N Brown Group revenue came in at £364.8 million for the 26 weeks to August 28th. This equates to a 0.1 per cent drop, year on year, but the business says that product sales were up by 3.3 per cent to reach £221 million with financial services falling by 5.7 per cent to £124.7 million. Sales across Its five core brands JD Williams, Simply Be, Jacamo, Ambrose Williams and Home Essentials rose by 14.9 per cent and the number of active customers grew by 1.1 per cent from Q1 to Q2. The business had stepped up its marketing activity to support new campaigns having secured Davina McCall and Amanda Holden, Frankie Bridge and Nicki Bamford-Bowes as brand ambassadors.
The business had invested in strengthening its own brand ranges and had rebalanced its use of third-party brands to focus on aspirational brands that complement its best products. Third-party brands include Nobody’s Child, Finery, Phase Eight, Studio, Damsel in a Dress, and will be joined by Mango, Wrangler, Y.A.S. and Selected Femme later this year.
CEO Steve Johnson said: “Over the last six months the consumer environment has been volatile. Nevertheless, momentum has continued throughout the business with customers responding well to our improved product ranges; particularly across our five strategic brands.
“Our mission is to be the most inclusive retailer in the UK, across both fashion and home.
“We continue to deliver on our plan and are feeling well prepared for peak trading. EBITDA remains in line with our expectations, and we are looking forward to exciting our customers with our new ranges as head towards the Christmas peak. However, we do so with the backdrop of continued uncertainty around consumer confidence.”
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