// New Look’s total revenues have more than doubled for the first quarter of its current financial year
// However, sales plunged by 40% to £542.2m for the year to March
// It also closed 39 stores to take its portfolio to 472 sites at the end of the year, and reduced staff numbers by almost 2000
New Look has said that larger shopping sprees have offset lower footfall as the fashion retailer seeks to recover from a difficult year amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The high street chain revealed that total revenues have more than doubled for the first quarter of its current financial year.
However, it came as the fashion retailer also announced that sales plunged by 40 per cent to £542.2 million for the year to March in its latest full year of trading.
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Chief executive Nigel Oddy said New Look’s figures for last year “are clearly not reflective of the health of the business as it stands here today”.
The retailer confirmed in its accounts that it closed 39 stores to take its portfolio to 472 sites at the end of the year.
It came after New Look pushed through a CVA restructuring deal which also heavily reduced its rent bill.
The firm’s accounts also showed that it had reduced its employee numbers by almost 2000 to 10,912 at the end of March this year.
New Look said today it has been boosted by the reopening of stores in April but has also seen ecommerce sales rise over the period, with a 3.8 per cent increase for the quarter to the end of June
Total revenues for the period soared by 181.7 per cent to £194.4 million compared with the same period last year, which had seen the firm hammered by pandemic closures.
The retailer also said it has seen a positive reaction from shoppers to its latest summer ranges with “strong” sales of dresses and sandals since UK weather warmed up.
“We have been delighted to welcome our customers back to our stores since reopening from April 2021, which, as expected, has driven strong sales growth as lower footfall has been offset by improved sales conversion rates,” Oddy said.
“Looking ahead, structural changes in the market have accelerated as a result of the pandemic and there is no doubt the retail landscape has been permanently transformed.
“New Look has an excellent opportunity to capitalise on, and the combination of a cohesive omnichannel model, conveniently located stores, and feel-good fashion at great prices will put us in a strong position to deliver long-term and sustainable growth.”
with PA Wires
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