The founder of LK Bennett is set to make a return to the fashion chain to try to restore her original visions of the business being “a little bit of Bond St on the high street”.
According to The Telegraph, Linda Bennett is being brought back as a consultant by chief executive Darren Toppwill, and will work one day a week alongside LK Bennett’s design team as the retailer embarks on a revamp and store expansion phase.
Bennett opened the first LK Bennett store in 1990 and sold her business in 2008 to Phoenix Equity Partners and Sirius Equity for £100 million.
However, she continues to be one of the retail chain’s biggest shareholders.
LK Bennett is expected to reveal another dip in profits from the £2.7 million recorded last year when it files its accounts at the end of this month.
However, like-for-like sales are expected to be seven per cent higher and 40 new store openings are planned for the next year.
LK Bennett has 130 shops globally, and recently made its debut in Russia and plans to open two shops in China this year. Around a quarter of its sales derive from overseas markets.
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