// Sales rise 34% versus last year at Fatface with all channels trading positively
// Resurgence in store footfall contributed to positive store performance of 8%
Fatface has seen a boost in sales in both the second half of the year and over the all-important Christmas trading period.
Revenue at the fashion retailer for the 26 weeks to November rose by 9% year-on-year to £136 million, boosted by “bumper” Christmas trading.
Sales increased by 34% year-on-year in the five weeks to January 7, with all channels trading “positively”, including record knitwear and dress sales in womenswear and its best-ever year for menswear, driven by shirts and outerwear.
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North American sales were up 18%, now accounting for 8% of total sales (up from 7% last year), driven by a “thriving ecommerce offering and well-positioned store estate.”
Resurgence in store footfall contributed to positive store performance of 8% while investments in digital capabilities – including the Live Shopping channel – and operations supported 13% digital growth, with digital mix now accounting for 39% of total sales.
FatFace chief executive Will Crumbie said: “This is a strong set of Christmas trading results and reflects both our fantastic peak product proposition and the hard work and efforts of the FatFace crew. A huge thank you to all of our teams. The period has demonstrated again the strength of the multichannel model with the 10 days pre-Christmas trading being particularly strong in stores.
“Despite the highly promotional market, we maintained our full price proposition right up to Christmas. Our Boxing Day Sale and the week following Christmas was the best trading week in Fatface history, with nearly 2m visits to the website in the week.
“Looking back at our performance in the first half of the financial year, we have continued to build on our progress with great success: investing in our digital capabilities, enhancing the experience in our stores and developing our North American offering to customers across the pond.
“As we look ahead, despite the ongoing macroeconomic challenges, we have good momentum and our mission remains the same – to keep designing, producing and selling great quality clothes that our customers love.”
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