Europe's leading perfumery company and a fully-owned subsidiary of DOUGLAS HOLDING AG, 'Douglas' has taken yet another step forward in its earnings-oriented expansion strategy: effective July 1, Parfümerie Douglas is acquiring the French perfumery company S.A. Lavigne.
With some 150 locations the Lavigne Group – whose stores have previously done business under the name ELYTIS – numbers among France's top perfumery companies. Thirty-five branches are operated under its own management and a further 115 as franchises.
Douglas and ELYTIS share very similar corporate philosophies founded on outstanding service, helpful and professional assistance, first-class product ranges, and an enjoyable and experience-oriented shopping ambiance. For both companies, these common values proved a key factor in the decision to merge.
The ELYTIS store network boasts a solid, uniform market image and complements the existing Douglas network in France – which currently comprises 55 venues – with virtually no duplication or overlapping. During its 2003/2004 financial year (10/01/03 – 09/30/04), Douglas reported net sales of approximately 77 million EUR in France.
With the consolidated net sales of approximately 52 million EUR from the newly acquired ELTYIS branches (01/01/04 – 12/31/04), Douglas has further extended its market position and secured a nationwide presence in the country that brought perfume to the world.
Further Information:
Forthe 2003/2004 fiscal year (ending September 30), Douglas posted total net sales of some 1.3 billion EUR at its approximately 800 perfumeries. As the largest subsidiary of the Hagen-based DOUGLAS HOLDING AG, the Douglas perfumeries are currently represented in 17 countries.