Scotts & Co. acquires multichannel retailer Artigiano

The upmarket Artigiano brands are the latest in a string of acquisitions made by Wiltshire-based Scotts & Co. over the past five years. The Group, which claims to be the UK’s largest independent multi-title catalogue retailer, now comprises 12 separate companies trading from different locations across the country and has a turnover of more than £70m.

Scotts’ plans to retain the Artigiano distribution centre in Cowes, Isle of Wight as well as its London base. As with previous acquisitions, Scotts will keep the original management of the womenswear retailer.

Scotts plans to grow both the womenswear businesses - worth £17m - by making the brands available to its own customer database.

Scotts’ executive chairman Nigel Swabey said: “The acquisition of the Artigiano businesses marks a watershed in the development of our Group. We have been looking to acquire an upscale fashion-led womenswear business for a number of years as this rounds-out the Group’s catalogue and online retail offer.  With their emphasis on Italian fashion, the Artigiano brands are a perfect match for our own extensive base of upmarket mail order and online customers.”