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http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1078886_brothers_battle_plan
Brother’s battle plan
Brother
UK expects overall sales to rise by almost 10 per cent this year but
warns profits will be significantly lower as it invests heavily in
advertising and marketing to protect its market share.The company,
which has its headquarters in Audenshaw, Tameside, is on course to post
revenues of £110m for the 12 months to the end of March after a strong
first half to the end of September.Phil Jones, the firm’s sales and
marketing director, said he had earmarked up to £3m to spend on
marketing and advertising during the second half.Profits are likely to
be up to 50 per cent below last year’s £9.33m, a figure boosted by the
pound’s strength in 2007.”Exchange rates provided a massive positive
swing for us last year, but the pound’s depreciation against the euro
during 2008 will have an impact this time around,” said Mr Jones.”There
is no doubt the next six months are going to be immensely difficult.
There’s a cautious market, but we are positive.”If things carry on as
they are, we expect sales of £110m for the full year.”Brother
UK, which employs 180 people, sells all-in-one printing, scanning,
copying and fax machines, inkjet and laser printers, sewing machines
and electronic labelling devices used by tradesmen and in warehouses
and offices for racking and filing systems.Sales during the first six
months of the financial year grew 7.3pc on a like-for-like basis, with
strong demand for colour laser equipment.The firm has
undertaken a huge data analysis exercise to identify the top 100
postcodes in the country for expanding SMEs, and is putting a lot of
time and effort into maximising sales in those areas, which include
Manchester city centre.”We are taking a very targeted approach to
generate business and we are hopeful it will yield some very good
results,” said Mr Jones.The trend towards flexible working and
homeworking is driving sales growth along with investment in new
schools around the country, he added.Brother UK has moved its
warehouse operations from Greater Manchester to a larger facility in
Leicester, which Mr Jones said would give the business a platform for
further expansion.The firm is owned by Japan’s Brother Industries and
is celebrating 40 years in Greater Manchester.
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