Versace UK hit by tough market in latest year

Versace UK’s latest accounts have been filed at Companies House and they show the business in decline for the 12 months to the end of March this year.

Sales saw a “significant” decrease, dropping 21% after a 19% fall the year before, with the company saying this followed the trend of the wider luxury sector and of other companies within its group (although being bought by Prada in a €1.25 billion deal, at the time these results cover, it was part of Capri holdings, which also includes Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo).

But as well as the generally reduced global demand for luxury goods, it also cited a broader decline in UK retail sales. And it talked of increased cost pressures from inflation and higher wages that were impacting retail sentiment.

Despite all this, and considering the level of competition in the British retail sector, the group “continues to consider the UK market as a profitable business” overall and it closed the year with a solid balance sheet. In fact its current assets exceeded its liabilities by over £7 million compared to a figure of £5.3 million in the previous year.

So let’s look at the numbers. Turnover was £15.26 million, down from £19.2 million and gross profit declined to £6.57 million from £9.38 million. In percentage terms that was a fall to 43.08% from 48.84%. While the cost of sales also fell, sales per employee dropped to £331,643 from £349,072.

Operating profit fell to £280,981 from £302,875 and profit before tax was down to £36,269 from £112,895. The loss for the financial year was £275,802, a swing from a profit of £382,397 a year earlier.