Online Christmas drives strong sales at N Brown
Multi-channel retailer N Brown Group saw its group like-for-like sales rise by 7.2% in the six weeks to 11 January 2014 as revenues were boosted by strong performances from its Simply Be and Jacamo brands.
In the 19 weeks to 11 January, total group revenue increased by 5.2% with like-for-like growth of 5.1%.
The group said the best performances in the 19-week period came from those brands aimed at younger customers such as Simply Be and Jacamo. While the group’s menswear and footwear categories performed well, ladieswear sales slowed in October and early November as trade was impacted by the unusually mild autumn temperatures.
N Brown’s online sales have continued to grow and now account for 58% of revenue following the roll out of Click and Collect across the group’s own stores and in 3,500 parcel shops across the UK. With the group taking orders up to 7pm on 23 December for delivery before Christmas, its next day service accounted for 40% of demand in the Christmas week.
Never Miss a Retail Update!The group expects online penetration to continue to increase steadily in 2014 as it implements additional planned improvements to the customer online experience, builds the use of Click and Collect, and shortens customer order lead times further.
N Brown said the performance within its stores had been “very encouraging” with its seven established stores generating like-for-like revenue growth of 34% in the 19-week period. The group is now planning to expand the chain to around 25 units in major shopping destinations across the UK.
The group is also stepping up capital and revenue expenditure to drive strategic initiatives outside its core UK home shopping business. This includes investment in stores, international expansion, infrastructure and systems development.
N Brown chief executive Angela Spindler said: “N Brown has continued to deliver robust, reliable growth whilst stepping up investment in our multi-channel, international future. Having been with the business now for six months, I am even more convinced of its substantial long-term growth potential. We are applying the group’s unique skills in larger size fashion through a range of increasingly distinctive, relevant, contemporary brands across a broader base of customers and channels. We are only at the start of grasping this opportunity.”
