Published
Jul 24, 2017
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Outdoor retailer Highlander looking to double sales over next five years

Published
Jul 24, 2017

Scottish outdoor retailer Highlander aims to become a global company in ten years and see its sales double in the next five years, said its business development manager Ramin Golzari in an interview.


Photo: Highlander


The company started out in 1985 after Golzari and his father acquired military surplus specialist Leith Army Stores out of liquidation. Their focus on long-lasting but affordable adventure equipment and clothing, designed and manufactured in house, was well received and the business has been profitable every year since its origins.

The Scotsman reports that revenue in Highlander’s last published results was just under £10 million, with Golzari being confident in the retailer’s ability to double the figure in the next five years.

This target will be partially driven by international expansion, said Golzari to The Scotsman. The company made £2.5 million in overseas sales in 2016, with Europe leading the way. Germany is the largest market outside the UK, but Golzari also highlights Italy, France and Spain.

And while Brexit has led to uncertainty across many sectors including retail, the business development manager stresses that the business is completely privately funded and is therefore able to act quickly.

“I don’t think we’re worried — but we’re actively engaged in it,” he says. “We’re looking at plans and we’re analysing what might happen.”

For now, the specialist brand is focusing on the outdoor market’s evolution. “We’re in a very dynamic and a very different marketplace than we were five years ago and I think it’s going to change even further,” says Golzari.

“Outdoor clothing is no longer about just keeping you dry and warm. It’s got to do so much more than that — it’s an extension of who you are. As a result we’re seeing a lot more colour and a lot more flamboyance coming through our designs for 2018 and beyond."

Highlander produces over 2,000 product lines, which are available at numerous retail stores across the UK.

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