Mulberry - oh how we love thee

God how we love this brand! Mulberry has hit the press in the last week with story after story, detailing just how good this company does. They’ve just bagged Guillion, Herme’s chief executive. They’ve created the Alexa bag which over the last year has propelled Mulberry’s sales up 62%. Growth in the first half of September was the same as in the entire year to March 2010. Internationally, sales more than doubled (driven by demand from Asia) and profits in the first half rose 231 per cent (£15.6 million, up from £4.7 million in Q1+Q2 2010). Despite the fact that most people are feeling (and being) very gloomy about the market, Mulberry is see quite the opposite, especially in China and Brazil (where the European debt crisis hasn’t affected Mulberry’s sales). And they've just recievd a £2.5 million grant from the government to help them fund a new factory in Somerset which will create 300 new jobs!

Founded: 1971
Who: A British company who’s backbone is an extensive line of luxury fashion bags. In addition to leather goods, Mulberry’s range includes womenswear, accessories and footwear.
Where: originally from rural Somerset England
Creative Director: The infamous Emma Hill who joined in 2008
Mulberry’s orginal products: chockers and belts (the bags of the 1970s and 80s), quilted fishing bags, poacher bags and jackets inspired by country pursuits
The Bayswater: the start of the 21st century saw the birth of this style icon
Handbags and Accessories: Make up 77% of Mulberry’s sales
Ready-to-wear clothing: category’s sales are growing the fastest (and we understand why, we love those mulberry scarves)
Factory: Has defeated the laws of globalisation. Their manufacturing is based in The Rookery in Somerset (it’s one of the last of its kind in the UK). Everyone is a local craftsman and in 2006 they launched a training scheme for eight young apprentices to qualify in leather goods manufacturing every year. Mulbs has just received a government grant of £2.5million to open a new factory in the same area, creating 300 jobs!
Total UK stores: 44 (26 department shop-in-shop and 18 individual stores)
Total International stores: 48 (18 department shop-in-shop and 30 individual stores)