Tourism in the UK has taken off in recent years, with the favourable economic conditions and strengthening infrastructure attracting backpackers and holidaymakers seeking luxury alike.
Many are seeking the shopping scene and historical attractions in cities such as London and Edinburgh, however, a growing number wish to visit Britain in order to take advantage of the countryside and mountain ranges which have long been enjoyed by domestic hikers.
Perhaps this is part of the reason for outdoor chain Mountain Warehouse’s success. In the six weeks to the 5th of January, the brand posted a 10.7 per cent rise in like for like sales – an impressive result, especially when compared to larger brands within the retail industry such as Tesco and Debenhams.
Furthermore, Mountain Warehouse took advantage of a rise in popularity of multichannel retailing by growing online sales by 127 per cent during the Christmas trading period. Click and collect orders placed over its mobile platform also rose impressively, putting the retailer in a positive position when facing the seasonal dip in consumer footfall in January.
Mountain Warehouse, which specialises in own brand walking, camping and cycling essentials, has now revealed plans to open between 25 and 30 stores this year due to high consumer demand throughout 2013.
Chief Executive Officer Mark Neale says; “Our outstanding Christmas performance caps an excellent 2013 for the business.
“During the year, we opened 20 new stores and significantly expanded our online operations.
“Our success, in a difficult retail environment, is testament to the hard work of our staff and the quality and value of the products we offer consumers.”
As expected, the damp conditions leading up to Christmas Day saw a rise in the sale of waterproof jackets and wellington boots – in fact, the brand claims it sold a waterproof jacket every five seconds in the six week period. Wellington boots, meanwhile, saw like for like sales more than double on a year on year basis, proving that a white Christmas is not entirely necessary for retailers looking to turn a profit in the festive period.
Do you think that the tourism boom currently underway in the UK has contributed to the rising profits of outdoor chains such as Mountain Warehouse, or are domestic sales the larger factor?
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