Brown Thomas gets profits going

THIS was the year that saw Brown Thomas Group on the move. The new outlet, on the opposite side of Graft on Street to its original home, has proved successful and the group reported trading profits that are almost double those of 1995.

The new Dublin shop is likely to reach a gross turnover of £54 million by December 31st, against £50 million in 1995. The target for next year is a healthy £58 million. "We now do more turnover in this store than Switzers and Brown Thomas did combined," said an upbeat Paul Kelly, the company's managing director. The Grafton Street outlet, he said, had maintained its position as the city's most prestigious shop and Cashs in Cork, Todds of Limerick and Moons of Galway were all doing well.

The new year is to see Cashs of Cork receiving a £10 million relaunch and possibly having its name changed to Brown Thomas. The new Dublin store will be expanded and a 375 berth car park is to be opened. However, even Paul Kelly has his worries. He is concerned at the disruption caused by running the LUAS at street level rather than underground. "My worry is that they [the Government] will put it in, then realise their mistake in a few years' time, and we'll have to dig it up and start boring holes in the ground."

He is also concerned about the transition to the euro, and the possibility that retailers may face a number of years during which they will have to give their prices in both pounds and euros. Dual pricing would be expensive, he said. And the idea of a currency change on January 1st, his busiest time of the year, is not something he is looking forward to.