The big freeze is good news for Blacks as winterwear sales rise

Blacks, which operates its own brand shops as well as the Millets chain, said it had seen a very strong Christmas trading period, with like-for-like sales in the six weeks to January 7 up 15.2 per cent on last year.

The chain said it had "significantly enhanced its recovery prospects" after a restructuring and the closure of 87 loss-making stores in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Blacks said items that had sold particularly well over the freezing holiday period included its new E Tip Gloves, which allow chilly music fans to operate their iPods without getting their fingers cold.

Customers were also drawn to thermal underwear and leggings as the winter freeze set it.

But Blacks stressed that, while the particularly cold weather conditions had helped performance, sales have been ahead since its restructuring began in September.

The firm, which secured a rescue deal with its landlords in November, said it had enjoyed a "healthy and consistent recovery" in like-for-like sales.

In the period from August 29 last year to January 7 the group saw a 12 per cent increase in same-store sales.

This was supported by a 13.1 per cent rise for its outdoor division, although the group's small boardwear chain experienced a like-for-like decrease of 4.4 per cent.

Blacks suffered pre-tax losses of 18.1m in the six months to August, up from 6.7m losses a year earlier, as its boardwear division and underperforming Blacks and Millets stores dragged the group down.

Following its store closure plan, Blacks now has 313 stores.

The firm, which has its headquarters in Northampton, operates from 92 Blacks stores, 208 Millets outlets and 13 Freespirit boardwear shops.

Blacks said yesterday that it was now considering an investor fundraising of between 15m and 20m to help boost its outdoor chain.

It wants to roll out new formats to existing shops, while also looking at "selectively" expanding the outdoor chain.

The firm said it could reopen shops in areas where it has closed stores that it felt were subject to high rents and therefore loss-making despite strong sales.

Chief executive Neil Gillis said: "Following the restructuring measures taken in 2009, Blacks Leisure is now a significantly stronger business and is better placed than it has been for some years to build on this recovery."