Hugo Boss this week announced it’s group sales for the first three quarters increased 9 per cent to EUR1,328 million. The factors behind the growth were the success of the Boss women’s fashion labels, which saw 32 per cent growth, a total of EUR 166 million.The Group’s own retail business, which rose by 26 per cent, also made an above-average contribution to the sales increase, as did shoes and leather accessories which increased by 17 per cent. Royalty revenues increased by 13 per cent over the prio-year period to EUR 32 million due to successful market launches of fragrance products.

In the first three quarters of 2007, Hugo Boss saw sales rise by 10 per cent in Europe to a total of EUR 945m over last year. The sustained performance of the womenswear business and expansion of the Group’s directly operated stores were key contributors to the growth in Europe in the first nine months.

In other European markets, sales grew by 12 per cent in the first nine months to EUR 657m. The highest growth was seen in Spain with a 15 per cent increase. In Britain, sales for the first three months quarters increased by 6 per cent to EUR 89m over the previous period of last year at EUR 84m.

Operating expenses were higher in 2007 as a result of general expansion of the business as well as continued expansion of sales via the Group’s own retail stores, with 56 additional directly operated stores being opened.

In its 3rd quarter report, Hugo Boss group states the Managing Board for 2007 as a whole anticipates an increase of approximately 10-12 per cent in comparison with 2006.

image: Boss campaign