Laura Ashley improves LFL sales

12th Jun 2014 08:10

- LFL sales rise as total year-on-year sales slip- Fashion and Home furnishings recorded LFL growth- Franchise business continues to grow Fashion and furnishings retailer Laura Ashley said total retail sales fell by 0.9% year-on-year while like-for-like (LFL) sales increased by 0.7% in the first 19 weeks of the current financial year to January 31st 2015.The group, which was founded by husband and wife Bernard and Laura Ashley in 1953, said both Fashion and Home furnishings recorded LFL growth.A French language website started in April and a German language site will be launched soon.Since the start of the year, Laura Ashley opened two retail stores in Waltham Cross Homebase and Bishop Stortford Homebase. Three stores have been closed in Llanelli, Aberystwyth and Richmond during the same period, it said.Its franchise business continues to grow with six stores added since January 25th, including 5 openings in Japan, 4 in South Korea. Stores were closed in Taiwan, Belgium and Bulgaria, taking the total to 292 shops in 31 countries.CJ