Bonmarché online sales grew by 36.9% in its latest financial year, parent company Bonmarché Holdings reported today.
In a fourth quarter and end-of-year trading statement the company said fast ecommerce growth helped the company turn in a 6% rise in like-for-like sales in the year to March 28. Like-for-like store-only sales rose by 4%. Overall, sales grew by 8.7% in the full year.
In the fourth quarter alone, online sales grew by 14.5%, while store-only like-for-like sales were down by 4.7%, giving overall sales growth of 0.9%, or a fall of 3.3% on a like-for-like basis. Last year’s fourth quarter saw like-for-like store0nly sales grow by 13.5% while store sales plus online sales rose by 16.3%.
Chief executive Beth Butterwick said: “This has been a year of contrasts. A strong performance in the first half was supported by good summer weather, however the mild autumn created more difficult trading conditions in the second half of the year. Against this backdrop, we expect to report solid profit growth.
“During the second half of the year in particular, the loyalty of our core customers and our ability to maintain a tight control on costs have been key strengths. I am also pleased that through the targeted use of promotions and discounts, the terminal stock holding at the end of the year was almost as low as it was last year, despite the increase in stores.”
Full year results will be reported on June 12.
