Laura Ashley has revealed a slight increase in profits, despite disappointing fashion sales. Full-year pre-tax profits grew to £8.6 million sterling from £8.4 million.
Group sales grew 7 per cent to £276.8 million, with home furnishing like-for -like sales up 18 per cent.
However, fashion like-for-like sales rose by just 1 per cent.
For the first 13 weeks of the current financial year, group like-for-like sales increased 3.8 per cent, of which home furnishings has seen like-for-like sales up 8.7 per cent.
The company has not awarded a final dividend.
Laura Ashley blamed the downturn in fashion sales on reduced tourist spending following the September 11th attacks.
Chief executive Mr KC Ng said: "Laura Ashley performed resiliently in a particularly difficult trading environment.
"Whilst our fashion sales have been disappointing, we are extremely happy with the performance of home furnishings and see it as a key growth driver over the next year."
PA