Board initiates recovery programme
Footwear group Stylo - which operates the Barratts and Shellys chains - unveiled pre-tax losses of£7 million for the 53 weeks to February 3, blaming unseasonably mild weather and a slow retail market.

In comparison, the retailer made a pre-tax loss of£2.4 million last year.

Sales were£239.6 million for the year, compared to£238.1 million last year and like-for-likes fell 1.76 per cent.

Stylo operates 387 stores across the UK under brands Barratts, PriceLess, Shellys and Shutopia. The group also traded from 194 Dorothy Perkins concessions. However, since the year end, Dorothy Perkins has served notice on 37 outlets that will close this autumn. It is unclear what will happen to the remaining concessions.

Stylo executive chairman Michael Ziff said: 'The results are poor and have been adversely affected by unseasonably mild weather in autumn and winter - restricting our ability to sell boots - the imposition of anti-dumping duty by the European Commission, increases in rents, business rates, minimum wage and power bills and the sluggish retail environment.

'Whilst we continue to operate in a low growth, very competitive retail sector, the board have initiated a strategic recovery programme, which includes the disposal of unprofitable shops, substantial capital investment in our retail portfolio and computer systems and an emphasis on new sources of supply. We remain confident that these changes will deliver improved results over the course of the next few years.'

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