Hallenstein Glasson lifts profit 26% as online sales surge
By Sophie Boot
Sept. 28 (BusinessDesk) - Hallenstein Glasson Holdings, the clothing retailer, lifted net profit 26 percent in the 2017
year as online sales continued to grow.
Sales rose to $239 million in the 12 months ended Aug. 1, from $223.5 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based
retailer said in a statement. Net profit was $17.3 million, ahead of $13.7 million the prior year, and within the $17
million to $17.5 million band it gave in August.
The retailer's fortunes have improved after profit fell by a fifth last year as a decline in the kiwi dollar made
imports more expensive, squeezing its margins, while its women's clothing chain Glassons struggled. New chief executive
Mark Goddard took over at the helm in mid-April, replacing long-serving Graeme Popplewell who ended 46 years at the
company.
Goddard said in a statement that the company's new buying strategy, focus on cost control and a favourable exchange rate
led to the profit increase. The first seven trading weeks of the current financial year has seen sales up 5.5 percent,
he said, with online trading continuing to show increased growth. It will update shareholders at the December annual
meeting.
The board declared a 17 cents per share final dividend, up from last year's 16.5 cents, bringing the annual payout to
31.5 cents per share.
Goddard said online sales grew 44 percent in the year, much faster than brick and mortar stores, and now account for 9
percent of total turnover. The company will keep investing in technology and resources in the area to maintain that pace
of growth, he said.
In New Zealand, Glassons sales rose 7.2 percent to $89.5 million, although the second half was not as strong as the
first half. In the year, it opened one shop in the Christchurch CBD and closed an underperforming shop in Auckland's
Glenfield. Chief executive Di Humphries resigned earlier this month, and the company said it was searching for a
replacement.
In Australia, Glassons sales gained 22 percent to $50 million, which the company said came despite "a particularly tough
market for retail" in the country. In the year, it opened three new stores, close three, and refurbished six. It plans
to open two new stores in Australia including one in Melbourne's CBD in the current year.
Hallenstein Brothers sales across New Zealand and Australia rose 1.9 percent to $91.1 million. Goddard said the brand
had a "much improved second half". In the year, it opened three stores in Australia and said it would monitor the
success of those stores to decide on any further rollout. In New Zealand, it opened two stores in Christchurch CBD and
Newmarket in Auckland and closed one in Christchurch's The Hub.
Sales dropped 11 percent to $8.3 million in the retailer's Storm brand, which it said was due to a competitive market
and "has not been helped by major infrastructure works around three key Auckland stores which has had a material impact
on trade." The company closed its single Australian store in the year, which it said improved trading, and opened one in
Queenstown.
The shares last traded at $3.18 and have gained 4.4 percent this year.
(BusinessDesk)
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