again highlights that a visit to a McArthurGlen centre has become an increasingly popular way to shop, with year-round savings of up to 60% on the most sought-after luxury, designer and lifestyle brands in a premium shopping environment.”
Global shoppers, in particular from China and South-East Asia, also contributed to the strong Christmas trading, with a 12% increase in tax-free spending at McArthurGlen’s six UK centres in November, and further strong increases expected for December.
Gaede added: “To build on our successful trading, as the trend for smart shopping rises, this year we are investing £35 million into expanding Swindon Designer Outlet and we will be submitting planning permission to double the size of Ashford Designer Outlet, as well as carrying multi-million pound enhancements of Cheshire Oaks, Bridgend, East Midlands and York Designer Outlets. It’s about taking the shopping experience at our centres to a new level of excellence, as well as providing our customers with a great day-out.”
