N Brown upbeat despite hit from snowy weather
MAIL order clothing firm N Brown saw like-for-like sales lifted by just 1.2 per cent over Christmas as the poor weather took its toll.
Total group revenue increased by 4.6 per cent in the 19 weeks to 8 January and Brown says trading was encouraging from late October to mid-December “but the extreme weather conditions eventually affected customers who were concerned whether their Christmas orders would be delivered on time.”
It said there was also a backlog of mail to clear as a result of those weather conditions, with catalogues and statements delayed in the last four weeks. Online sales increased by 26 per cent to account for 47 per cent of group sales.
The Marisota and Jacamo brands. performed well the firm said.
Chief executive Alan White said despite the weather wiping off up to £3m in sales the company was well placed to make up the ground.