KEY POINTS:
Clothing sales are not going well in the run up to Christmas, if a statement by Hallenstein Glasson is anything to go by.
The company said sales for the 16 weeks to November 21 were 2 per cent down on last year.
If that trend continued, the profit in the first six months of its year is "unlikely to meet that earned in the prior year," the company said.
"Trading conditions in both New Zealand and Australia have been difficult, with intense competition in the fashion apparel segments in both markets."
The statement from Hallenstein Glasson came as clothing retailer EziBuy opened its first retail store in Hamilton, as part of a national retail expansion plan.
Silver Fern and Magic player, Joline Henry, opened the store with EziBuy founders, Peter and Gerard Gillespie at a function last night.
EziBuy sells via mail order catalogue, the web and stores.
New stores are expected to open in Tauranga, Auckland and Wellington within the next six months.
EziBuy is a New Zealand-owned private company with a turnover in excess of $160 million.
It started in Palmerston North in 1978 and now employs more than 800 people.
- NZPA
