N Brown Group plc, the internet and catalogue home shopping retailer, today announces a trading update for the 19 weeks ended 7 January 2012.
Total group revenue has increased by 2.3%. Like for like revenue, excluding sales from new stores, was up by 2.0%. Trading was flat in October and November but picked up in December. The sales profile in the second half has been similar to that achieved in the first half but with some improvement in ladieswear and our midlife titles. Online sales are up by 9% and are now close to the symbolic 50% share of total sales. Additional promotional activity in the second half to drive sales growth will reduce the rate of gross margin for the financial year as a whole, which is expected to be almost one percentage point below last year's level.
