Taifun reported a 5.0 percent increase to €46.3 million in the first six months, while Samoon, the brand for plus sizes, more than offset the moderate first-quarter decline in sales and reported modest growth for the first half as a whole.
The retail activities remain the Group's most dynamic segment. Sales at the domestic Houses of Gerry Weber rose by 31.8 percent. The number of Houses of Gerry Weber continued to increase in the first half of the year, namely from 102 on October 31st 2005 to 120. 44 of these stores are managed by the company itself, while 76 are run by franchisees.
The second quarter of the current fiscal year saw the opening of the new international flagship store in London's Regent Street and of another prestigious store in the centre of Nuremberg, Germany. In addition, it launched a new concept for highly frequented locations such as airports and modern railway stations. The first pilot project is a franchisee-operated store at Lehrter Bahnhof, Berlin's new central station, which exclusively sells Gerry Weber Edition fashion.
The strong advance in retail sales to just under 10 percent of total Group sales is attributable to both new store openings and a further rise in retail productivity from an already excellent level. Total sales at company-operated Houses of Gerry Weber in Germany added up to €20.7 million. It is targeting the €50 million mark before the end of the year.
Gerry Weber International AG expects total sales to rise to €440 million in the current fiscal year, with €500 million projected for 2006/2007. On the earnings side, the efficiency improvements will be expanded. It aims to increase the EBIT margin by a full percentage point to 10.5 percent this year and to maintain and improve this high double-digit EBIT margin in the coming years.
Gerry Weber International AG - The group's principal activity is to produce and distribute women's clothes. It distributes these clothes under brand names 'Gerry Weber', 'Taifun' and 'Samoon'.
Gerry Weber International AG
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