Gifts and gardening turn in storng performances
Flying Brands announced a surge in sales in a trading update covering the 15 weeks to April 13 at its latest agm.

Strong sellers included the Gifts division following three promotions around Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter. While the Garden division peformed better after a flat January.

However, Garden Bird supplies were hit by the warm winter and a fall in the bird population. Flying Brands now hopes targeted promotions will lead to better margins.

Chairman Paul Williams, who will hand over the running of the business to Tim Trotter – formerly deputy chairman – says the integration of the Greetings Direct business is 'progressing' and he anticipates that it will make a 'good contribution' in its first full year under full ownership.

The Flying Brands board also announced that John Henwood, a director of investment bankers Kleinwort Besnon and former director of the ITV Network, will join as a non-executive director.