Blacks Leisure prays for rain as sales take tumble
CAMPING and hiking specialist Black Leisure saw sales fall as the good weather took its toll.
In the 17 weeks to the end of June, sales fell by a worse-than-expected 7.5 per cent – a result that seems sure to hit year-end profits.
The 313-store company, which runs the Blacks Outdoor and Milletts chains, came close to administration last year.
Chief executive Neil Gillis said: “Other observers might get concerned about short-term performance.
“I know that you can go from minus 20 to plus 20 within a week.”
Gillis said once bad weather returns, sales will pick up as demandfor outdoor all-weather clothes and equipment returns.
Total sales fell to £53.9m from £76.9m, partly reflecting the closure of 107 stores after the firm struck a rescue deal with creditors in November.
Blacks said it had made “very good progress” with its new store opening programme, with seven outlets open so far and another eight to follow between now and the end of the financial year. Trading in these new stores was described as “very encouraging”. An exclusive range of lines from the likes of North Face and Berghaus and customer loyalty cards are being introduced in a sales push.