The owners of fashion retailer White Stuff are reportedly exploring a sale of the business after receiving surprise interest from a prospective buyer.

Exterior of White Stuff store in 2023

The owners of White Stuff have received an “unsolicited approach from a prospective buyer”

White Stuff founders George Treves and Sean Thomas are said to be in talks with investment bank Rothschild regarding offers after receiving an “unsolicited approach from a prospective buyer”, Sky News has reported. 

Sources said that the entrepreneurial duo had not yet committed to a sale of the fashion retailer and that a decision would largely depend on the valuation it attracted.

An analyst told Sky News that the company could be worth in the region of £50m.

White Stuff declined to comment on the potential takeover.

White Stuff was founded in 1985 and currently has a UK store estate of more than 130, as well as eight stores internationally.

The news comes after White Stuff reported a rise in both profits and sales in its most recent trading update for the 52 weeks to April 29, 2023.

EBITDA was up from £2.9m the previous year to a total of £7m.

During the year, total sales also jumped 13.3% to £151.4m, while total retail sales were up 18.1% to £73.9m.