UK. Hampshire-based Fat Face is surfing the wave of overseas expansion as it prepares to open its first airport shop at London Gatwick Airport in April, in an effort to tap into the travel retail sector.
Another store will open in March in downtown Dublin on the back of strong financial results recently. Speaking to Retail Week Fat Face CEO Louise Barnes said the Dublin shop, would precede expansion into other European countries such as Spain.
Fat Face produces clothing to cover a wide variety of sports and leisure, specialising in sailing, skiwear and extreme sports. The company has about 70 shops in the UK and France. Founded in 1988 by two fanatical skiers -Tim Slade and Jules Leaver -who sold clothing from their backpacks to support their skiing habits, Fat Face opened its first shop in London’s Fulham Road in 1993. The company has annual sales of approximately £44 million (US$79 million).
