Thomas Sabo UK’s accounts for the year to June 2024 have been filed at Companies House and they show the subsidiary of the German jeweller enduring another tough period on the sales front.

The previous 12 months had also been difficult with turnover dropping, the cost of sales rising and profit on multiple measures down.

This time it was more of the same on sales — which it described as “disappointing” — but profits improved. Turnover fell to just under £9.236 million from almost £11.293 million, although the cost of sales did fall. Gross profit dropped to £1.474 million from £2.704 million but operating profit rose to £241,981 from £184,913. Profit before tax rose to £293,343 from £209,530 and net profit for the year was up to £275,457 from £209,530.

The company (which sells its own brand of fashion jewellery and watches through its retail shops, concessions in department stores, the webstore and through wholesale in the UK) said the year was a difficult one for most retailers but particularly for those specialising in fashion jewellery.

That market was “significantly affected by economic difficulties”. This means high inflation and high interest rates that had also affected the previous year leading to the cost-of-living crisis. It said domestic demand softened and along with changes to its store portfolio it had a negative impact on sales. 

But its tight control of costs meant that the inflationary rise in salaries was almost offset by other reductions in admin expenses. The company also received a margin adjustment credit from a group company, which boosted the year’s profit.

And it remains optimistic about the current year with it talking of expectations of a “significant recovery in sales”, and with continued financial support from the parent group it should be profitable.

That recovery in turnover should be seen both in the company’s stores and online based on its experience of the year so far. It said there have also been significant reductions in shop rents as leases have been renewed.

Luxury leather goods and stationery retailer Frank Smythson has filed its accounts for the year to the end of last March and said that its business improved.

That came as the economic situation in the UK and globally showed signs of recovery from the disruptions caused by the pandemic and despite the fact that challenges persisted.

Turnover for the business increased to £27.26 million from £23.65 million and gross profit rose to almost £19.6 million from just over £16 million. The operating result was still a loss, but it narrowed slightly to £5.9 million from £6.9 million and the loss both before and after tax was also down at £6.6 million from a negative £7.3 million a year earlier.

Looking at sales in more detail, the company saw like-for-like sales growth of 4.6% year on year, even though retail traffic fell by 8.7% and was boosted by conversion growth of 0.9%.

Its travel locations, while it said they were “much improved”, continue to feel the impact of reduced passenger numbers and less international travel.

But online, the business performed better with like-for-like growth of 5.1%, an increase in traffic of 0.7% and a conversion rise of 4.8%.

Meanwhile, the wholesale business (B2B) was still affected by high stock volumes, slow traffic in department stores and a few “uncertain financial positions” within large players, specifically Matches and KaDeVe. This translated into wholesale buyers spending less with the business. Yet its Corporate ops benefitted from a renewed interest in brands and corporations investing in rewarding their VIP clients and executives. This translated into strong growth versus the prior year.

The company’s strategy continues to focus on refining its retail network, It exited loss-making stores to create a more stable base of overheads and enable its effort and investment to be concentrated on growing brand visibility as well as on its digital channel. It expanded its presence in key markets and invested in marketing and digital expansion. And the company said that the “difficult decision” to close its flagship store on New Bond Street, London, was taken as part of that strategy.

During the year, the company invested in people with a new digital director to improve its online businesses and new agencies brought in to improve domestic and international sales. It also took on a new marketing director at the end of the financial year while a business development director joined in January 2024 “to expand and create a new model for” B2B.

The decision about the aforementioned New Bond Street closure was taken during the financial year in question but the shop actually closed just after the year ended. In August 2024 it also shut its store in Heathrow Terminal 5 due to improvement work at the terminal. But it’s working closely with the airport’s management to find another space in the same or other terminals (possibly more than one space) in order to continue with what’s an important high-traffic location for the brand.

Also after the financial year end, this January, its new Japanese distributor Look Inc began operating the local business starting with e-commerce and followed by Isetan men’s and a flagship[ in Ginza 6.

Kurt Geiger has shone the spotlight on the graduating class from its Business by Design Academy (BBD) and also announced an expansion of the programme.

BBD is its fully-funded career incubator for young creatives and from this autumn, it will become fully digitised, “opening access to young people across the UK – not just in London”. The in-person London programme will also increase its intake by 50%, “offering even more opportunities to young people from underrepresented backgrounds”. Applications for next year’s cohort are open now.

The first day of April saw the graduating class lauded at an event at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, with Bianca Saunders, Ella Thomas, Karen Binns, the Flag Twins, Zacharia Noble and many more in attendance.

The ceremony was led by broadcaster Clara Amfo who delivered an empowering keynote celebrating the students’ resilience and creativity. 

There were 33 graduates following in the footsteps of the inaugural 2024 cohort – 30% of whom are now employed full-time at Kurt Geiger, with others securing various roles and placements across the creative sector.

The students were presented with a number of different work-based prizes and placements with Jennifer Peters, Mohammed Hussain and Monique Miller awarded full-time paid apprenticeship roles at Kurt Geiger in the Buying, Merchandising and Marketing departments, allowing them to complete studies while working in these newly created positions. 

For the first time, a further three students, Bill Opare, Laura Quadri and Ben Sholongo were recognised for their enterprising enthusiasm and given an entrepreneurial grant to financially contribute towards developing their own ventures.

Nylah Rosario James was also awarded a one-year paid internship at Kurt Geiger’s HQ where she’ll gain hands-on experience in design, buying, merchandising, marketing and PR.

Kurt Geiger started the BBD because of the way the creative industry remains out of reach for many young people.

According to new Office for National Statistics data, the number of 16-24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) rose by 100,000 in the last 12 months reaching an 11-year high. 

The creative industry contributes £124 billion to the economy and employs 2.4 million people but only 17% of creative workers come from working-class backgrounds; 86% of creative internships are unpaid, shutting out those who can’t afford to work for free; and 43% of young people aspire to creative careers, but 42% feel it’s financially unviable.

Neil Clifford, CEO of Kurt Geiger, said: “Business by Design isn’t just about opening doors for creative talent – it’s about showing the industry how much it gains by embracing diversity. With the Academy expansion, we’re ensuring that talent from all backgrounds gets the access and support they deserve, while the creative sector thrives with fresh perspectives and innovation.”