Cashmere sales heat up in cold snap

英语自学网

Cashmere sales heat up in cold snap
        　　    Plunging global temperatures, combined with a weak pound and a strong euro, have created the biggest boom in demand for
        　　    Scottish branded cashmere and quality woollen knitwear for almost 25 years.
        　　    Mills across Scotland are working flat out to cope with demand and companies involved in the production of cashmere
        　　    accessories and quality Scottish knitwear say they expect a multi-million pound increase in turnover this year, despite the
        　　    credit crunch.
        　　    Ken Pasternak, chairman of the Scottish Cashmere Club, which represents leading manufacturers, said prospects for 2009 looked
        　　    brighter than for almost a quarter of a century.
        　　    "After 25 years of fairly hard going, we, as an industry, are out of the twilight zone and entering a new dawn," said
        　　    Pasternak who is also managing director of Peter Scott, a company based in Hawick in the Scottish borders.
        　　    "As an industry, proudly made in Scotland, we have some very positive opportunities in front of us. Relate that to the low
        　　    value of the pound and we have the ability to increase our impact on the export market across the board.
        　　    "At Peter Scott we expect, very pessimistically, to have an increase in turnover this year of ￡3.5m. We are basing our
        　　    projections on contracts already signed. We are a 130-year-old company and very conservative. We don't speculate, but work
        　　    out our budgeting on hard facts. If we can increase sales by ￡3.5m so can other companies."
        　　    Cashmere weaving in Scotland began in 1797, and the majority of products are exported. The industry supports around 4,000
        　　    people and, as demand increases, more jobs are likely to be created over the next 12 months.
        　　    "We are now in a position where we are a hell of a lot more competitive than we were a year ago," said James Dracup, managing
        　　    director at the Elgin plant of Johnstons, which is one of the oldest cashmere manufacturers in the country and whose clients
        　　    include Harrods in London and Bloomingdales in New York. "The cold weather we are experiencing across the world is helping
        　　    because it is accelerating sales of the type of product we specialise in, namely accessories.
        　　    "Rather than buying bigger ticket items such as jackets, coats, suits etc, people are buying smaller ticket items, namely
        　　    scarves, shawls, hats, gloves, and socks which they can use to alter the appearance of outfits. All early indications are
            
            

ensix

分页标题#e#
        　　    that orders for this season are at least holding up with levels of last year."
        　　    According to Harrods, there is plenty of evidence of strong sales in cashmere across womenswear and menswear. "Our customers
        　　    appreciate craftsmanship and more than ever are investing in luxurious pieces which they can wear for more than one season,"
        　　    said the store's senior fashion spokeswoman Becky Smith. "With people choosing to spend more time at home, we have also
        　　    noticed a trend for 'cocoon' items, where customers are buying comforting products such as cashmere sweaters or blankets to
        　　    enhance the at-home experience."
        　　    Even sales of Johnstons' Vicuna products are holding up.
        　　    According to high street retailers John Lewis and House of Fraser, sales of cashmere products are up on last year.
        　　    "Figures for last week showed that ladies' cashmere was up 23% on the same time last year, cashmere gloves rose by 15% and
        　　    our cashmere lined leather gloves were 272% up on last year," said Sian Jones, a spokeswoman for John Lewis.
        　　    "There does appear to be a trend for people to invest in quality items that will last, and provide an easy way to update a
        　　    wardrobe."