A good performance at luxury-apparel etailer
Net-a-Porter helped Richemont
increase retail sales by 37 percent to €2.08 billion
(£1.77 billion) in the six months to 30th September.
However, in its financial statement, Richemont said
Net-a-Porter’s gross margin percentage is “well below the
average” and given its “above-average sales growth,
Net-a-Porter has a dilutive impact on the group’s gross margin
percentage”. Net-a-Porter incurred losses during the period
of €22 million (£18.8 million), resulting from the
amortisation of intangibles and the costs associated with the
continued expansion of its platforms in the UK and the USA.
Let the Christmas predictions commence: Following analysis of the
IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, the online retail
association estimates that £7.75 billion will be spent
online during the five-week shopping period leading up to
Christmas. Almost half, £3.72 billion, will be spent in the
first two weeks alone. This represents a 14 percent increase on
last year, when Brits spend £6.8 billion online during
December.
MFI is expected to relaunch as an online
retailer at the end of the month. A holding page is online at
www.mfi.co.uk, inviting consumers to leave their email addresses
for more information as it becomes available.
In more furniture news, Oakfurnitureland.co.uk
has further extended its bricks-and-mortar presence by opening
its 12th store, in Edinburgh this week.
In what can be a case for how not to carry out a rebranding, Mike
Ashley has angered scores of Newcastle United fans by renaming
their stadium the SportsDirect.com arena. The
Guardian has more on the story.
Share