Substantial budgets have been allocated to marketing to support this. The national marketing campaign, which is mainly being carried out on TV, was launched at the end of March and was continued intensively during the second quarter.
1 store was opened in the United Kingdom and 2 shops were closed in the first half of 2007. 2 shops were closed in the Middle East. In Belgium, 3 shops were opened and the shop located in Lokeren, which was destroyed by fire last year, was reopened. As of 30.06.07 Brantano had 129 shops in Belgium (including Luxembourg) and 146 shops in the UK, bringing the total number of outlets including the 11 franchises in the Middle East to 286.
'We are satisfied with the turnover growth in the first half of 2007. The turnover growth in Belgium can be ascribed to the good weather in March and April on the one hand, and the renewed marketing approach, more attention to fashionable products and a further rollout of the new store concept on the other. In the United Kingdom, we are focusing on repositioning Brantano, with an emphasis on fashion. In the first half, we achieved a turnover growth of 10.9% in the existing shops there.
This indicates that the commercial strategy we are pursuing is effective and we can state that the repositioning is bearing its first fruits. For the full year of 2007, we expect the Group's turnover to lie at the upper end of the previously proposed forecast of € 300-310 million. And a further 3 new openings are planned in the second half in the United Kingdom' states Joris Brantegem, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The Belgian Group Brantano aims to achieve a leadership position in shoe distribution in Europe. It intends to do this with a single concept and under the Brantano name. Brantano wants to be the reference in shoes for the entire family in the mid-market segment. To do this, it markets a wide range of ladies', men's and children's shoes, sports shoes and accessories at the best value for money.
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
