Luxury goods group Waterford Wedgwood has reported its best Christmas for five years as demand for its products, in particular its Waterford Crystal, increased around the world.
The trading statement reflects what was generally seen as a buoyant festive shopping season for Irish retailers.
Following a turbulent few years for the company when a decline in sales forced it to lay off staff and move some production overseas, Waterford said yesterday its major brands had performed strongly in their main markets over the Christmas period.
While year-to-date sales (April 1st to December 31st) were broadly in line with the same period last year, December's retail performance was "very encouraging", the group said.
In the US, Waterford's biggest market, sales of Waterford Crystal by major department store chains were up 6 per cent in December when compared to the same month in 2005.
In Ireland and Britain sales were 8 per cent ahead.
Peter Cameron, Waterford's chief executive, welcomed the figures, saying Christmas was the most important trading period of the year for the company.
The US performance comes against a background of weak retail sales. December figures published yesterday showed retailers were hurt by warm weather and procrastinating shoppers who waited for big discounts before wrapping up their holiday purchases.
AnnTaylor Stores, Federated Department Stores, and Chico's FAS warned that their sales or earnings for the fourth quarter or fiscal year ending in January could be less than expected.
Wal-Mart Stores maintained its fourth-quarter profit forecast, which was in doubt after US sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, fell in November.
Yesterday's good news from Waterford Wedgwood also stood out against mixed reports from the UK retail sector.
Fashion chain Next said profits would be ahead of expectations but only after a strong performance from its Directory catalogue and internet arm.
Next overcame a 6.9 per cent drop in like-for-like sales at its high street operation between July 31st and Christmas Eve.
Meanwhile, it emerged that department store group House of Fraser enjoyed a strong Christmas trading period.
House of Fraser, which was recently taken over by a consortium led by retail investment group Baugur, said like-for-like sales grew 7.3 per cent in December. The performance included its best ever week in the days before Christmas.
(Additional reporting: Reuters / PA)
