Live Unlimited comes good in 2022 as sales surge

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Jan 23, 2023

Live Unlimited London is celebrating its first positive core earnings (EBITDA) after three years of trading, the plus-size fashion retailer reported Monday.

Add to that, the company’s 2022 financial results delivered a 69% increase in net sales to £9.8 million, compared to last year's £5.8 million and £1.9 million in 2020.

The year’s biggest product categories for Live Unlimited proved to dresses and blouses, with 2022 “seeing a shift in customers buying more heavily into day-to-night outfits”, it said.

And in the final quarter of 2022, strong partywear collection demand was driven by the first year parties were truly back after Covid, it added.

Rachel Heather, CEO and co-founder said: “2022 has been a very exciting year, our sales have increased across all of our retail channels (Next, John Lewis, John Lewis Stores, Zalando and our website).”

Heather also noted trading had been “tough” due to a very warm autumn, “but we’ve remained agile throughout which has allowed us to make the relevant changes in the range to guarantee growth.”

She also noted Live Unlimited’s USP is being in “full control” of its own manufacturing process, “which allows [us] to retain strong quality control throughout, from in-house print development, to sourcing through established suppliers. The business is therefore much more resilient to market fluctuations and current supply chain challenges as a result”.

Tracy Egan, Creative Director and co-founder, added: “We have always believed that versatility of product is key to success and have always been focussed on designing clothes with that, and longevity in mind. I truly believe that it is more important now than ever.

“With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the lines between seasons becoming increasingly blurred, we want to offer our customer a quality and responsibly sourced garment that she can wear for years to come. We aim for our collections to be part of the small section of a woman's wardrobe that she goes to time after time.”