boohoo’s owners happy with their lot

THE company behind online ladieswear brand boohoo.com saw its turnover increase by 85% to £24.5m in 2011, according to newly-filed accounts.

The Manchester-based business’s parent company also increased pre-tax profits to £139,000, from £77,000 in the prior year, while staff numbers also climbed from 84 to 152.

The business is owned by the Kamani family, who have made their fortune from textiles import business Pinstripe Clothing Co, but family members have interests in other companies in construction, property and restaurants.

Notes accompanying the accounts prepared by director Mahmud Kamani state that the company achieved its growth “through increasing its customer base, range of product lines and product depth”.

He said the company’s main focus has been to continue its growth through spending on attracting new customers and growing the infrastructure to serve them.

“Significant investment in its customer service and warehouse staffing has enabled the company to provide an efficient and effective service that the customer has been able to benefit from,” he said.

“We believe the company is equipped well for the future trading year.”

Boohoo.com was initially launched five years ago but then underwent a significant overhaul in 2010, which saw it relaunch the website and open a new warehousing and distribution hub in Burnley to service its orders.

Accounts show that one of its subsidiaries has agreed to buy the warehouse from its current owner for £3.7m. The deal is due to complete by July 27.