While turnover and gross profit margin slid for watch/optical company Stelux Holdings International for its first half, it managed to cut back on its net loss.
Group turnover was down by 6.9 per cent (6.3 per cent foreign-exchange neural) to HK$1.3 billion (US$166.4 million) and gross profit margin fell from 59.6 to 58.1 per cent. Group net loss reduced by 15.2 per cent to $62 million.
Given the fragile retail environment, the group says it continued with consolidation measures to improve shop productivity. While group turnover fell by 6.9 per cent, largely because of an 11.3 per cent drop in shop number, same-store sales improved, particularly in Mainland China. Sales also stabilised in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Gross profit margin remained under pressure at 58.1 per cent, compared to 59.6 per cent in the same period last year.
City Chain Group
Turnover fell 11.1 per cent for the City Chain Group, with a loss before interest and tax (LBIT) of $37.7 million from $49.4 million. The group has about 260 stores in Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand together with three online stores.
The drop in turnover from $668.5 million to $594.4 million was because of a 17.9 per cent decrease in shop numbers.
In response, the chain is undergoing a major transformation to attract both a younger and local clientele. New store layouts have been introduced in Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Thailand.
Turnover for the chain in greater China fell by 12.5 per cent to $439.8 million while LBIT was down 11 per cent to $34.8 million.
Same-store sales growth has also resumed in Hong Kong and Macau since August with a freshed store image and enriched brand portfolio. The closure of loss-making shops and the positive impact from the expiry of high rental leases contributed to a 19 per cent fall in operating costs. City Chain tapped into the e-commerce business in Mainland China a few years ago, with the turnover of its watch e-commerce business increasing by more than 60 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.
With store consolidation in Southeast Asia, turnover fell 7 per cent to $154.5 million. There was a 16.5 per cent drop in shop numbers. Nonetheless, LBIT narrowed significantly to $2.9 million from $10.3 million.
EBIT for Malaysian stores more than tripled while LBIT in Singapore fell by 79 per cent. With sustained recovery in Thailand, both turnover and same-store sales growth were “satisfactory”.
Optical 88 Group
Optical 88 Group turnover decreased by 2.9 per cent with EBIT rising to $32 million from $15.2 million. The group has 194 shops throughout Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand delivering professional eyecare/eyewear products and services, as well as hearing products and services.
Turnover eased by 2.9 per cent to $504 million with 7.6 per cent fewer shops. EBIT more than doubled from $15.2 million to $32 million.
In greater China, Optical 88 had a marginal 0.7 per cent decline in turnover to $414.2 million, with 4.1 per cent fewer shops. EBIT rose by 16.8 per cent to $38.2 million.
Southeast Asia business had a 11.7 per cent drop in turnover to $89.8 million with 10.2 per cent fewer outlets delivering a narrowed LBIT of $6.2 million.
Turnover rose 13.5 per cent of Egg Optical Boutique with LBIT widening from $7.1 million to $13.6 million. There are more than 80 stores in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Southeast Asia
together with an online store.
