Universal Store (UNI) Trading update summary

Trading performance

• FY27 YTD DTC sales +9.3% vs pcp; Universal Store total sales +6.6% (LFL +2.8%, cycling +7.7%), Perfect Stranger +36.8% (+11.6%, +13.9%) and CTC +2.9% (-0.7%, +2.3%).

• Positive LFL growth against strong prior-year comparatives; customers prioritised social occasions and took a considered approach to purchases.

• Perfect Stranger growth reflected rising brand awareness and favourable category mix, with little to no discernible cannibalisation of nearby Universal Store locations.

Store rollout and operations

• FY27 rollout remains on track for 16–20 new stores: five opened YTD, with seven more scheduled before Christmas; one Universal Store location is also set to reopen in November.

• CTC in-store LFL sales +4.1% YTD, while online sales declined 8.8%; marketing and digital reporting lines moved into the Universal Store team to drive operational improvements.

• CTC wholesale remained challenged by discontinued USA exports and late-FY26 retail account closures, representing ~4% of total sales net of intercompany eliminations.

• New-store and renewal lease decisions remain prudent; 19 holdover leases are under negotiation.

Margins and investment

• Gross margins remained robust; Perfect Stranger retail-format expansion benefited the sales mix, while favourable AUD/USD offset higher transport costs.

• New POS system implemented in Q1 FY27; warehouse management system implementation planned for FY27 after the peak trading period.

• Continued investment in team and system capability supports business growth and succession planning.