Boden profits jump as it readies King’s Road store

The fashion retailer’s pre-tax profit climbed 9.6% to £26.2m in the year to December 31, 2016.

Sales rose 9% from £283m to £308m, driven by double digit growth in womenswear and a 10% increase in customer numbers.

Boden, which began life as a catalogue retailer before transitioning to online and opening a select number of stores, is expanding its multichannel offer.

It recently partnered with John Lewis, opening five concessions within its department stores, and has begun selling via Next Label, Zalando and La Redoute.

The business also revealed that it will open a store on London’s King’s Road this autumn.

Boden is in the midst of an investment programme which includes a new warehouse and call centre in Leicester and the redevelopment of its head office.

Chief executive Jill Easterbrook, the former Tesco executive who took the reins at Boden earlier this year, said: “The investment in the business and brand is delivering results and we were very pleased with our performance in 2016.

“Boden appeals to a loyal customer with strong product, excellent customer experience and a powerful global brand. We are building on this with further investment.

“There is significant opportunity as we focus on new customers, new distribution channels and new markets. We have ambitious plans based on solid foundations as we continue to develop Boden as an international multi-channel brand.”

Boden added that current trading was “strong” with first half sales up 8% and double digit growth in the UK and Europe.