South Shields firm Barbour reveals a rise in sales
CLOTHING maker Barbour says it is holding its own against tough competition in the struggling retail market after showing a rise in sales.
The South Shields firm whose clients range from ramblers to rock stars and royalty has just published results for last year which show that its revenues jumped from £68m in 2008 to £74m last year.
But while profits at its retail business edged forward to £8.3m from £8.2m a year earlier, the manufacturing division in South Shields, which was last year separated into a separate company, made a loss.
Privately owned J Barbour and Sons, famous for its waxed jackets and traditional English country clothing, had seen a particularly buoyant performance in the domestic market where revenues rose from £25m in 2008 to £32.5m last year. Overseas sales were flat at around £42m.
The company’s directors’ report said: “The brand continued with strong growth during 2009, especially in the UK market. Stocks and costs were managed tightly during the uncertainty of the economic climate.
“The group operates internationally and is therefore exposed to foreign currency exchange and in 2009 the rewards for foreign exchange were significantly reduced compared to 2008, explaining the reduction in reported profit.”
And as staff numbers recovered from 531 to 576 last year, in line with 2007, the company said it remains “optimistic and continues to review its strategy with careful development.”
