(1) John Bason, finance director of Primark's parent company, Associated British Foods, says: "Showing off your bargains is a characteristic of Primark shopping.
(2) While UK sales in October and November were affected by the balmy autumn, Bason said it only affected winter coats and knitwear, which make up a third of Primark’s product range so overall sales continued to rise.
(3) The weather had undoubtedly held back performance, Bason said, but British shoppers now had more money to spare, thanks to falls in petrol and food prices, and were putting more Primark items in their baskets on each shop.
(4) "We are looking at [retail] hot spots," said John Bason, finance director at Primark owner Associated British Foods.
(5) Bason countered that Primark had enjoyed exceptional sales in the spring as the warm weather put shoppers in the mood to buy its kimono tops, jumpsuits and platform sandals.
(6) John Bason, finance director of Primark’s parent company, Associated British Foods, said the number of shoppers visiting the clothing chain had not fallen but knitwear, coats and thermals had not sold well.
(7) Bason said the retailer had already begun shipping clothing to its new warehouse in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in preparation for the opening.
(8) Bason said he had never expected the Boston opening to be overwhelmed by eager shoppers as Primark’s brand does not have the awareness it does in the UK or Europe, but he hopes that will change rapidly.
(9) Bason said the new stores were part of ongoing expansion in the UK that formed part of 1.3 million sq ft of new space planned around the world in the year ahead.
(10) In the UK, Primark’s biggest market, Bason said sales at established stores rose by between 1% and 2% in the 16 weeks to 20 June despite a cold start to the spring which has hit sales at other retailers including Marks & Spencer.
(11) Primark owner says prices will not rise to pay for 'national living wage' Read more Bason said there would be further expansion overseas: “There is a huge market in continental Europe that we are going after and we know when we go to new locations we are greeted with wide acclaim.
(12) Bason said the price was now at an "unsustainably low" level of 17 cents per pound.
(13) The BaSon test (Baden, Sonnenfield) for the control of heparin therapy has been studied in capillary and venous blood of normal and heparinized children and the same reliability is found.
(14) Bason said: “I think Primark is continuing to win in the UK.
(15) Bason said Primark was spending money on making its high street stores look more exciting and modern, keeping prices low and ensuring it had the right range of clothing.
(16) We are confident in the Primark proposition and long-term growth; we don’t kneejerk around short-term weather effects.” While profit margins slipped compared with the previous year, Bason said this was because of “exceptional trading” in 2013, when the company sold out of stock.
(17) They should discuss it with us and with their staff.” Bason said Primark was not trying to stop staff joining a union but said it was for staff to decide on their own without the influence of the company.
(18) Bason said shoppers had a “bit of a shock” for a couple of weeks after the EU referendum on 23 June but trade had bounced back with better weather from late July.
(19) In 2014, Bason said the company had sold out of Christmas jumpers, selling more than 1m, while kidswear, and even womenswear, linked to the hit Disney film Frozen had also sold well.
(20) The Irish connection for this Dublin-based retailer was also a useful emotional connection,” said Bason.