Kurt Geiger sales soar as festive party season begins

Kurt Geiger said that sales of towering heels above 120mm in height quadrupled compared to last year during the week as shoppers followed catwalk trends more closely.

Sales of shearling boots rose 50% compared to last year while red and lace detailed shoes saw double the amount of sales than in the same period last year.

Over the nine months to October 30 turnover at the group rose 25%. International sales grew 45% during the nine month period to October 31 and now accounts for 10% of total sales.

Like-for-likes rose 10% on the same nine month period last year and were up 22% in the international arm.

Kurt Geiger has pushed the button on store expansion plans and will open more than 32 stores in countries including Russia, Turkey and Malaysia over the next five years. By 2016, the total number of Kurt Geiger stores overseas will double from 19 to 50.

The retailer has opened its first store in Moscow in the Gum Shopping Centre in Red Square, with another store in Moscow in the Atrium shopping centre set to open before Christmas.

Internet sales doubled on last year and now account for one fifth of own brand sales.

Chief executive Neil Clifford said: “With the fantastic surge in sales last week we anticipate Christmas trading to be strong across our entire business as we provide the international fashionistas with the most on trend footwear in the lead up to the party season.”

He added that 2010 had been an “excellent” year to date for the business.

“Our proven model for department store shoe retailing on an international level as well as our strategy to invest and expand in our own brand stores continues to pay strong dividends and the footfall and sales in our newly opened UK, Middle East and Russian stores have exceeded management expectations to date,” he said.