N Brown confirms plans to axe jobs amid business turnaround

N Brown Group has confirmed that 35 jobs are at risk at its Manchester head office as part of its business transformation plan.

A spokesperson for N Brown confirmed: "As we undertake our business transformation programme, our operating model continues to evolve and this has resulted in a small number of roles being put at risk of redundancy.

"This is not a decision we take lightly, and we are committed to supporting our colleagues throughout this process."

N Brown Group, the owner of JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo, is currently undergoing a drastic transformation. In recent months, the British conglomerate has launched new websites and implemented new technologies to enhance the customer's experience.

Following the launch of the new Jacamo website, sales conversion rates increased by around 20% despite lower promotional activity, with customers benefitting from faster site speeds.

Further progress to enhance customer experience is planned in 2024 with the roll-out of the JD Williams website and the addition of new technologies such as the Product Information Management (PIM) system. This system, which will enhance descriptions for customers to inform their purchases, is expected to lead to reduced returns.

In its most recent financial report, the company was yet to see these new initiatives come to fruition. It reported a 9.3% decrease in revenue to £226 million for the 18 weeks ending 6 January 2024. However, the improving product revenue trend reported in the group’s interim results on 12 October 2023 continued in Q3 to -9.7%, following -10.4% in Q2 and -11.9% in Q1.