Leading independent footwear retailer, Charles Clinkard, is celebrating an overall sales increase of seven per cent in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The retailer, which has been a family business since 1924 and celebrates its 100th birthday later this Spring, has benchmarked itself against industry figures as reported by the British Retail Consortium/KPMG sales monitor.
Looking at Bricks & Mortar stores for non-food retailers, sales were up +2 per cent year-on-year, while Charles Clinkard exceeded this with a six per cent increase. While online commerce for non-food retailers decreased by -3 per cent compared to 2022, Charles Clinkard saw a significant growth of +7 per cent.
This success has allowed the business to invest even further into the high street, with a £350,000 investment into a full refurbishment of its Bristol store last month (pictured above and below), and an additional £130,000 into a brand-new look and feel of its Warwick store – which will re-open this month.
Not only that, but Charles Clinkard is also investing in the future of its tech capabilities, increasing IT spending by a third for 2024 to ensure it retains a competitive edge over other retailers.
Tim Payne, Managing Director of Retail at Charles Clinkard (left), commented: “It’s fantastic to have such a successful trading year in 2023, and puts us in a really strong position as a business as we look ahead to our 100th birthday.
“Looking at BRC/KPMG sales monitor insights, it’s clear that the industry in most cases has been stable with modest growth compared to the more turbulent years prior. We didn’t put too much pressure on achieving significant sales growth against the backdrop of the economic climate, but it’s brilliant that we have been able to go above and beyond these benchmarks and even buck the trend in eCommerce.
“Consumer confidence continues to climb, which is why we are continuing to invest in the shopping experience both in-store and online, and how we can make this as personalised and seamless as possible through the whole customer journey. We have been at the heart of families and the high street for 100 years, so it’s important that we continue to meet the needs of our customers and adapt and innovate along the way with them. We’re excited to see what the next year holds for the business and to continue to roll out our strategy for further growth and futureproofing.”
Charles Clinkard is home to many household brands across its women’s, men’s and children’s departments, including Gabor, Rieker, Skechers, Clarks, Loake and Birkenstock.
