Online retailer Net-A-Porter has seen profits increase by 234 per cent, from £3.0m to £10.1 in the year to January 2009.

Sales also rose sharply, up 47.8 per cent, from £55.2m to £81.5m. The company attributed the dramatic increase to “a well-edited product offering and a strategic approach to buying” as well as the continuation of special projects with designers including Alexander McQueen, Halston and Preen,

There was also significant customer growth during the year with an average of 6,500 additional new customers visting the site every month during 2008, compared with 5,000 the previous year.

Net-a-Porter chief executive Mark Sebba said: “We believe the fuindamental strengths of an ever more impressive brand and product line-up, coupled with a growing international customer base, have stood us in excellent stead this past year and will continue to do so in the year ahead.”