Laura Ashley has warned investors to brace for a significant decline in its annual results after poor trading at the quintessentially English fashion and homewares brand.
Shares in the struggling retailer dropped by as much as a fifth yesterday after the profit warning, which some analysts forecast put it on track for a full-year loss.
Laura Ashley is in the process of closing about a quarter of its 160 stores in the face of rising business rates, a shift to online shopping and the waning popularity of the high street.
