Multichannel retailer Flying Brands reported a fall in full-year group pre-tax profit as poor weather hampered its core gardening and flowers business during crucial trading periods.
Like-for-like sales, excluding its Greetings Direct business, which was wound down last year, were flat at £27.6m but pre-tax profits slid to £200,000 from £2.4m.
The retailer estimated that £600,000 of profit was lost over Christmas because distribution of catalogues and deliveries of flowers and gardening orders were affected by snow and refunds were issued.
Flying Brands chief executive Stephen Cook said: “We had snow in March, which impacted our gardening brands and an awful Christmas that caused havoc with our flower deliveries.”
The retailer focused on gardening and gifts last year and sold collectables brand Benham. It bolstered its operations with the acquisitions of Flowers Direct, florist Drake Algar and Garden Centre Online.
Flowers Direct performed below expectations last year but Cook expected improvement after a “decent” Valentine’s Day.
The retailer is also relaunching the Garden Centre Online site in April.
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