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Sandersons Boutique Department Stores has reported a 5% retail sales growth in 2023 across the company’s three bricks and mortar stores and online, with a “strong” November and December.
The independent department store chain has seen retail sales grow from £564k in 2016 to almost £7m in 2023, despite a challenging economic environment.
Founded in North Sheffield in 2016, Sandersons has stores in Stroud, the Cotswolds, and in Morpeth in Northumberland.
Sandersons Boutique co-founder, Mark Dransfield, said: “We are really pleased with the Christmas sales and footfall figures across the group. Internet sales have grown significantly, with the bestselling products carrying discounts. Whilst footfall has maintained in our bricks and mortar stores, we have seen a slight reduction in spend. That said, we still find that some shoppers are buying big ticket items and there is an appetite for the luxury end of the market.
“In response to this we’ve just launched our collaboration with Xupes, to sell pre-loved handbags from Louis Vuitton to Chanel, Hermès and Gucci. These are real investment pieces and the response has been fantastic to this new range in our Sheffield store.”
As well as Xupes, the stores have also welcomed Weekend Max Mara and Marella to women’s wear during 2023, with Hackett and Boss joining the men’s fashion line-up.
Dransfield is also chairman of Dransfield Properties, the award-winning regeneration led development company based in South Yorkshire with shopping centres positioned in market towns across the UK.
He continued: “Whilst there has been a reported straight line decrease in retail spend since 2006, we have seen growth in our areas due to our store locations.
“Our shopping centres are currently 98% occupied and we put this down to them being in strong market towns 30 minutes’ drive from major city centres, and positioned on major transport routes. We own the town centre car parks and can make them accessible and low priced which is an important factor for shoppers.”
