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Dr Martens reports ecommerce up 11% as sales start to return to normal patterns

Dr Martens sold almost two-thirds of its shoe sales direct to its customers ahead of Christmas. Image: Cineberg/Shutterstock.com

Dr Martens sold almost two-thirds of its shoe sales direct to its customers ahead of Christmas. Image: Cineberg/Shutterstock.com

Dr Martens has reported online growth in a year in which sales have started to return to normal patterns. 

Dr Martens has reported group revenue of £147.3m in the three months to June 30 2021. That’s 52% up on the same time last year, when Covid-19 meant revenues fell by 14%. Ecommerce grew by 11% compared to same time last year – even through its online sales more than doubled a year earlier. Retail sales recovered, while a strong wholesale (+50% year-on-year) performance meant that overall, the brand’s sales patterns returned towards normal. A year earlier many wholesale customers moved their orders into the second quarter of the year. This year, sales grew in all of its markets, led by the Americas, where sales grew by triple digits, while EMEA sales were 30% ahead of last time.

US stores were open throughout Dr Martens’ first quarter, with UK stores open from mid-April and European stores opening steadily during May and June. Stores in Japan are still affected by trading restrictions. A year earlier, most of Dr Martens’ own stores were closed or subject to restrictions, hitting retail sales as a result. 

The retail brand warns, however, that the second quarter’s figures will come against a stronger last-year comparative, and that it is currently experiencing delays in inbound shipping because of Covid-19. 

Dr Martens chief executive Kenny Wilson says: “We achieved continued growth in ecommerce against a triple-digit growth rate last year and the reopening of our own-stores drove a strong retail recovery through the period. In addition, we saw a return to more normalised wholesale shipments over the period. The first quarter of the year is always our smallest period, being the end of the Spring/Summer season. Our larger Autumn/Winter season begins from Q2 and our performance to date gives us confidence for the remainder of the year. We will continue to take a long- term custodian mindset, investing into our business and making decisions to drive the brand for the decades to come.” 

Dr Martens, founded in 1960 in Northamptonshire, is a Top350 retailer in RXUK Top500 research.

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