Long Tall Sally acquires US competitor

British fashion retailer Long Tall Sally, which caters for women 5'8" and taller, has acquired its US competitor Long Elegant Legs for an undisclosed amount, as to looks to increase its customer base.

New Jersey-based Long Elegant Legs, which was founded in 1991 specialising in tall womenswear, marks Long Tall Sally’s fourth acquisition, as it looks to rapidly increase its customer base to add to its established global footprint that now includes 26 stores in the UK, the US, Canada and Germany, as well as an online operation that ships to 160 countries worldwide.

The acquisition will add Long Elegant Legs product portfolio as well as its customer database of 170,000 tall women, which will “significantly accelerate” Long Tall Sally’s expansion in the US, according to the brands press statement.

The move comes on the back on an improved Christmas trading period, which saw the tall womenswear brand achieve a 17 percent increase in like-for-like net sales from November 29, 2015, to January 2, 2016.

Long Tall Sally acquires Long Elegant Legs

The British retailer has stated that it will deliver combined direct and retail sales of around 36 million pounds in 2015, an increase of 18 percent, and is on track to deliver sales of 48 million pounds and operating profits of 5 million pounds for 2016. Its growth has been primarily driven by its rapidly increasing direct channel, new store openings and like-for-like retail growth.

The UK remains Long Tall Sally’s biggest market, accounting for 35 percent of total global sales, up 13 percent like-for-like in 2015, however, sales outside of the UK accounts for two-thirds of total revenues. The tall womenswear brand also owes a lot of its success to online as e-commerce sales account for two-thirds of total sales, up 24 percent like-for-like.

Long Tall Sally chief executive, Andrew Shapin, who has been in charge since 2007, said: "We are delighted with the momentum of the business and Christmas trading performance. We have been following Long Elegant Legs for years and the acquisition cements our position as the largest tall specialist in the world.”

Amery Capital executive chairman, Maurice Helfgott, added: "Our investment in Long Tall Sally continues to pay dividends as the company enjoys rapid growth in Europe and North America, augmented by key acquisitions that have been quickly integrated into the brand and its international operations."

Images: Long Tall Sally