Vente-privee reports 33% sales uplift

In the year, it notched up sales from its European sites of £610m.

The etailer - which sells everything from fashion to food - was founded in France in 2001, and launched a UK website in September 2008. It opened a UK office in September 2009. In fashion it sells previous-season designer labels at discounted prices to its members.

Vente-privee.com forecasted at the beginning of 2009 that it would reach a turnover of £556m last year across all its markets.

But the company said it saw stronger growth than expected from markets outside of France, its home country. It said 15% of its turnover came from international markets, including the UK.

The etailer said the UK is a strong growth area and predicted a 167% increase in UK sales in 2010 to reach a UK turnover £7.2m.

Vente-privee.com has forecast a total turnover of £763m across all its markets for 2010, up 25% on 2009’s figure.

Jacques-Antoine Granjon, co-founder and chief executive of vente-privee.com, said: “We have every reason to be very optimistic. Last year, Germany saw 100% growth and turnover of £38m and Spain 95% growth and turnover of £40m. With respective turnovers of £8.7m and £2.7m, Italy and the UK also look promising.”

Vente-privee.com has 9.7 million members worldwide.