Another successful year for Perthshire’s House of Bruar

SALES: Ballinluig distribution centre increased in size to cope with rise in demand for mail order sales at the popular retail outlet

Perthshire country fashion retailer The House of Bruar’s latest accounts have shown a 4.6% rise in turnover to £30.5 million.

Pre-tax profits for the destination retailing venue jumped 18% from £3m to £3.6m for the year ending January 31 2019.

In the firm’s annual report, managing director Patrick Birkbeck said that revenue generated by mail order shopping, which includes catalogue and digital purchases, continues to “increase significantly”, despite the economy making trading difficult.

Mr Birkbeck said there continues to be increasing demand for House of Bruar branded merchandise at retail level and more significantly, on the internet and mail order, while vehicular traffic at the site rose by almost 4%.

Further buildings have been added to the Ballinluig Distribution centre to cater for the increase in direct shopping activity.

He added: “The general state of the economy is a concern for luxury retailing and costs have increased significantly with a continued weak sterling and uncertainty over Brexit and possible future import duties.”

Staffing levels at the firm also increased from 269 in 2018, to 295 last year, with 180 staff employed in sales roles, 57 in administrative posts and 58 staff in warehouse positions.

Mr Birkbeck concluded: “In 2021, the House of Bruar will celebrate being open for 25 years.

“When the doors first opened, many people were public with their opinions that it would be a complete failure.”

Picture: Kris Miller. The House of Bruar near Blair Atholl.