Double-digit gains, German expansion for M and M Direct
Year-on-year sales at discount fashion cataloguer M and M Direct rose 21 percent for the 10 weeks ended 3rd January, and web orders increased 30 percent. The company also announced it will launch a German-language website later this year and is seeking additional “white-label opportunities”. M and M already runs Ted’s Shed, the clearance website for fashion brand Ted Baker.

International a star performer for Asos
At fashion etailer Asos, year-on-year sales for the five weeks to 3rd January were up 30 percent. For the 42 weeks to 17th January, sales rose 38 percent. UK sales rose 25 percent during that period, while international sales soared by 102 percent. In other Asos news, the company will be launching Green Room, a section of its website devoted to eco-fashion, next month.

Solid quarter for Mothercare
For the 13 weeks to 8th January, direct sales at maternity/nursery cataloguer/retailer Mothercare, which includes Early Learning Centre, were up 19.5 percent from the previous year. Total sales increased 4.6 percent, with UK like-for-likes up 4.2 percent.

Website relaunch lifts Thorntons direct sales
Direct sales at confectioner Thorntons were £4.7 million for the 14 weeks to 9th January, a 10.9 percent jump from the previous year, due largely to the relaunch of the consumer website and increased marketing efforts. Total sales fell by 2.4 percent, to £80.7 million. But excluding private-label sales, which Thorntons has “effectively ceased”, according to a statement, sales increased 3.0 percent.