Unflattering end-of-year numbers at Laura Ashley

0 The fashion and homeware retailer described trading conditions for the year as ‘challenging’ Profits at Laura Ashley plummeted 72 per cent as the fashion and homeware retailer pointed to challenging trading conditions and the fall in the pound following the Brexit vote.

The company said pre-tax profit tumbled from £22.8 million to £6.3m in the year to 30 June, although its comparable 2016 numbers ran over 74 weeks. Like-for-like sales fell 3.1 per cent while total group sales dropped 30 per cent to £277m.

Chairman Khoo Kay Peng said: “Trading conditions have been challenging for the year ended 30 June 2017. The impact of weak sterling has also contributed to the overall fall in profit which the group has experienced.”

The collapse in sterling following the UK’S decision to quit the European Union last year has ramped up import costs for retailers, which have then passed the pain on to consumers. The net result has been falling retail sales as squeezed shoppers cut back on spending.