Online retailer N Brown flirts with three stores on the High Street

By Rupert Steiner for the Daily Mail
Updated: 19:03 EDT, 10 May 2011

Online retailer N Brown is to fly in the face of convention by bursting onto the High Street with three bricks and mortar stores.

Most retailers have been doing the reverse – establishing chains up and down the country and then launching websites to hawk their wares.

Flying in the face of convention: N Brown said it is to trial three concept stores

But N Brown said it is to trial three concept stores during the year featuring its popular Simply Be brand.

Chief executive Alan White believes there is huge potential to tap the growing market which has been largely overlooked by the mainstream chains.

If successful he plans to expand the idea into big cities.

N Brown (up 12.3p to 298p), which also owns High & Mighty, Simply Yours and Figleaves, saw profits rise to £94.5m from £85.7m for the year to February 26 on sales of £718.8m.

It also lifted the full year dividend 15pc to 12.41p a share.