Development of the order situation

Importance of order business falls due to increasing share of Group’s own retail business

HUGO BOSS is increasingly aligning its distribution activities and its business model to its own retail business. Because of the resulting above-average growth in this segment, the share of sales through the wholesale channel is decreasing. The pre-order business, i.e. the sale to wholesale partners of goods ordered in advance, is therefore losing significance for the development of the business as a whole.

In relation to total Group sales, the share of the traditional order business fell in the past fiscal year to 29% (2014: 32%). In order to plan its production to the best possible effect despite this, HUGO BOSS is therefore integrating not only order intake but, above all, the trend in its own retail business into its volume planning.

Number of Group’s own retail stores

Network of freestanding retail stores shows net growth of 42 stores in 2015

In fiscal year 2015, the number of the Group’s own freestanding retail stores rose by a net figure of 42 to 430 (2014: 388).

Number of Group‘s own retail stores

In addition to organic growth by 21 stores, takeovers of 38 freestanding stores previously operated by franchise partners contributed to the increase in selling space. In contrast, 17 freestanding stores were closed, mainly in connection with the qualitative upgrade of the store portfolio.

Including shop-in-shops and outlets, the total net number of retail stores operated by HUGO BOSS worldwide in fiscal year 2015 rose by 72 to 1,113 (2014: 1,041). The total selling space of the Group’s own retail stores rose by 8% to around 152,000 sqm (December 31, 2014: 140,000 sqm).

Number of freestanding retail stores in Europe unchanged from last year

In Europe the number of freestanding retail stores was unchanged from the previous year at 183 (2014: 183). There were nine new openings, including in Italy and Great Britain, while nine stores were closed over the same period. Taking into account shop-in-shops and outlets, Europe reported a net increase of eight in the number of the Group’s own retail stores, with 603 at present (2014: 595).

New openings in all Americas markets

In the Americas, freestanding retail stores showed a net increase of nine during the reporting period, rising to 92 stores (2014: 83). A total of six new stores were opened in all markets of the region and three freestanding stores were taken over from former franchise partners. Including shop-in-shops and outlets, the number of the Group’s own retail stores in the Americas totaled 226 (2014: 204).

Takeovers in South Korea and China strengthen brand presence in Asia/Pacific

The number of freestanding retail stores in Asia/Pacific rose by a net figure of 33 to 155 stores in fiscal year 2015 (2014: 122). In the course of the expansion, 16 freestanding stores were taken over in South Korea, 18 in China and one store in New Zealand. The store network was also expanded by six new openings. Eight freestanding retail stores were closed in the reporting period. Taking into account all shop-in-shops and outlets, there was a net increase of 42 to a total of 284 own retail stores in this region (2014: 242).

In addition, some 6,450 points of sale are operated by wholesale partners, either as franchise stores, shop-in-shops or in a multi-brand setting (2014: 6,550 points of sale). This means that customers today can buy HUGO BOSS products in a total of around 7,600 points of sale in 125 countries (2014: 7,600 points of sale in 130 countries). Key Locations / Global Market Presence