Hobbs international expansion plan after sales rise

WOMEN’S fashion retailer Hobbs has unveiled plans to expand into Australia, Germany and the United States after posting an 11 per cent rise in sales.

Hobbs has 140 branches in the UK and Ireland and is rolling fashions out to customers in the US. Picture: Contributed

The chain, which already operates in Sweden and the United Arab Emirates, will launch dedicated websites for the three countries during the autumn.

Hobbs – which opened its first branch in 1981 in London and now has more than 140 stores in the UK and Ireland, including four in Scotland already delivers online orders to more than 50 countries.

News of the international expansion came as the company posted an 11.1 per cent rise in sales for the year to 26 January to £125.1 million.

Profits rose by a more modest 1.3 per cent to £15.2m after the firm invested £3.1m in revamping its shops and extending its autumn and winter range.

Iain MacRitchie, chairman of Hobbs, said: “We will continue to invest at a higher rate over the next three years to build on our foundation for long-term growth and realise our international aspirations.”