Designer goods specialist McArthurGlen – ’a recognised barometer of luxury goods trading’ – has reported strong Christmas trading at its UK designer outlets with sales of its designer brands up 20% in the lead up to last Christmas.

The company reports that childrenswear was a particularly strong performer, with a sales increase of 63% compared with the previous Christmas run up in 2008, despite the cold weather last December and the impact of the recession. Designer collections also performed particularly well with sales up 20%.

Over the festive period the company reports that its seven centres generated a 4% sales increase on last year, with footfall rising by 1.5% and many centres also reported record Boxing Day sales, with Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet near Chester experiencing an increase of more than 20%.

Henrik Madsen, McArthurGlen’s Managing Director for the UK and Northern Europe said: "We have seen the number of sales transactions rise by 10% compared with the same period last year, proving that McArthurGlen was very much a number one destination for Christmas shoppers in 2009, whether it was for buying gifts, party outfits or making their money go further.

"As we enter 2010, we are in a position of strength as we seek new opportunities, new brand partnerships and, no doubt, attract even more customers with our permanent discounts on high street and designer brands."

As has been well documented, the group expanded into full-price retail with the launch of McArthurGlen Luxury Retail’s first venture, Collezioni, in Venice’s Marco Polo Airport in 2008. Since then, Luxury Retail has announced new Collezioni openings in Dublin, Porto and Glasgow airports.

By Doug Newhouse

Source : http://www.trend-news.com, 25 January 2010