Fashion retailer White Stuff managed to increase its annual sales by 20 per cent in its last full financial year, it has been revealed.
In the 52 weeks ending April 30th 2011, total sales reached £100.9 million with underlying EBITDA growing four per cent year-on-year to £19.1 million.
Home shopping sales jumped by a huge 45 per cent to £12.5 million during the period, underlying the importance of a multichannel approach to the White Stuff business.
Sally Bailey, White Stuff CEO, commented: “White Stuff has had another record year as we celebrated our Silver Jubilee, with sales exceeding £100 million for the first time and underlying profits growing 3 per cent despite challenging trading conditions and pressures on margins.
“We continued to focus our efforts into making our customers happy, by expanding our product ranges and offering a unique shopping experience unlike anything else on the High Street, as demonstrated in our award winning new Edinburgh Emporium, with its own concierge and Narnia inspired dressing rooms.”
Significant investment of £12 million was made in new shops and infrastructure over the 12 months, with new concept ‘Emporiums‘ opening in Edinburgh & Nottingham, the completion of a new distribution centre in Leicester, and new end-to-end IT systems also being implemented.
White Stuff was also keen to point out in its year-end report that it had improved its ranking in the Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For last year, and managed to raise £265,000 through its charity foundation.
Bailey added: “We will continue to explore new opportunities as evidenced by the recent opening of our first overseas shop in Copenhagen, and further develop the White Stuff product offer.
“We remain committed to supporting our 80 local charities and are looking at new ways to raise funds for the White Stuff Foundation in its efforts to support disadvantaged children and young people.”
