FAT Face joined the ranks of retailers reporting tough Christmas trading on the high street.
The clothing firm, a fixture on Scottish high streets and shopping centres, said sales dipped six per cent across its 217 UK stores in the five weeks to January 5. However, overall sales remained broadly flat thanks to a better performance online and internationally.
Fat Face said early Christmas trading was "tough" after a difficult November, with customers leaving shopping later this year, echoing recent comments by Morrisons, Next and Sainsbury's.
Hardy Amies, the former official dressmaker to the Queen, has collapsed into administration for the second time in its 73-year history.
The luxury fashion house was bought out of administration in 2008 but its UK business, which includes the store in London's Savile Row, has been loss making for "some time".
The administration has no effect on the brand's operations outside the UK.
Shares in J Sainsbury ended the day two per cent lower after the supermarket chain reported a 0.4 per cent fall in total retail sales over the festive period - lower than City forecasts. The fall reflected a 2.3 per cent decline in general merchandise sales, which included activity in its Argos stores, in the 15 weeks to January 5.
Grocery sales scraped into positive territory, however, having edged up by 0.4% over the period.
Chief executive Mike Coupe warned: “Retail markets are highly competitive and very promotional and the consumer outlook continues to be uncertain.”
Mothercare shares climbed more than 3% despite reporting that UK like-for-like sales had dropped 11.4% during the third quarter. The embattled group, which is in the midst of a radical store closure programme, was impacted by lower levels of discounting compared to last year, with total group sales down by 18%.
Fashion retailer Ted Baker saw its shares surge more than 31% after it was boosted by soaring online sales over Christmas. The chain said retail sales were up 12.2% over the five weeks to January 5, with e-commerce sales 18.7% higher.
The firm said an investigation into the conduct of its founder Ray Kelvin is "progressing" and a further update will be made in due course.
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