date:Sep 17, 2012
be 3% for the full year. Trading this summer in the UK was particularly strong and sales in continental Europe remained buoyant. Trading in newly opened stores exceeded expectations and the opening of the new store in Berlin in July saw our most successful first days sales ever. Early sales of the autumn/winter range have been encouraging.
Operating margins in the first half were lower than last year reflecting the absorption of high cotton costs which we chose not to pass on to customers. Marg