20% growth for s.Oliver in 2010 "best result ever"

German lifestyle group s.Oliver has realised one if its biggest growths ever: by breaching the 1 billion euro barrier for its 2010 turnover, the group grew 19.8% last year. The group called the 1.07 billion euro turnover “one of its most successful achievements ever”.

Big grow in wholesale, huge growth in retail

Owing to a new shop concept and several new stores on key locations, the retail activities generated 443 million euro – up to 35% of the group’s total. Notable successes were the new flagship stores in Oldenburg and Freiburg, the ‘vintage’ store in Stuttgart and the very first accessory shop in Frankfurt. In total, s.Oliver opened 30 own stores and 49 franchise stores last year.

The group’s main activity remains wholesale, despite the huge growth of its own retail and the ‘slower’ growth of wholesale (still a very respectable 10.85%): the latter generated slightly over half of the yearly turnover (537.8 million euro). Franchising is far behind with only 85.4 million euro of yearly turnover.

Home sweet home, Belgium main foreign market

Home market Germany remains the biggest country for s.Oliver, but export rose to 27% of the group’s sales. Belgium is the main foreign market – followed by the Netherlands, Austria and Poland. The group started a separate division for Hungary last year, as well as a joint venture for Slovenia and Croatia.

2011 will be another year of major expansion for s.Oliver, focussing on Eastern Europe and Asia. 36 new shops have already been opened this year, raising the total to 183 own and 312 franchise stores. The group employs 6470 people in over 30 countries.