Home shopping group N Brown has continued to grow sales with like-for-likes ahead 3.6% in the 19 weeks to January 9.

Total sales for the group were ahead 4.9% and its like-for-like sales were achieved on top of an 8.8% rise for the same period last year.

Online sales grew 13% and now make up 39% of N Brown’s total revenue.

Its newer titles including Marisota and its menswear offer Jacamo had the fastest growth of all its customer groups with increased marketing spend in recruitment bringing in a number of new customers.

N Brown added that gross margin for the 19 weeks was 0.3% below last year but said that there had been a modest improvement in product margin and it had less stock to clear.

In September N Brown bought the assets to menswear retailer High & Mighty and it said that it was pleased with the business so far.

It said that its first international move, taking Simply Be to Germany, was performing in line with expectations.

N Brown also highlighted the performance of its debtor portfolio which it said showed signs of stabilising however it is continuing to provide for bad debts at a higher level than last year.

Despite the uncertainty of the year ahead N Brown believes it is in a strong position with a reduction in the level of borrowings expected by the end of its financial year. It said that it expected to deliver a full year performance in line with expectations.  

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