EDINBURGH Woollen Mill Group has declared its ambition to open more than 100 stores in the next 12 months after unveiling healthy Christmas sales figures across its retail operations, including online.
The Borders-based group, which has more than 1000 stores under its various brands, said sales at its eponymous knitwear stores rose by 2.7 per cent in the five weeks to January 3.
Total sales at the chain, which is aimed at the over-40s market, rose by 6.2 per cent, helped in part by the opening of 15 stores in the current financial year. Two of the openings came in December.
The EWM chain, which operates 265 high street stores, also saw a major boost in online sales over the period. Sales generated online rose by 23.4 per cent in the five weeks.
Elsewhere in the group Peacock's, the fashion chain EWM bought out of administration in 2012, reported a 5.2 per cent increase in like for like sales over the period.
Peacock's, which has seen store numbers rise by 43 in the current financial year, saw total sales rise by 11.1 per cent.
And as well as seeing sales rise in shops there was significant progress in Peacock's online sales, which grew by 92.6 per cent over the period.
Peacock's also reported "significant" margin improvement in like for like terms over the period.
Ponden Home, EWM's homeware retail business, reported strong Christmas trading too - like for like sales jumped by 4.5 per cent.
EWM group commercial director Steve Simpson said the retailer was now pressing ahead with its store opening plans. Mr Simpson stated: "Each of our brands is driven by the needs of its customers.
"Together with our relentless focus on quality, value for money and customer experience, that continues to deliver increasing sales and strong margin growth.
"Our programme of store openings, together with the successful launch of a popular click and collect service across group websites, continued to make our brands more accessible to customers during 2014.
"We now plan to maintain the speed of expansion with more than 100 new stores in the next 12 months, while the launch of in store ordering will further improve our customer-focused multi-channel offering and drive online sales."
The EWM group made pre-tax profits of £73.1 million on turnover of £551.9m in its most recent year. The business is owned by retail tycoon Philip Day.
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