Kurt Geiger To Open More Stores

Footwear retailer Kurt Geiger will double its standalone store portfolio in 2004 as it begins a roll-out programme to build a 40-store chain.

Kurt Geiger has 65 department store concessions but just six standalone stores, and managing director Crispin Mardon said the company has identified 40 towns and cities that could support Kurt Geiger units. Openings are likely to begin at a rate of five or six stores per year beginning in 2004.

The expansion comes after the business more than doubled its profits to GBP5.7 million for the year ending February 1 2003. The massive jump in profits was down to an improvement on margin of around 3 per cent points. Marlon added that he expected to see sales growth of 3-4 per cent for the current financial year.

The company is currently seeking a retail operations director.