Joules ups sales as it defies High Street gloom

Joules’ chief executive Colin Porter on Tuesday brushed aside the woes enveloping the High Street as sales continued to grow at the clothing and footwear retailer.

Porter said: “We acknowledge the challenging conditions out there, but we focus on what we’re good at: product and attracting new customers.”

Sales were 18.2% ahead at £96 million in the six months to November 26, propped up by selling its wares via John Lewis and Nordstrom, as well as overseas growth including America and Germany, two of its core markets. Wholesale revenue rose to £30 million from £24.5 million.

“You can buy Joules in many different ways,” added Porter, whose lifestyle brand now has more than a million active customers.

Joules is banking on the crucial Christmas period to sell more handbags and leather Chelsea boots — if it doesn’t snow, that is. “It doesn’t help the footfall,” the chief executive added.

Orders for the warmer season are already coming in. “We look forward with confidence to the second half of the financial year,” Porter said.