Stationery brand Smiggle pencils in Scots expansion

Smiggle, the Australian brand that designs colourful stationery for children, is planning to expand its presence in Scotland after reporting a jump in annual sales.

Smiggle aims to have 200 UK stores by 2019. Picture: Contributed

Parent group Premier Investments said total Smiggle sales around the world soared almost 42 per cent to A$188 million (£110m) in the year to the end of July. Takings were boosted by the opening of 52 stores during the period, 40 of which were in the UK.

Smiggle currently has 74 branches across the UK, having today opened a store in Stirling. Other sites north of the Border are in shopping centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Livingston.

The company is now looking to open up to five more branches in Scotland during the first half of 2017. By 2019, it hopes to have 200 sites in the UK, where the total stationery market is worth an estimated £1.85 billion.

Premier Investments chairman Solomon Lew said: “The Premier retail team has again delivered a very strong performance in a difficult retail environment. The 2016 result demonstrates the continued successful implementation of the Premier retail strategy to drive growth through Smiggle.

“Smiggle sales are up 41.8 per cent for the year and 79 per cent over two years. Smiggle now has stores in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, England, Scotland, Wales, Malaysia and Hong Kong and is a truly unique international brand. Our strong trading results in each country confirms the long-term store roll out targets management have set and we continue to actively review opportunities in new geographies.”

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