Mr. Williams: The two main brands in the group's portfolio are Nicole Farhi and French Connection (FCUK), which are both retail and wholesale. Our business is split around 50-50 in the latter two areas. In terms of markets, 75% of our business is in the UK and Europe, 23% in North America and 2% in the Far East.
TWST: In percentage terms, can you break down the revenues that you derive from each of those geographic areas?
Mr. Williams: Our total turnover for the year ending January 2002 is GBP225 million, of which 170 comes from the UK and Europe, 51 from North America and 5 from the rest of the world.
TWST: How has the diversification and growth of the group's product portfolio, for example cosmetics and eyewear, impacted your licensing agreement policies? How does this integrate into your current strategy?
Mr. Williams: French Connection UK, or FCUK as it is also known, is a very important and well-recognized brand in its markets. In terms of extensions to that brand, there are certain core areas that are suitable, for example watches, which fit very well with the overall credibility of the French Connection offering. Therefore, it is a natural extension to the FCUK brand, as is eyewear, home wear and recently we signed a shoe license agreement. At the moment the product is being sold at the wholesale level and will be in stores by autumn. In addition, we have a men's grooming product, which is a very important part of our licensing business, in conjunction with Boots, the UK pharmacy chain, which has been very successful. We are also launching ladies FCUK cosmetics products this autumn to go along side that. Furthermore, we have FAB, Flavored Alcoholic Beverages, which are similar to products such as Bacardi Breezer. This is very much a lifestyle product and the 18-30 year old's who associate themselves with the French Connection brand and image are those who go to bars and nightclubs and drink that kind of product. So, from our perspective, it is an interesting extension to the FCUK brand.
Tickers included in this excerpt: FCCN.L
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