Designer outlet group McArthurGlen has beaten the high street with a 16 per cent sales increase in April 2012, it was announced today.
Consumers unable to resist the lure of discounted luxury goods for the wedding and racing seasons rushed to the outlet, which sponsors York and Chester races, prompting a year-on-year increase in sales of 16 per cent and a 10 per cent rise in footfall.
With seven outlets in the UK including Ashford, Bridgend and York, the company has managed to trounce the high street‘s low sales figure of -3.3 per cent in the April buying period.
Nick Bubb, Retail Analyst at Arden Partners, commented: “The two strongest trends in retailing at the moment are the strength of the luxury sector and, on the other hand, the strength of the value sector.
“Designer outlets are an attractive combination of both trends, providing the brands that consumers want, as they make great savings at the same time.”
Those wanting to emulate Kate Middleton‘s style meant high end retailers such as Reiss, Jaeger, Hobbs and LK Bennett which are housed in McArthurGlen‘s designer outlets, all saw strong sales up 26 per cent year-on-year respectively over April.
Menswear was another strong seller with a year-on-year rise of 35 per cent at the outlet.
Currently attracting 75 million consumers thanks to the offer of year-round savings of 30-70 per cent, the group has become Europe‘s leading designer outlet.
Yesterday, it was announced that61 per cent of participants surveyed by the retail marketing agency Leapfrogg said they would not reduce their online spending on luxury goods .
Henrik Madsen, Managing Director of McArthurGlen for Northern Europe, said: “With more than 250 luxury designer and premium high street brands in over 600,000 sq foot of retail space across the UK, we are in a strong position to capitalise on the growing number of shoppers looking to buy their favourite brands for up to 60 per cent less.
“Sales for designer collections alone increased by +35 per cent year-on-year, evidence that shoppers are wanting more out of their fashion pound, making more purposeful purchases by buying quality pieces.”
