De Rigo promotes Police in fashion world
De Rigo toasts 2006 and focuses on Police and Sting brands.
The Veneto eyewear company had record billings last year and the network (including franchising and licenses) exceeded 600 million euros: specifically, it recorded billings of 627.8 million, a 10.5% growth compared to the previous year, with a consolidated turnover of 558.4 million euros (over 10.4%).
'We are really pleased with the results', vice-president and financial director of the group, Maurizio Dessolis, explained to F&M. 'With a leap in the wholesale segment of 20.2% to 164.7 million we had the highest growth in the sector and the retail division rose by 6.7% to 406.8 million for the 590 stores. By the first six months of this year we will have 600 outlets'.
De Rigo is currently the leader for the distribution of optical products in the Spanish market through the General Optic chain of 177 outlets (which will become 207 by the end of the year) and is in second place in the UK with 413 Dollond & Aitchison stores.
'As far as wholesale production and distribution is concerned, all brands have been competitive', Dessolis continued. 'Zegna and Jean Paul Gaultier, a new entry, in particular had an immediate positive effect throughout the year'.
And while the licenses with Celine (another three years), Escada, Givenchy, Chopard and Etro continue to have a two-figure performance, De Rigo is accelerating the two house brands, Police and Sting, for which hefty investments in advertising are envisaged, starting with the choice of the testimonials: Fabio Cannavaro for Sting and Antonio Banderas for Police.
'The results achieved with the first Police brand extensions (watches, fragrances and jewelry, ed.) are also satisfactory and we're ready to sign a new license that will take the brand into the fashion world'.
Lastly, while waiting for the profits, which will be communicated end March, De Rigo is continuing with the two-way agreement with America's Viva, which will allow it to distribute Guess, Hilfiger and Gant eyewear in Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal and England.
(Source: Finanza e Mercati)
