Laura Ashley like-for-likes slip by 0.6%
Fashion and homewares retailer Laura Ashley saw its like-for-like sales edge down 0.6% in the 18 weeks to 1 June as clothing sales were impacted by the unseasonal weather in the period.
Total retail sales also fell by 0.6% year-on-year despite a strong performance and like-for-like growth in the retailer’s home furnishings business. Online sales grew by 4.4%.
Laura Ashley opened two new retail stores in the period and closed three.
Despite the fall in fashion sales, the retailer said it was continuing to improve and enhance its range and was optimistic that this would lead to an improved second half performance.
Laura Ashley’s franchise business opened 10 new shops and has signed three new franchise agreements since 26 January, bringing the total number of shops to 276 in 31 countries. .
