Clothing retailer Postie Plus is expecting to lift sales by 5% over the second half of its financial year, partly due to a return to more normal wintery conditions.
The Christchurch-based company lost $775,000 in the six months to the end of January, a decrease of 3.5% on the same period a year ago.
Sales fell 5% to $54 million, due in part to subdued spending by consumers.
The company, which operates 81 Postie Plus stores, closed four of its Babycity shops during the period, and have since shut two more.
Postie Plus chief executive Ron Boskell says a focus on keeping costs down has been crucial, and it shaved nearly $450,000 off expenses due in part to the store closures.
Mr Boskell says the company is not pleased with the result, but it is optimistic winter stocks will sell well in the second half of the financial year.
