Tourists flock in to Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston opened her first store in West London in 1993, with just £15,000 Today the brand has 222 stores in 17 countries and employs 1,477 people

Its collaboration with Disney before Christmas saw 70 Mickey & Minnie mugs sold every minute

The collection handed Cath Kidston its best week of trading in its history

After a £28 Cath Kidston tank top worn by Prince George (right) sold out, desperate buyers snapped it up on eBay for three times the price

Founder Cath Kidston is no longer involved in the day-to-day business, but retains an 11pc stake

CATH Kidston stores have become a hub for international shoppers taking advantage of the fall in the pound since the referendum.

Holidaymakers drove a 10pc-15pc jump in sales at stores in tourist hotspots – such as London, York and Edinburgh – compared to other shops. Kenny Wilson, chief executive, said: ‘You can almost draw a line from after the vote to pinpoint when sales went up.’

Cath Kidston has 68 stores in the UK but has seen rapid expansion in the Asian market, in countries such as Japan and China.

It was founded in 1993 by Cath Kidston, known as the ‘queen of the polka dots’, who started selling mugs, stationery and homewares from her first shop in Holland Park, West London. The business reported sales of £59.9m in the six months to September 24, and profits of £39.3m.