Operating cost for new openings impact Wolford earnings

As in previous quarters, Wolford’s proprietary stores also showed a particularly good development in the reporting period. Accordingly, the Wolford Group achieved a sales increase of 13.3 percent with its own boutiques, shop-in-shops, factory outlets and e-commerce. Thus the share of total sales generated by retail in the first quarter of 2012/13 climbed to 54.7 percent (Q1 2011/12: 50.9 percent). This rise was partly due to the expansion of Wolford’s own distribution network. However, the Wolford Group also achieved a gratifying sales growth of 7.4 percent with its own points of sale on a like-for-like basis. The online business also made an important contribution to this strong rise in sales, generating a significant sales increase compared to the prior-year period.

 

Wolford Aktiengesellschaft, a publicly listed company on the Vienna Stock Exchange, seamlessly continued its positive sales development in the third a#

On balance, Wolford-controlled distribution channels i.e. those points of sale which exclusively offer Wolford products (own and partner-operated boutiques, factory outlets, concession shop-in-shops and e-commerce) accounted for 66.6 percent of total sales in the first quarter of 2012/13 (Q1 2011/12: 62.4 percent).

 

Wolford Aktiengesellschaft, a publicly listed company on the Vienna Stock Exchange, seamlessly continued its positive sales development in the third a#

In the first quarter of 2012/13 the wholesale business developed satisfactorily, particularly with partner boutiques and department stores. Multi-brand retailers comprised the only distribution channel where sales fell compared to the prior-year period.

 

Wolford Aktiengesellschaft, a publicly listed company on the Vienna Stock Exchange, seamlessly continued its positive sales development in the third a#

From a regional perspective, a positive picture generally emerged from Wolford’s core geographic markets. The good sales development could be continued compared to the prior-year period, with the USA, France, Belgium and UK showing a particularly dynamic development characterized by significant growth in the double-digit percentage range.

 

Wolford Aktiengesellschaft, a publicly listed company on the Vienna Stock Exchange, seamlessly continued its positive sales development in the third a#

Outlook In the future Wolford will continue to expand its global monobrand distribution network, both via its own as well as partner-operated points of sale, in order to further strengthen the international presence of the Wolford brand. In this regard, the Wolford Group will not only concentrate on its core markets in Europe and Northern America but increasingly on the Greater China region. From today’s perspective the Executive Board of the Wolford Group expects to generate further growth in the 2012/13 fiscal year.