Sales sparkle after Boodles stars in documentary

DESIGNER jeweller Boodles has reported a leap in domestic sales after the company was featured in a Channel 4 documentary looking at exclusive British brands.

The company, which has its roots in Liverpool – where it was founded in 1798 and where its workshop is still based, also could be on the move from One King Street in Manchester city centre, as newly-filed accounts reveal that a search for a larger site in Manchester is under way.

Boodles, which has just reopened its extended flagship store on London’s Bond Street, said total revenues in the year to February 28 fell by £1m to £60.6m, while profits fell from £8.5m to £8m in the same period.

On the back of a rise in footfall after the company was featured in the Inside Boodles documentary in March 2014, UK sales rose 16% to £46.9m, a trend not mirrored in Ireland nor in export sales, which both went into reverse in the period. Ireland sales fell from £2.9m in 2014 to £1.8m, while exports tumbled from £18.5m to £11.8m.

Boodles, which sells luxury products ranging from £1,500 to over £1m, has shops in Chester, Liverpool, Manchester and Dublin and five outlets in London.

It is owned by the Wainwright family, who in the year shared dividends of £2.3m, down from £3m in in 2014. Shareholders’ funds rose from £40m to £43.9m.

Regarding its trading and possible Manchester relocation, managing direcrtor Michael Wainwright wrote: “The company has invested heavily in its new flagship, which now straddles Bond Street and Albermarle Street and looks magnificent. The company is in further talks to relocate to a far larger presence in Manchester…

“Duing the year Channel 4 created a one hour documentary abour Boodles which has been very well received and resulted in significantly higher footfall in our shops.”